National Construction Safety Team Enhancement Act of 2024

Bill: 118-s-4446
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2024-06-04
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Latest action: action_date: 2024-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-06-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>National Construction Safety Team Enhancement Act of 2024</strong></p><p>This bill expands the authority of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to investigate structural failures other than those involving buildings and to recommend related improvements to engineering standards and practices.</p><p>Specifically, the bill expands the investigative authority of NIST's National Construction Safety Teams. Currently, these teams are authorized to investigate the structural failure of a building that has resulted in substantial loss of life or that had the significant potential to cause a substantial loss of life. These teams must (1) identify the likely cause of the failure, (2) evaluate the technical aspects of evacuation and response procedures, and (3) recommend ways to improve building standards, codes, and practices and other related actions based on their findings.</p><p>The bill expands this authority beyond buildings to include other types of structures and related engineering standards and practices.&nbsp;</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4446 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 4, 2024 Mr. Cornyn (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To amend the National Construction Safety Team Act to enable the National Institute of Standards and Technology to investigate structures other than buildings to inform the development of engineering standards, best practices, and building codes related to such structures, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Construction Safety Team Enhancement Act of 2024 . 2. National construction safety team enhancement The National Construction Safety Team Act is amended— (1) in section 2 ( 15 U.S.C. 7301 )— (A) in subsection (a)— (i) in the first sentence, by striking buildings and inserting structure ; and (ii) by inserting after the first sentence the following new sentence: In instances in which the failure of the building or structure is the proper subject for investigation by another Federal agency, the Director shall defer to the authority of such agency. ; (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking buildings and inserting the built environment ; and (ii) in paragraph (2)— (I) in subparagraph (A), by inserting or structure after building ; (II) in subparagraph (C), by striking building standards, codes, and practices and inserting engineering standards, practices, and building codes ; and (III) in subparagraph (D), by striking buildings and inserting the built environment ; and (C) in subsection (c)(1)— (i) in subparagraph (G), by inserting or structure after building ; and (ii) in subparagraph (J)— (I) by inserting or structure after building ; and (II) by inserting or the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 after 1977 ; (2) in section 4 ( 15 U.S.C. 7303 )— (A) by striking the term building each place it appears; and (B) by inserting building or structure before failure each place it appears; (3) in section 7 ( 15 U.S.C. 7306 ), by inserting or structure after building ; (4) in section 8 ( 15 U.S.C. 7307 )— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting or structure after building ; (B) in paragraph (3), by striking standards, codes, and practices and inserting engineering standards, practices, and building codes ; and (C) in paragraph (4), by inserting and structure after building ; (5) in section 9(2) ( 15 U.S.C. 7308(2) ), by striking building standards, codes, and practices each place it appears and inserting engineering standards, practices, and building codes ; and (6) in section 14 ( 15 U.S.C. 7312 ), by striking building standards, codes, or practices and inserting engineering standards, practices, and building codes .