[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1527 Engrossed in House (EH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1527
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for
the National Transportation Safety Board for fiscal years 2003 through
2006, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Transportation Safety Board
Reauthorization Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Fiscal Years 2003-2006.--Section 1118(a) of title 49, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``and''; and
(2) by striking ``such sums to'' and inserting the
following: ``$73,325,000 for fiscal year 2003, $78,757,000 for
fiscal year 2004, $83,011,000 for fiscal year 2005, and
$87,539,000 for fiscal year 2006. Such sums shall''.
(b) Emergency Fund.--Section 1118(b) of such title is amended by
striking the second sentence and inserting the following: ``In
addition, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to increase the fund to, and maintain the fund at, a level of
not to exceed $6,000,000.''.
(c) NTSB Academy.--Section 1118 of such title is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(c) Academy.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Board for necessary expenses of the National Transportation Safety
Board Academy, not otherwise provided for, $3,347,000 for fiscal year
2003, $4,896,000 for fiscal year 2004, $4,995,000 for fiscal year 2005,
and $5,200,000 for fiscal year 2006. Such sums shall remain available
until expended.''.
SEC. 3. ACCIDENT AND SAFETY DATA CLASSIFICATION AND PUBLICATION.
Section 1119 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(c) Appeals.--
``(1) Notification of rights.--In any case in which an
employee of the Board determines that an occurrence associated
with the operation of an aircraft constitutes an accident, the
employee shall notify the owner or operator of that aircraft of
the right to appeal that determination to the Board.
``(2) Procedure.--The Board shall establish and publish the
procedures for appeals under this subsection.
``(3) Limitation on applicability.--This subsection shall
not apply in the case of an accident that results in a loss of
life.''.
SEC. 4. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION'S RESPONSES TO SAFETY
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Section 1135(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read
as follows:
``(d) Reporting Requirements.--
``(1) Annual secretarial regulatory status reports.--On
February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit a report to
Congress and the Board containing the regulatory status of each
significant safety recommendation made by the Board to the
Secretary (or to an Administration within the Department). The
Secretary shall continue to report on the regulatory status of
each such recommendation in the report due on February 1 of
subsequent years until final regulatory action is taken on that
recommendation or the Secretary (or an Administration within
the Department) determines and states in such a report that no
action should be taken.
``(2) Failure to report.--If on March 1 of each year the
Board has not received the Secretary's report required by this
subsection, the Board shall notify the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate of the Secretary's failure to
submit the required report.
``(3) Significant safety recommendation defined.--For the
purposes of this subsection, the term `significant safety
recommendation' means a recommendation included in the Board's
`most wanted list' and any recommendation concerning 15-
passenger van safety, railroad grade crossing safety, and
medical certifications for a commercial driver's license.
``(4) Termination.--This subsection shall cease to be in
effect after the report required to be filed on February 1,
2008, is filed.''.
SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS INVOLVED IN AIRCRAFT
ACCIDENTS.
(a) Relinquishment of Investigative Priority.--Section 1136 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(j) Relinquishment of Investigative Priority.--
``(1) General rule.--This section (other than subsection
(g)) shall not apply to an aircraft accident if the Board has
relinquished investigative priority under section 1131(a)(2)(B)
and the Federal agency to which the Board relinquished
investigative priority is willing and able to provide
assistance to the victims and families of the passengers
involved in the accident.
``(2) Board assistance.--If this section does not apply to
an aircraft accident because the Board has relinquished
investigative priority with respect to the accident, the Board
shall assist, to the maximum extent possible, the agency to
which the Board has relinquished investigative priority in
assisting families with respect to the accident.''.
(b) Revision of MOU.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the National Transportation Safety Board and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation shall revise their 1977 agreement on
the investigation of accidents to take into account the amendments made
by this section and shall submit a copy of the revised agreement to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 6. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
Section 1131(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
moving subparagraphs (B) and (C) 4 ems to the left.
Passed the House of Representatives May 15, 2003.
Attest:
Clerk.
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1527
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for
the National Transportation Safety Board for fiscal years 2003 through
2006, and for other purposes.