113 HR 1648 IH: Protecting America’s Workers Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-04-18
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Protecting America’s Workers
Act
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Coverage of public employees and application of
act
Sec. 101. Coverage of public employees.
Sec. 102. Application of Act.
Title II—Increasing Whistleblower Protections
Sec. 201. Enhanced protections from retaliation.
Title III—Improving Reporting, Inspection, and
Enforcement
Sec. 301. General duty of employers.
Sec. 302. Posting of employee rights.
Sec. 303. Employer reporting of work-related injuries,
illnesses, deaths and hospitalizations; prohibition on discouraging employee
reporting.
Sec. 304. No loss of employee pay for inspections.
Sec. 305. Investigations of fatalities and significant
incidents.
Sec. 306. Prohibition on unclassified citations.
Sec. 307. Victims’ rights.
Sec. 308. Right to contest citations and penalties.
Sec. 309. Correction of serious, willful, or repeated
violations pending contest and procedures for a stay.
Sec. 310. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 311. Civil penalties.
Sec. 312. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 313. Prejudgment interest.
Title IV—State Plans
Sec. 401. Concurrent enforcement authority and review of State
occupational safety and health plans.
Sec. 402. Evaluation of Repeated Violations in State
Plans.
Title V—National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health
Sec. 501. Health Hazard Evaluations by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health.
Title VI—Effective date
Sec. 601. Effective date.
<enum>I</enum><header>Coverage of public
employees and application of act</header>
<section commented="no" id="H618C49DA336448419FAF7BB2382CBACB"><enum>101.</enum><header>Coverage of
public employees</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H5030B39FA3794708B6A98A0386696BAF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(5) of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/652">29 U.S.C. 652(5)</external-xref>) is amended by
striking <quote>but does not include</quote> and all that follows through the
period at the end and inserting <quote>including the United States, a State, or
a political subdivision of a State.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HF93224F83F23438280267FC6A84F4B7C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing
in this Act shall be construed to affect the application of section 18 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/667">29 U.S.C. 667</external-xref>).</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H8BF2AF87465B417AAA1520E78A75E3B3"><enum>102.</enum><header>Application of
Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4(b) of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/653">29 U.S.C. 653(b)(1)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H4BA11BB6B8B54D8B89CF6EAF6F1B2DEE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H219928F4C5CE4B30A4602AB2751B8BCA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
paragraph (1) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H560B281AEFD84E22B5C2C120E3C3714C" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H5EDF235C968A4C23B5C8DFA4AC5B7E1E" indent="up1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>If a Federal agency has promulgated
and is enforcing a standard or regulation affecting occupational safety or
health of some or all of the employees within that agency’s regulatory
jurisdiction, and the Secretary determines that such a standard or regulation
as promulgated and the manner in which the standard or regulation is being
enforced provides protection to those employees that is at least as effective
as the protection provided to those employees by this Act and the Secretary’s
enforcement of this Act, the Secretary may publish a certification notice in
the Federal Register. The notice shall set forth that determination and the
reasons for the determination and certify that the Secretary has ceded
jurisdiction to that Federal agency with respect to the specified standard or
regulation affecting occupational safety or health. In determining whether to
cede jurisdiction to a Federal agency, the Secretary shall seek to avoid
duplication of, and conflicts between, health and safety requirements. Such
certification shall remain in effect unless and until rescinded by the
Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H33992A42B4C94F84A0965A29B44CC236" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary shall, by regulation,
establish procedures by which any person who may be adversely affected by a
decision of the Secretary certifying that the Secretary has ceded jurisdiction
to another Federal agency pursuant to paragraph (1) may petition the Secretary
to rescind a certification notice under paragraph (1). Upon receipt of such a
petition, the Secretary shall investigate the matter involved and shall, within
90 days after receipt of the petition, publish a decision with respect to the
petition in the Federal Register.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H8823604E6FF846F6A6D0463BFE4CF5C7" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Any person who may be adversely
affected by—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H2F904E25E46C4DB68132656944CF4458"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a decision of the Secretary certifying
that the Secretary has ceded jurisdiction to another Federal agency pursuant to
paragraph (1); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H86789E9D5EC345B3BEE5F96871971FE4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a decision of the Secretary denying a
petition to rescind such a certification notice under paragraph (1),</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text commented="no" continuation-text-level="paragraph" indent="subsection">may, not later than 60 days after such decision is
published in the Federal Register, file a petition challenging such decision
with the United States court of appeals for the circuit in which such person
resides or such person has a principal place of business, for judicial review
of such decision. A copy of the petition shall be forthwith transmitted by the
clerk of the court to the Secretary. The Secretary’s decision shall be set
aside if found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or
otherwise not in accordance with law.</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HC5C5581D6ECD4E1C866B95B8574BE604" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Nothing in this Act shall apply to
working conditions covered by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
(30 U.S.C. 801 et
seq.).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Increasing
Whistleblower Protections</header>
<section id="H26DC150C6C90416B924EC562DFDB520C"><enum>201.</enum><header>Enhanced
protections from retaliation</header>
<subsection id="HF270EC4126534DDA8473464122FD0A41"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Employee
actions</header><text>Section 11(c)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/660">29 U.S.C. 660(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H9EFDFD9876E84041AFABFE0274C279CA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>discharge</quote> and all that follows through <quote>because
such</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HBC105D289B7348FA96172163D7DC9190" style="OLC">
<text>discharge or cause to be discharged,
or in any manner discriminate against or cause to be discriminated against, any
employee because—</text><subparagraph id="H8F478372D1F844B68615728868C47D1B" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF52D88ADEEB9454291AE51BC7F89F050"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>this Act or has</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H9E878078EB844B20B92F526025B93374" style="OLC">
<text>this Act;</text><subparagraph id="H1D46FB3B654E4D47A4B5BAC5F5EA67DE" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such employee
has</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5032F0CEC27F46F88A17026A14099F7C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>in any such proceeding or because of the exercise</quote> and inserting
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H671D13C4E94E4D88842E473458FBB6ED" style="OLC">
<text>before Congress or in any
Federal or State proceeding related to safety or
health;</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="HFE04206BEF764F1EBC50B347A4C7D324" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such employee has refused to violate
any provision of this Act; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAD275F38D7664F7187679D0DD975E923" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>of the
exercise</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H60E3A8E797F04208999BD7913E3FD8B3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting
before the period at the end the following: <quote>, including the reporting of
any injury, illness, or unsafe condition to the employer, agent of the
employer, safety and health committee involved, or employee safety and health
representative involved</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2413ED165FE24BF98BFA0E9D70981981"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition of
retaliation</header><text>Section 11(c) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/660">29 U.S.C. 660(c)</external-xref>) is
amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H1055B799C1974FFB8FA104C1548603F9" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H20B91DAC183C4B1F978E6D4C7F05647A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prohibition of
retaliation</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H0FFB11F411F84C49BD2B1B62411B830C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>No person shall
discharge, or cause to be discharged, or in any manner discriminate against, or
cause to be discriminated against, an employee for refusing to perform the
employee’s duties if the employee has a reasonable apprehension that performing
such duties would result in serious injury to, or serious impairment of the
health of, the employee or other employees.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7E8846AA48DB4C479F14FF1288DE81AE" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of subparagraph (A), the
circumstances causing the employee’s good-faith belief that performing such
duties would pose a safety or health hazard shall be of such a nature that a
reasonable person, under the circumstances confronting the employee, would
conclude that there is such a hazard. In order to qualify for protection under
this paragraph, the employee, when practicable, shall have communicated or
attempted to communicate the safety or health concern to the employer and have
not received from the employer a response reasonably calculated to allay such
concern.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H76E1877501D9498AB00BC9FF4B620B97"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Procedure</header><text>Section
11(c) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/660">29 U.S.C. 660(c)</external-xref>) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and
inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H62C9D3B971694D658F21725B8F7D31C0" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HFD96153F84E94CE5BAF3EF953CB80EBC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Complaint</header><text>Any
employee who believes that the employee has been discharged, disciplined, or
otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of paragraph (1) or
(2) may seek relief for such violation by filing a complaint with the Secretary
under <internal-xref idref="HCB28175095F6486C849C4355F38C5EEA" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5).</internal-xref></text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3D48F2EC9B1E4CFF96F1214D1286DCD2"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Statute of
limitations</header>
<subparagraph id="H180F7F9AECE34F14A377D5DD4BA3ED77"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee may take the action permitted by paragraph
(3)(A) not later than 180 days after the later of—</text>
<clause id="H48C9D079A45F4E65A8AA6447E210D877"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the date on which
an alleged violation of paragraph (1) or (2) occurs; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H560F190600FF45EBA138B4991F457388"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the date on which
the employee knows or should reasonably have known that such alleged violation
occurred.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2E591735312342368A7DC7E0107C4F66"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Repeat
violation</header><text>Except in cases when the employee has been discharged,
a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) shall be considered to have occurred on the
last date an alleged repeat violation occurred.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HCB28175095F6486C849C4355F38C5EEA"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Investigation</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HDDC424B7FA3D4BAF9D1F4EA7DCD2A24F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee may, within the time period required under
<internal-xref idref="H2E591735312342368A7DC7E0107C4F66" legis-path="(4)(B)">paragraph (4)(B)</internal-xref>, file a complaint with the
Secretary alleging a violation of paragraph (1) or (2). If the complaint
alleges a prima facie case, the Secretary shall conduct an investigation of the
allegations in the complaint, which—</text>
<clause id="HA2DE2FA1A93B4BAB991C09DCFB4BE4BD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall
include—</text>
<subclause id="H1ABDAE0C8C85498EAAB9A607D9FA60B7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>interviewing the
complainant;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H17E657D013D14237A5C3385ADA468830"><enum>(II)</enum><text>providing the
respondent an opportunity to—</text>
<item id="HCE2B30BED58540E58463B5EBF2E39FC8"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>submit to the
Secretary a written response to the complaint; and</text>
</item><item id="H3BF3106E07D040E78D72355E2F9FA41B"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary to present statements from witnesses or provide evidence; and</text>
</item></subclause><subclause id="HB88EB6C11D324BAEAB1BA6D1AA8A216C"><enum>(III)</enum><text>providing the
complainant an opportunity to—</text>
<item id="H518BC4F01BD1484D9832158ED24B7442"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>receive any
statements or evidence provided to the Secretary;</text>
</item><item id="H9BE9D1452AE447369D6EB80543AEC2AD"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary; and</text>
</item><item id="HDBE17F798AE8458597E30EB0E1448D27"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>rebut any
statements or evidence; and</text>
</item></subclause></clause><clause id="H6E9AB7ED74354C71BDAB1450285FFA13"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may include
issuing subpoenas for the purposes of such investigation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HFD6E155A6CAC4F698859E437AF8C972A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Decision</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the filing of
the complaint, the Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="HEE68F61ED8624D5E80E0C59189402AA6"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine whether reasonable cause exists
to believe that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H01AD23FB6B9C45FBB79C6170681A99F0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">issue a decision granting or denying
relief.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7101BAD6F16A474E8B2D275BAD1A10D8"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Preliminary
order following investigation</header><text>If, after completion of an
investigation under
<internal-xref idref="HCB28175095F6486C849C4355F38C5EEA" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)(A)</internal-xref>, the Secretary finds
reasonable cause to believe that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has
occurred, the Secretary shall issue a preliminary order providing relief
authorized under
<internal-xref idref="H67A3A2DB9077448491805568F7B35E38" legis-path="(14)">paragraph (14)</internal-xref> at the same time the Secretary
issues a decision under
<internal-xref idref="HFD6E155A6CAC4F698859E437AF8C972A" legis-path="(5)(B)">paragraph (5)(B)</internal-xref>. If a de novo hearing is
not requested within the time period required under
<internal-xref idref="H983702664C164E1F878E760C71F6D27B" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)(A)(i)</internal-xref>, such preliminary order
shall be deemed a final order of the Secretary and is not subject to judicial
review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H983702664C164E1F878E760C71F6D27B"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Hearing</header>
<subparagraph id="H2E5882A98AD841788951378FFD6B262B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Request for
hearing</header>
<clause id="H48CA948117914E28B7413A0551B7E28F"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A de novo hearing on the record before an administrative
law judge may be requested—</text>
<subclause id="HCBF83D9225A24AAC8D4C0571FA6AD5B1"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by the complainant or respondent within 30
days after receiving notification of a decision granting or denying relief
issued under
<internal-xref idref="HCB28175095F6486C849C4355F38C5EEA" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>(B) or
<internal-xref idref="H7101BAD6F16A474E8B2D275BAD1A10D8" legis-path="(6)">paragraph (6)</internal-xref> respectively;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H6AB3010C0E29449EA70F68CE1CE60C8B"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by the
complainant within 30 days after the date the complaint is dismissed without
investigation by the Secretary under
<internal-xref idref="HCB28175095F6486C849C4355F38C5EEA" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>(A); or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H13A0751D757D4FFF9A1BEEF647FA9568"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by the complainant within 120 days after
the date of filing the complaint, if the Secretary has not issued a decision
under <internal-xref idref="HCB28175095F6486C849C4355F38C5EEA" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>(B).</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HC69B1E03882A4E66B857594507EACB63"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Reinstatement
order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The request for a
hearing shall not operate to stay any preliminary reinstatement order issued
under <internal-xref idref="H7101BAD6F16A474E8B2D275BAD1A10D8" legis-path="(6)">paragraph (6)</internal-xref>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H049346CB19954E5BB74F26B4942C211A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Procedures</header>
<clause id="HB3046942B4A6448A9E3E41610C00E953"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A hearing requested under this paragraph shall be
conducted expeditiously and in accordance with rules established by the
Secretary for hearings conducted by administrative law judges.</text>
</clause><clause id="HFB202AB7F8DC43C6A75159D8BE8A59C0"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Subpoenas;
production of evidence</header><text>In conducting any such hearing, the
administrative law judge may issue subpoenas. The respondent or complainant may
request the issuance of subpoenas that require the deposition of, or the
attendance and testimony of, witnesses and the production of any evidence
(including any books, papers, documents, or recordings) relating to the matter
under consideration.</text>
</clause><clause id="HF29DB9D329134719A2AFF1350F46FE7D"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Decision</header><text>The
administrative law judge shall issue a decision not later than 90 days after
the date on which a hearing was requested under this paragraph and promptly
notify, in writing, the parties and the Secretary of such decision, including
the findings of fact and conclusions of law. If the administrative law judge
finds that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred, the judge shall
issue an order for relief under
<internal-xref idref="H67A3A2DB9077448491805568F7B35E38" legis-path="(14)">paragraph (14)</internal-xref>. If review under paragraph (8)
is not timely requested, such order shall be deemed a final order of the
Secretary that is not subject to judicial review.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB224C2179B6A4137B1FEC7EEC50201CE"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Administrative
appeal</header>
<subparagraph id="H3BCC594EB0EA4053BC778DF430F15ADD"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of notification of
a decision and order issued by an administrative law judge under
<internal-xref idref="H983702664C164E1F878E760C71F6D27B" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)</internal-xref>, the complainant or respondent
may file, with objections, an administrative appeal with an administrative
review body designated by the Secretary (referred to in this paragraph as the
<term>review board</term>).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8276F54941574A1EA22C23C21FD020B2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Standard of
Review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In reviewing the
decision and order of the administrative law judge, the review board shall
affirm the decision and order if it is determined that the factual findings set
forth therein are supported by substantial evidence and the decision and order
are made in accordance with applicable law.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7635B5FF99994578BB327DC807A7FA25"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Decisions</header><text>If
the review board grants an administrative appeal, the review board shall issue
a final decision and order affirming or reversing, in whole or in part, the
decision under review by not later than 90 days after receipt of the
administrative appeal. If it is determined that a violation of paragraph (1) or
(2) has occurred, the review board shall issue a final decision and order
providing relief authorized under paragraph (14). Such decision and order shall
constitute final agency action with respect to the matter appealed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCB16BFC2C0C1455F92E34670104E0755"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Settlement in
the Administrative Process</header>
<subparagraph id="H074778108FCB4CF88E017597C9839134"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>At any time before issuance of a final order, an
investigation or proceeding under this subsection may be terminated on the
basis of a settlement agreement entered into by the parties.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H61B209531E0F4EB69231B0F802B7BE0D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public policy
considerations</header><text>Neither the Secretary, an administrative law
judge, nor the review board conducting a hearing under this subsection shall
accept a settlement that contains conditions conflicting with the rights
protected under this Act or that are contrary to public policy, including a
restriction on a complainant’s right to future employment with employers other
than the specific employers named in a complaint.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD79B111682A84C67A1CCEDFFFD1F0148"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Inaction by the
review board or administrative law judge</header>
<subparagraph id="H897B5A44D33A46F0B66E8E1EDD0417A5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The complainant may bring a de novo action described in
<internal-xref idref="H49076012CC054364AD8BAF6B960A5DCA" legis-path="(10)(B)">subparagraph (B)</internal-xref> if—</text>
<clause id="HF24308CBBC254E06B6251786BE40958A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an
administrative law judge has not issued a decision and order within the 90-day
time period required under
<internal-xref idref="H983702664C164E1F878E760C71F6D27B" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)</internal-xref>(B)(iii); or</text>
</clause><clause id="HC8B4739600C9479695C7A8E0F9A54CF5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the review board
has not issued a decision and order within the 90-day time period required
under <internal-xref idref="HB224C2179B6A4137B1FEC7EEC50201CE" legis-path="(8)">paragraph (8)</internal-xref>(C).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H49076012CC054364AD8BAF6B960A5DCA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>De novo
action</header><text>Such de novo action may be brought at law or equity in the
United States district court for the district where a violation of paragraph
(1) or (2) allegedly occurred or where the complainant resided on the date of
such alleged violation. The court shall have jurisdiction over such action
without regard to the amount in controversy and to order appropriate relief
under paragraph (14). Such action shall, at the request of either party to such
action, be tried by the court with a jury.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA88FA6331CB24D9AB8693CFF4E3BB630"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Judicial
review</header>
<subparagraph id="H037605EB589E485EB15EB3E5DDEA5320"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Timely Appeal to
the court of appeals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any
party adversely affected or aggrieved by a final decision and order issued
under this subsection may obtain review of such decision and order in the
United States Court of Appeals for the circuit where the violation, with
respect to which such final decision and order was issued, allegedly occurred
or where the complainant resided on the date of such alleged violation. To
obtain such review, a party shall file a petition for review not later than 60
days after the final decision and order was issued. Such review shall conform
to <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code. The commencement of proceedings
under this subparagraph shall not, unless ordered by the court, operate as a
stay of the final decision and order.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAE2B052692D54DB4B7894F7357459A19"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation on
collateral attack</header><text>An order and decision with respect to which
review may be obtained under subparagraph (A) shall not be subject to judicial
review in any criminal or other civil proceeding.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5242F9FD1869474FB8B1FFAE8C90CA9B"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Enforcement of
order</header><text>If a respondent fails to comply with an order issued under
this subsection, the Secretary or the complainant on whose behalf the order was
issued may file a civil action for enforcement in the United States district
court for the district in which the violation was found to occur to enforce
such order. If both the Secretary and the complainant file such action, the
action of the Secretary shall take precedence. The district court shall have
jurisdiction to grant all appropriate relief described in paragraph
(14).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H360B46E6E19B454AAADFD0F8CD03A66B"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Burdens of
proof</header>
<subparagraph id="HD85DAC45F9B9420CB13A277FD8868FF3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Criteria for
determination</header><text>In making a determination or adjudicating a
complaint pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary, administrative law judge,
review board, or a court may determine that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2)
has occurred only if the complainant demonstrates that any conduct described in
paragraph (1) or (2) with respect to the complainant was a contributing factor
in the adverse action alleged in the complaint.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF171A04CAC1C45BD9E4662CF7C42E71C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), a decision or order that is favorable to the complainant
shall not be issued in any administrative or judicial action pursuant to this
subsection if the respondent demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that
the respondent would have taken the same adverse action in the absence of such
conduct.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H67A3A2DB9077448491805568F7B35E38"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Relief</header>
<subparagraph id="HC3B83BF4C56641ED90F428981B1B52D9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Order for
relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary,
administrative law judge, review board, or a court determines that a violation
of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred, the Secretary, administrative law judge,
review board, or court, respectively, shall have jurisdiction to order all
appropriate relief, including injunctive relief, compensatory and exemplary
damages, including—</text>
<clause id="H3506001572A548B88EF76F3BD19CB2D5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>affirmative action
to abate the violation;</text>
</clause><clause id="HDC518BE8E79D410A8B2F6CE1550ADE4E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>reinstatement
without loss of position or seniority, and restoration of the terms, rights,
conditions, and privileges associated with the complainant’s employment,
including opportunities for promotions to positions with equivalent or better
compensation for which the complainant is qualified;</text>
</clause><clause id="HD4DE9834FA2A4866A27315064BF25235"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>compensatory and
consequential damages sufficient to make the complainant whole, (including back
pay, prejudgment interest, and other damages); and</text>
</clause><clause id="HC403815BA1374851BE7E2B0B15D10081"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>expungement of
all warnings, reprimands, or derogatory references that have been placed in
paper or electronic records or databases of any type relating to the actions by
the complainant that gave rise to the unfavorable personnel action, and, at the
complainant’s direction, transmission of a copy of the decision on the
complaint to any person whom the complainant reasonably believes may have
received such unfavorable information.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAA5A311FEEF34744AB3FCB6C4FC39871"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Attorneys’ fees
and costs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary or
an administrative law judge, review board, or court grants an order for relief
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary, administrative law judge, review board,
or court, respectively, shall assess, at the request of the employee against
the employer—</text>
<clause id="H54B6C0705B7F418E808E13456B962DA5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>reasonable
attorneys’ fees; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H263D1A44B7794F8295960CC8F00FA3CE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>costs (including
expert witness fees) reasonably incurred, as determined by the Secretary,
administrative law judge, review board, or court, respectively, in connection
with bringing the complaint upon which the order was issued.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE09488A22E6C4D8899030373A71A8FBE"><enum>(15)</enum><header> Procedural
Rights</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The rights and
remedies provided for in this subsection may not be waived by any agreement,
policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any pre-dispute
arbitration agreement or collective bargaining agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF5683DD74CD44E4C81069C18B0B2C3BC"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Savings</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or
remedies of any employee who exercises rights under any Federal or State law or
common law, or under any collective bargaining agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD2E5AC01FB35474CB1F089E296721017"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Election of
venue</header>
<subparagraph id="HD6CAAFC9C1414880B05699405E7791EB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee of an employer who is located in a State that
has a State plan approved under section 18 may file a complaint alleging a
violation of paragraph (1) or (2) by such employer with—</text>
<clause id="HC7735C5ECC9D4767BA82F76299F9418B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary
under <internal-xref idref="HCB28175095F6486C849C4355F38C5EEA" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H0E504CCE792A4B4C8AFB2AD4A6E7D984"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
State plan administrator in such State.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDF43CDF2FC0D4F24BFB1DBBA12017E84"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Referrals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If—</text>
<clause id="H2B877775203746449ACF73CF80DD8D04"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary
receives a complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary shall not
refer such complaint to a State plan administrator for resolution; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H244F4179430543BB9987F0E78140F741"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
State plan administrator receives a complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii),
the State plan administrator shall not refer such complaint to the Secretary
for
resolution.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H736BD485C2E244919F093495AF73E451"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Relation to
enforcement</header><text>Section 17(j) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/666">29 U.S.C. 666(j)</external-xref>) is
amended by inserting before the period the following: <quote>, including the
history of violations under section 11(c)</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Improving
Reporting, Inspection, and Enforcement</header>
<section id="HAA2FA0401FB849C6B4A19BF64A21CE10"><enum>301.</enum><header>General duty of
employers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 5 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/654">29 U.S.C. 654(a)(1)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H700242670F234AE08D11C567B3536092"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a),
by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0D7054EBAA6642E4A53B8AA6284167C9" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="HABC96D8B8836469CAE34878ADAE40593"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall furnish employment and a place of
employment that are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely
to cause death or serious physical harm and that the employer creates or
controls or to which the employer exposes any employee of the employer or any
other person performing work at the place of employment;
and</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3599F1C0600F4FCBB3EE5AC883719693"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2E73574BEAFD49C2932D9178FB60BDC3" style="traditional">
<subsection id="HC0D36E866F964B0E8A5737D81F00367D"><enum>(c)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each employee or other person exposed to a
hazard in violation of subsection (a) may constitute a separate
violation.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H03034C6C0E0A40EDBC13231BB2B5FC14"><enum>302.</enum><header>Posting of
employee rights</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
8(c)(1) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/657">29 U.S.C. 657(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the
following new sentence: <quote>Such regulations shall include provisions
requiring employers to post for employees information on the protections
afforded under section 11(c).</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HE71D9FCBE3864874B1C725F7D6C1E776"><enum>303.</enum><header>Employer
reporting of work-related injuries, illnesses, deaths and hospitalizations;
prohibition on discouraging employee reporting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8(c)(2) of such Act (29 U.S.C.
657(c)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentences:
<quote>Such regulations shall require site-controlling employers to keep a site
log for all recordable injuries and illnesses occurring among all employees on
the particular site, including employees of the site-controlling employer or
others who are performing work at the particular site (including independent
contractors). Such regulations shall require employers to promptly notify the
Secretary of any work-related death or work-related injury or illness that
results in the in-patient hospitalization of an employee for medical treatment,
and shall prohibit the employer from adopting or implementing policies or
practices by the employer that have the effect of discouraging accurate
recordkeeping and the reporting of work-related injuries or illnesses by any
employee or in any manner discriminates or provides for adverse action against
any employee for reporting a work-related injury or illness. For purposes of
this paragraph, the term <term>site-controlling employer</term> means the
employer that has primary control over a work site at which employees of more
than one employer work, such as by hiring or coordinating the work of other
employers working at the site.</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H742A86E2A7C745D5B7E435CAD776A02E"><enum>304.</enum><header>No loss of
employee pay for inspections</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8(e) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/657">29 U.S.C. 657(e)</external-xref>) is amended
by inserting after the first sentence the following: <quote>Time spent by an
employee participating in or aiding any such inspection shall be deemed to be
hours worked and no employee shall suffer any loss of wages, benefits, or other
terms and conditions of employment for having participated in or aided any such
inspection.</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H624DD2032A354AFF8144E0E1B62A71BF"><enum>305.</enum><header>Investigations
of fatalities and significant incidents</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/657">29 U.S.C. 657</external-xref>) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block id="H4C78DF6AA7B9430E99A6CFA6A5F0EC32" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H435FDEBA357C4BEF91FC7B98D6013E3E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Investigation of
fatalities and serious incidents</header>
<paragraph id="H6E6CD13CF37B40BCB52E618AF15F6862" indent="up1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall investigate any
significant incident or an incident resulting in death that occurs in a place
of employment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD6D40A703CC348018FAB3017AD9B151F" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Evidence preservation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a significant incident or an incident
resulting in death occurs in a place of employment, the employer shall promptly
notify the Secretary of the incident involved and shall take appropriate
measures to prevent the destruction or alteration of any evidence that would
assist in investigating the incident. The appropriate measures required by this
paragraph do not prevent an employer from taking action on a worksite to
prevent injury to employees or substantial damage to property or to avoid
disruption of essential services necessary to public safety, provided that if
an employer takes such action, the employer shall notify the Secretary of the
action in a timely fashion.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H187AD0C57F274163BDE7BE32C0BA0673" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this
subsection:</text>
<subparagraph id="H8A10CF3296A648C8A8CBCD204EAF8693"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Incident resulting in
death</header><text>The term <term>incident resulting in death</term> means an
incident that results in the death of an employee.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE27E2F8F919E4B2C8C1AD65D865786B5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Significant incident</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>significant incident</term>
means an incident that results in the in-patient hospitalization of 2 or more
employees for medical
treatment.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HC1E20704DFF6441581CF42FAE1B5BB90"><enum>306.</enum><header>Prohibition on
unclassified citations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
9 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/658">29 U.S.C. 658</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H7E126FA89B0242A3B06DED06755BE75C" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H7502018712334DE3A1513BF6E4126F25"><enum>(d)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No citation for a violation of this Act may
be issued, modified, or settled under this section without a designation
enumerated in section 17 with respect to such
violation.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H909B353C7E074C3FB152A7059AEFA4F0"><enum>307.</enum><header>Victims’
rights</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970 is amended by inserting after section 9 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/658">29 U.S.C. 658</external-xref>)
the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H0F5757108A194A15B82364F04B8CE3DE" style="OLC">
<section id="H9C3047A70A2B44DCBCBFF66494E6E91E"><enum>9A.</enum><header>Victims'
rights</header>
<subsection id="H9B3943955E694C6A9B2A4B006387C17B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Rights before
the Secretary</header><text>A victim or the representative of a victim, shall
be afforded the right, with respect to an inspection or investigation conducted
under section 8 to—</text>
<paragraph id="H5239B5BADDB24D4D9BA0B05AD21030FA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary regarding the inspection or investigation conducted under such
section before the Secretary’s decision to issue a citation or take no
action;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD41F1EA5931A4CB081FD95CD9E813D2A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>receive, at no
cost, a copy of any citation or report, issued as a result of such inspection
or investigation, at the same time as the employer receives such citation or
report;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7C2F3E05E3D0461B8BAA495F38BC8F0C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>be informed of any
notice of contest or addition of parties to the proceedings filed under section
10(c); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFBC370976C67464683CB69ECBF75BB6B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>be provided
notification of the date and time or any proceedings, service of pleadings, and
other relevant documents, and an explanation of the rights of the employer,
employee and employee representative, and victim to participate in proceedings
conducted under section 10(c).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEDAB810C4A354ABB8DF6462907D6F2E4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rights before
the Commission</header><text>Upon request, a victim or representative of a
victim shall be afforded the right with respect to a work-related bodily injury
or death to—</text>
<paragraph id="HC27D1BCCD2DE4797B00D09735D2E0F1C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be notified of the
time and date of any proceeding before the Commission;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCC9970B616144B5FAF5B12D607246446"><enum>(2)</enum><text>receive pleadings
and any decisions relating to the proceedings; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6067A44ABF0240C9ADC6BC518BACE59D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>be provided an
opportunity to appear and make a statement in accordance with the rules
prescribed by the Commission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1DC7A4FA81024E55A3D9541A3DADDA03"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Modification of
Citation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before entering into
an agreement to withdraw or modify a citation issued as a result of an
inspection or investigation of an incident under section 8, the Secretary shall
notify a victim or representative of a victim and provide the victim or
representative of a victim with an opportunity to appear and make a statement
before the parties conducting settlement negotiations. In lieu of an
appearance, the victim or representative of the victim may elect to submit a
letter to the Secretary and the parties.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA983B4AA5200479C8B90E9BE1443A1FA"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Secretary
Procedures</header><text>The Secretary shall establish procedures—</text>
<paragraph id="HE021292B6D754217893E7CA50831CAEA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to inform victims
of their rights under this section; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5B6781D1328241D689A05658BB6BABEC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for the informal
review of any claim of a denial of such a right.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE992BE298C144751BBB616616E653821"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Commission
procedures and considerations</header><text>The Commission shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H60AE237E801A47EC81A16C1386F93790"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish
procedures relating to the rights of victims to be heard in proceedings before
the Commission; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDFD0C94FCC9847F2A717375E94849B8B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in rendering any
decision, provide due consideration to any statement or information provided by
any victim before the Commission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H5A1C1D1BE0C643CE852D3C1DCAFEF6D8"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Family
liaisons</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
designate at least 1 employee at each area office of the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration to serve as a family liaison to—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H167AB4701EB341F7BC9F28777BCF39D5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>keep victims
informed of the status of investigations, enforcement actions, and settlement
negotiations; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA702D105A8E34BB2996CEEA25E511C58"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assist victims in
asserting their rights under this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBA469D0B6BF04611A719FF87D8B880B7"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In
this section, the term <term>victim</term> means—</text>
<paragraph id="H90FE14F77E07486AB9B1BB866D7F3756"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an employee,
including a former employee, who has sustained a work-related injury or illness
that is the subject of an inspection or investigation conducted under section
8; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8C725FABAB55465280ACD04AC9347C06"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a family member
(as further defined by the Secretary) of a victim described in paragraph (1),
if—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1D606E0E7E09430EAD78595F995FC968"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the victim dies as
a result of a incident that is the subject of an inspection or investigation
conducted under section 8; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H032E2B16E4D64E39B5E1A850893AC723"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the victim
sustains a work-related injury or illness that is the subject of an inspection
or investigation conducted under section 8, and the victim because of
incapacity cannot reasonably exercise the rights under this
section.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HD47F19A773F24275A337B86175434D3E"><enum>308.</enum><header>Right to
contest citations and penalties</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10(c) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/659">29 U.S.C. 659(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HD4708DE9AF554C51948F0F5FEF35AA68"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first
sentence—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF1E51C1202BC4B0E8EE78984451D63EC"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after <quote>that he intends
to contest a citation issued under section (9)</quote> the following:
<quote>(or a modification of a citation issued under this
section)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6DF88C3AFC06400790C19E88C9C8A6F2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after
<quote>the issuance of a citation under section 9</quote> the following:
<quote>(including a modification of a citation issued under such
section)</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H83B0EAA32ABF4D8CB36D45EDD19F454C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after
<quote>files a notice with the Secretary alleging</quote> the following:
<quote>that the citation fails properly to designate the violation as serious,
willful, or repeated, that the proposed penalty is not adequate,
or</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H69A403B25F5F4CFAB73AC9F136CA080E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
the first sentence, the following: <quote>The pendency of a contest before the
Commission shall not bar the Secretary from inspecting a place of employment or
from issuing a citation under section 9.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5E5C2138D5A248E9802739DF6F35855C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by amending the
last sentence—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC8D62795B37042E383EF255F31B61FD6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>employers and</quote>
after <quote>Commission shall provide</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB650756BFE8140B781A1AD0163D0F8B5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting
before the period at the end <quote>, and notification of any modification of a
citation</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="HD0EA0B102C344A878D5A7E012E00E0BB"><enum>309.</enum><header>Correction of
serious, willful, or repeated violations pending contest and procedures for a
stay</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/659">29 U.S.C. 659</external-xref>) is amended by adding
at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H318E86DF7A544B7F8B48BF57C51C556D">
<subsection commented="no" id="H73C252D7FBED472095FAF3FDA5B4B818"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Correction of
serious, willful, or repeated violations pending contest and procedures for a
stay</header>
<paragraph id="H543641D0FC4B424CB30962FA8B9ECC4A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Period permitted
for correction of serious, willful, or repeated violations</header><text>For
each violation which the Secretary designates as serious, willful, or repeated,
the period permitted for the correction of the violation shall begin to run
upon receipt of the citation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1F3B9B24204747D0B07B1008DB161300"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Filing of a
motion of contest</header><text>The filing of a notice of contest by an
employer—</text>
<subparagraph id="H850B9D225FC04F14A8D5ADBAD68F14F2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall not operate
as a stay of the period for correction of a violation designated as serious,
willful, or repeated; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1850CF7CBB8342F58F7D102EED5B869B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may operate as a
stay of the period for correction of a violation not designated by the
Secretary as serious, willful, or repeated.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H307C3780CE9445BB81E2259B05F1616C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Criteria and
rules of procedure for stays</header>
<subparagraph id="H073CB18B86CF404595CBB4E83A9FA1D8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Motion for a
stay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An employer that
receives a citation alleging a violation designated as serious, willful, or
repeated and that files a notice of contest to the citation asserting that the
time set for abatement of the alleged violation is unreasonable or challenging
the existence of the alleged violation may file with the Commission a motion to
stay the period for the abatement of the violation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4984CB0C963F43D68BC5C5F2D805913E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In determining whether a stay should be
issued on the basis of a motion filed under subparagraph (A), the Commission
may grant a stay only if the employer has demonstrated—</text>
<clause id="H180CD98377EA48F28F98215649CC2C4C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
substantial likelihood of success on the areas contested under subparagraph
(A); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H5A52C4BF1A4E4E42AF922821823EE894"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that a stay will
not adversely affect the health and safety of workers.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H2E31FB1C3A9B4BC086B1D32B74640BAB"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Rules of
Procedure</header><text>The Commission shall develop rules of procedure for
conducting a hearing on a motion filed under subparagraph (A) on an expedited
basis. At a minimum, such rules shall provide:</text>
<clause commented="no" id="HC80F787A9E184C06987E5EC0FB7F9FC7"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">That a hearing before an administrative law
judge shall occur not later than 15 days following the filing of the motion for
a stay (unless extended at the request of the employer), and shall provide for
a decision on the motion not later than 15 days following the hearing (unless
extended at the request of the employer).</text>
</clause><clause id="H1653E61DF1AD4637A9D980ED15E9D9F4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>That a decision
of an administrative law judge on a motion for stay is rendered on a timely
basis.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H70F80088212F40899322943357A8A36C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>That if a party
is aggrieved by a decision issued by an administrative law judge regarding the
stay, such party has the right to file an objection with the Commission not
later than 5 days after receipt of the administrative law judge’s decision.
Within 10 days after receipt of the objection, a Commissioner, if a quorum is
seated pursuant to section 12(f), shall decide whether to grant review of the
objection. If, within 10 days after receipt of the objection, no decision is
made on whether to review the decision of the administrative law judge, the
Commission declines to review such decision, or no quorum is seated, the
decision of the administrative law judge shall become a final order of the
Commission. If the Commission grants review of the objection, the Commission
shall issue a decision regarding the stay not later than 30 days after receipt
of the objection. If the Commission fails to issue such decision within 30
days, the decision of the administrative law judge shall become a final order
of the Commission.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HD6C3F4699C584CE7B5EAF8B6E35B07F8"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For notification to employees or
representatives of affected employees of requests for such hearings and shall
provide affected employees or representatives of affected employees an
opportunity to participate as parties to such
hearings.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H817DD535FC1146BD994B5333F026A981"><enum>310.</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<subsection id="H9B6F2714ABA142B6BA4B642CB3B9B512"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Violations
designated as serious, willful, or repeated</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The first sentence of section 10(b) of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/659">29 U.S.C. 659(b)</external-xref>) is amended by
inserting <quote>, with the exception of violations designated as serious,
willful, or repeated,</quote> after <quote>(which period shall not begin to
run</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDA0508F8681A47F694C12FA2B4F6B394"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Judicial
review</header><text>The first sentence of section 11(a) of the Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/660">29 U.S.C. 660(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HFFB621973E334C63860ACDC68B2EDB78"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(or the failure of the Commission, including an administrative law
judge, to make a timely decision on a request for a stay under section
10(d))</quote> after <quote>an order</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC94E4B58B2AA41FBA8973C85AD3170F9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>subsection (c)</quote> and inserting <quote>subsections (c) and
(d)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC065FEB131234E049E4D7C998D51C95A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(or in the case of a petition from a final Commission order regarding a
stay under section 10(d), 15 days)</quote> after <quote>sixty
days</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H814BE38200944667A3FF0E1FBA1A2EA5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Failure To
correct violations</header><text>Section 17(d) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/666">29 U.S.C. 666(d)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCED1D8DA85164CCE89D6DEDD63A08ECB" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H9D23B11CD474489693EE9A1A8DFFBB39"><enum>(d)</enum><text>Any employer who
fails to correct a violation designated by the Secretary as serious, willful,
or repeated and for which a citation has been issued under section 9(a) within
the period permitted for its correction (and a stay has not been issued by the
Commission under section 10(d)) may be assessed a civil penalty of not more
than $7,000 for each day during which such failure or violation continues. Any
employer who fails to correct any other violation for which a citation has been
issued under section 9(a) of this title within the period permitted for its
correction (which period shall not begin to run until the date of the final
order of the Commission in the case of any review proceeding under section 10
initiated by the employer in good faith and not solely for delay of avoidance
of penalties) may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $7,000 for each
day during which such failure or violation
continues.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCD5F68BD905B4B76AACCE7B4C6BC0BB6" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>311.</enum><header>Civil
penalties</header>
<subsection id="HEB4E080BC5CA4BD4B05D04073F380B64"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 17 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/666">29 U.S.C. 666</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HEC3152C92ED047799EBA19B1676DDD12"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9141C4EECDF4441E94A25806839DBB6E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$70,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$120,000</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAA8EDD859B764B1F8B6F3D7A56F45C62"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$5,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$8,000</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H04F88B4E694442628E43990876C09253"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following: <quote>In determining whether a violation is repeated, the
Secretary or the Commission shall consider the employer’s history of violations
under this Act and under State occupational safety and health plans established
under section 18. If such a willful or repeated violation caused or contributed
to the death of an employee, such civil penalty amounts shall be increased to
not more than $250,000 for each such violation, but not less than $50,000 for
each such violation, except that for an employer with 25 or fewer employees
such penalty shall not be less than $25,000 for each such
violation.</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBA020908399149C6A0E2EE643C27331F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4B21B07136DC4B03AAB0BF55600677A3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$7,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$12,000</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H13C567EBC518444B8FFD97A8951795BB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following: <quote>If such a violation caused or contributed to the
death of an employee, such civil penalty amounts shall be increased to not more
than $50,000 for each such violation, but not less than $20,000 for each such
violation, except that for an employer with 25 or fewer employees such penalty
shall not be less than $10,000 for each such violation.</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEE8A11B95EAF46E0A42413CAFEF438BA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (c),
by striking <quote>$7,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$12,000</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H65EFE70FB73B45CAB129E614966920E0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (d),
as amended, by striking <quote>$7,000</quote> each place it occurs and
inserting <quote>$12,000</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H00FE24253A5748E6BACC8D74BE6B8349"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (e) through (i) as subsections (f) through (j), and subsections (j)
through (l) as subsections (l) through (n) respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H941EDD927B984DB9B8FA4CD6459543BC"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in subsection (j)
(as so redesignated) by striking <quote>$7,000</quote> and inserting
<quote>$12,000</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9E1028DD6C494917AF25C612CCE0909D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inflation
Adjustment</header><text>Section 17 is further amended by inserting after
subsection (d) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HDE146584FDF24406BEF257096BF79DB3" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H8167A2C8A9CB40AB8AA0A048E38E2823"><enum>(e)</enum><text>Amounts provided
under this section for civil penalties shall be adjusted by the Secretary at
least once during each 4-year period beginning January 1, 2015, to account for
the percentage increase or decrease in the Consumer Price Index for all urban
consumers during such
period.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6ABB755F1810401E945EB3AC37DF4100" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>312.</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header>
<subsection id="H75BFF2DAA50F4E188973EC7F86FC811E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 17 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/666">29 U.S.C. 666</external-xref>) (as amended by
section 310) is further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HFD2F5B4A23E140AAA602A2DB7554011A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by amending
subsection (f) (as redesignated by section 310) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H7700D62F623E45ACAA3701749F562E48" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H40EC2EAF58D7499184472EA62FA9C323"><enum>(f)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H7FDADE46D00E4ED2B607A2EE5C85FC5C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any employer who knowingly violates any
standard, rule, or order promulgated under section 6 of this Act, or of any
regulation prescribed under this Act, and that violation caused or
significantly contributed to the death of any employee, shall, upon conviction,
be punished by a fine in accordance with title 18, United States Code, or by
imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both, except that if the conviction
is for a violation committed after a first conviction of such person under this
subsection or subsection (i), punishment shall be by a fine in accordance title
18, United States Code, or by imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or by
both.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6EA67D70AD7B484C90ABDF552A4FF804" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For the purpose of this subsection,
the term <term>employer</term> means, in addition to the definition contained
in section 3 of this Act, any officer or
director.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H416A7620649542A09FADB4ABC53527CF"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subsection (g) (as redesignated
by section 310) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFF7BA13F45934395B55FE5FC69A6AD08" style="traditional">
<subsection id="HC1BAAE4D9AF1418094754A5241A17CA6"><enum>(g)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Unless otherwise authorized by this Act,
any person that knowingly gives, causes to give, or attempts to give or cause
to give, advance notice of any inspection conducted under this Act with the
intention of impeding, interfering with, or adversely affecting the results of
such inspection, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned
for not more than 5 years, or
both.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE424CF0DE77C4A5680AB5CBC875E9CC3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (h) (as redesignated by
section 310), by striking <quote>fine of not more than $10,000, or by
imprisonment for not more than six months,</quote> and inserting <quote>fine in
accordance with title 18, United States Code, or by imprisonment for not more
than 5 years,</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB94C15678EC34C00B88EFE072AACBCE1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (j) (as
redesignated by section 310) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H622E7482D01544BC8538B8EB2E8702A8" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HBBDB1FA6B52A4E758D84DA39DB9E0A76"><enum>(k)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HF4D20CDFCD6042FA8EA9C0B8C36D129E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any employer who
knowingly violates any standard, rule, or order promulgated under section 6, or
any regulation prescribed under this Act, and that violation caused or
significantly contributed to serious bodily harm to any employee but does not
cause death to any employee, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine in
accordance with title 18, United States Code, or by imprisonment for not more
than 5 years, or by both, except that if the conviction is for a violation
committed after a first conviction of such person under this subsection or
subsection (e), punishment shall be by a fine in accordance with title 18,
United States Code, or by imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or by
both.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9DA81213831F43E394E26FC81FBC8DEA" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purpose of this subsection, the
term <term>employer</term> means, in addition to the definition contained in
section 3 of this Act, any officer or director.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H66E9F942B5834689B5970CCEC9FE26C9" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this subsection, the term
<term>serious bodily harm</term> means bodily injury or illness that
involves—</text>
<subparagraph id="H07CDD95645FD4680B07D4531A9390064"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a
substantial risk of death;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H62A800CE5A404FEAAA311BB117D92224"><enum>(B)</enum><text>protracted unconsciousness;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9793B0F88E0641A0923229875C992759"><enum>(C)</enum><text>protracted and obvious physical
disfigurement; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0A35073A6BBA4E2BB1F6C808B2F94EC9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>protracted loss or impairment, either
temporary or permanent, of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental
faculty.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6570BF2D946348379528C51E50541294"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Jurisdiction for
Prosecution Under State and Local Criminal Laws</header><text>Such section is
further amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H2A4EA25464BE4542A1A33ED88914E8A0" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H85BB492602D94C1A8F17AAD5FC33E0EA"><enum>(o)</enum><text>Nothing in this
Act shall preclude a State or local law enforcement agency from conducting
criminal prosecutions in accordance with the laws of such State or
locality.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="HCFE0E05B624441519ACF398DA8CF24F8"><enum>313.</enum><header>Prejudgment
interest</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 17(n) of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/666">29 U.S.C. 666(n)</external-xref>) (as redesignated
by section 310) is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>Pre-final
order interest on such penalties shall begin to accrue on the date the party
contests a citation issued under this Act, and shall end upon the issuance of
the final order. Such pre-final order interest shall be calculated at the
current underpayment rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant
to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/6621">section 6621</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and shall be compounded
daily. Post-final order interest shall begin to accrue 30 days after the date a
final order of the Commission or the court is issued, and shall be charged at
the rate of 8 percent per year.</quote>.</text>
</section><enum>IV</enum><header>State
Plans</header>
<section commented="no" id="HE9B0550AC8EC48CE992697893749DB47"><enum>401.</enum><header>Concurrent
enforcement authority and review of State occupational safety and health
plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 18 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/668">29 U.S.C. 668</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H0A9649BCAB564557A358819FA534DE77"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by amending
subsection (f) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4C124541AF22463382DD1DF685197915" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="HB68B57F40EFD417A95ECB99DB7122755"><enum>(f)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H43F67BEFDA7B41378B6A669F93D89480"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, on the basis of
reports submitted by the State agency and the Secretary’s own inspections, make
a continuing evaluation of the manner in which each State that has a plan
approved under this section is carrying out such plan. Such evaluation shall
include an assessment of whether the State continues to meet the requirements
of subsection (c) of this section and any other criteria or indices of
effectiveness specified by the Secretary in regulations. Whenever the Secretary
finds, on the basis of such evaluation, that in the administration of the State
plan there is a failure to comply substantially with any provision of the State
plan (or any assurance contained therein), the Secretary shall make an initial
determination of whether the failure is of such a nature that the plan should
be withdrawn or whether the failure is of such a nature that the State should
be given the opportunity to remedy the deficiencies, and provide notice of the
Secretary’s findings and initial determination.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H086678E73F7148CFA315EFA22D66F0BF" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary makes an initial
determination to reassert and exercise concurrent enforcement authority while
the State is given an opportunity to remedy the deficiencies, the Secretary
shall afford the State an opportunity for a public hearing within 15 days of
such request, provided that such request is made not later than 10 days after
Secretary’s notice to the State. The Secretary shall review and consider the
testimony, evidence, or written comments, and not later than 30 days following
such hearing, make a determination to affirm, reverse, or modify the
Secretary’s initial determination to reassert and exercise concurrent
enforcement authority under sections 8, 9, 10, 13, and 17 with respect to
standards promulgated under section 6 and obligations under section 5(a).
Following such a determination by the Secretary, or in the event that the State
does not request a hearing within the timeframe set forth in this paragraph,
the Secretary may reassert and exercise such concurrent enforcement authority,
while a final determination is pending under paragraph (3) or until the
Secretary has determined that the State has remedied the deficiencies as
provided under paragraph (4). Such determination shall be published in the
Federal Register. The procedures set forth in section 18(g) shall not apply to
a determination by the Secretary to reassert and exercise such concurrent
enforcement authority.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HF268649293EB4B03AC3E97F5CCC31867" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary makes an initial
determination that the plan should be withdrawn, the Secretary shall provide
due notice and the opportunity for a hearing. If based on the evaluation,
comments, and evidence, the Secretary makes a final determination that there is
a failure to comply substantially with any provision of the State plan (or any
assurance contained therein), he shall notify the State agency of the
withdrawal of approval of such plan and upon receipt of such notice such plan
shall cease to be in effect, but the State may retain jurisdiction in any case
commenced before the withdrawal of the plan in order to enforce standards under
the plan whenever the issues involved do not relate to the reasons for the
withdrawal of the plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HF73FAEBC194A452AA29F7136D3E0F998" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary makes a determination that
the State should be provided the opportunity to remedy the deficiencies, the
Secretary shall provide the State an opportunity to respond to the Secretary’s
findings and the opportunity to remedy such deficiencies within a time period
established by the Secretary, not to exceed 1 year. The Secretary may extend
and revise the time period to remedy such deficiencies, if the State’s
legislature is not in session during this 1-year time period, or if the State
demonstrates that it is not feasible to correct the deficiencies in the time
period set by the Secretary, and the State has a plan to correct the
deficiencies within a reasonable time period. If the Secretary finds that the
State agency has failed to remedy such deficiencies within the time period
specified by the Secretary and that the State plan continues to fail to comply
substantially with a provision of the State plan, the Secretary shall withdraw
the State plan as provided for in paragraph
(3).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H932F7943AD8040E4B621609C55899C7D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFB5EF5BCE0254890BEA595B787340962" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H4CF680DE8F3F4E2E816C42A66B040FEC"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and again 5 years thereafter, the Comptroller
General shall complete and issue a review of the effectiveness of State plans
to develop and enforce safety and health standards to determine if they are at
least as effective as the Federal program and to evaluate whether the
Secretary’s oversight of State plans is effective. The Comptroller General’s
evaluation shall assess—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HC165397C9FB942BB8B8AD363BAD61583"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the effectiveness
of the Secretary’s oversight of State plans, including the indices of
effectiveness used by the Secretary;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H4F1376DB643D45AD8629A5622BEB81F5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>whether the
Secretary’s investigations in response to Complaints About State Plan
Administration (CASPA) are adequate, whether significant policy issues have
been identified by headquarters and corrective actions are fully implemented by
each State;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB41D1385B5AC4B6DB044C0DA2BD7ECDF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>whether the
formula for the distribution of funds described in section 23(g) to State
programs is fair and adequate; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H50D2D2E81E324EEFA17CE0B6431B770F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>whether State
plans are as effective as the Federal program in preventing occupational
injuries, illnesses and deaths, and investigating discrimination complaints,
through an evaluation of at least 20 percent of approved State plans, and which
shall cover—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HB63A9A099400475F939DC7198371D162"><enum>(A)</enum><text>enforcement
effectiveness, including handling of fatalities, serious incidents and
complaints, compliance with inspection procedures, hazard recognition,
verification of abatement, violation classification, citation and penalty
issuance, including appropriate use of willful and repeat citations, and
employee involvement;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HA419B771C8534438846DBFB6BFFE2EF3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>inspections, the
number of programmed health and safety inspections at private and public sector
establishments, and whether the State targets the highest hazard private sector
work sites and facilities in that State;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HEBFCF4BE420043D2BF97955DF3A66F29"><enum>(C)</enum><text>budget and
staffing, including whether the State is providing adequate budget resources to
hire, train and retain sufficient numbers of qualified staff, including timely
filling of vacancies;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H7088FC324BF245FCB14F35D94EC5C452"><enum>(D)</enum><text>administrative
review, including the quality of decisions, consistency with Federal
precedence, transparency of proceedings, decisions and records are available to
the public, adequacy of State defense, and whether the State appropriately
appeals adverse decisions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H87B8C1A3D173478F894B44B1F41341F8"><enum>(E)</enum><text>anti-discrimination,
including whether discrimination complaints are processed in a timely manner,
whether supervisors and investigators are properly trained to investigate
discrimination complaints, whether a case file review indicates merit cases are
properly identified consistent with Federal policy and procedure, whether
employees are notified of their rights, and whether there is an effective
process for employees to appeal the dismissal of a complaint;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H23AAFAD0A0364A6097447F6FB7CAE087"><enum>(F)</enum><text>program
administration, including whether the State’s standards and policies are at
least as effective as the Federal program and are updated in a timely manner,
and whether National Emphasis Programs that are applicable in such States are
adopted and implemented in a manner that is at least as effective as the
Federal program;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H88BC88F9C53F45328BA7E691FAF9F006"><enum>(G)</enum><text>whether the State
plan satisfies the requirements for approval set forth in this section and its
implementing regulations; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H60D09D3C54ED4548963AA6A5F46E8BE0"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other such factors identified by the
Comptroller General, or as requested by the Committee on Education and the
Workforce of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H153B51AFA388469AB5891C9930DB85CB"><enum>402.</enum><header>Evaluation of
Repeated Violations in State Plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 18(c) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/668">29 U.S.C. 668(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H4806372CE9EC4CBCB8AEA15F85E71356"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (7),
by striking <quote>, and</quote> and inserting a comma;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEDF53EA0C8674113AF74890E7085D0DA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (8),
by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>, and</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4BA067F5F49F484495019EBDA86BCC7F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding after
paragraph 8 the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7C38898DBA174E44A60211749BE719EA" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H186D1B17BC61423186F7C9FE0FD03D38"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provides that in determining whether a
violation is repeated, the State shall consider the employer’s violations
within the State, in conjunction with the employer’s history of violations
under other States’ occupational safety and health plans approved by the
Secretary and the employer’s history of violations in those States where the
Secretary has jurisdiction under this Act, in a manner that is at least as
effective as provided under section
17.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><enum>V</enum><header>National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health</header>
<section id="H8F25C9BF36024E0FA79A2A9C5AC712AD"><enum>501.</enum><header>Health Hazard
Evaluations by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 20(a)(6) of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/669">29 U.S.C. 669(a)(6)</external-xref>) is amended by
striking the second sentence and inserting the following: <quote>The Secretary
shall determine following a written request by any employer, authorized
representative of current or former employees, physician, other Federal agency,
or State or local health department, specifying with reasonable particularity
the grounds on which the request is made, whether any substance normally found
in the place of employment has potentially toxic effects in such concentrations
as used or found or whether any physical agents, equipment, or working
condition found or used has potentially hazardous effects; and shall submit
such determination both to employers and affected employees as soon as
possible.</quote>.</text>
</section><enum>VI</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<section id="H1A933D09A2704A0588C5A3698CF9A6BC"><enum>601.</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<subsection id="HBEDAE96B15E14297BE5054C6B39F1F14"><enum>(a)</enum><header>General
Rule</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided for
in subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take
effect not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD10518A841084196A52AF4C5110F3B55"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exception for
States and political subdivisions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The following are exceptions to the
effective date described in subsection (a):</text>
<paragraph id="H6A29994383CD42FB8D8F4ED36A77B848"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State that has a State plan approved
under section 18 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/667">29 U.S.C. 667</external-xref>) shall amend its State plan to conform with the
requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act not later than 12
months after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Labor may
extend the period for a State to make such amendments to its State plan by not
more than 12 months, if the State’s legislature is not in session during the
12-month period beginning with the date of the enactment of this Act. Such
amendments to the State plan shall take effect not later than 90 days after the
adoption of such amendments by such State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H69A86F86216845D7AE9F521C157B3B1B"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This Act and the amendments made by this
Act shall take effect not later than 36 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act with respect to a workplace of a State, or a political subdivision
of a State, that does not have a State plan approved under section 18 (29
U.S.C. 667).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>