113 S805 IS: Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013
U.S. Senate
2013-04-24
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 Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. References.
TITLE I—Additional inspection and investigation
authority
Sec. 101. Independent accident investigations.
Sec. 102. Subpoena authority and miner rights during
inspections and investigations.
Sec. 103. Designation of miner representative.
Sec. 104. Additional amendments relating to inspections,
investigations, and recordkeeping.
TITLE II—Enhanced enforcement authority
Sec. 201. Significant and substantial violations.
Sec. 202. Procedures and criteria for determining a pattern of
violations.
Sec. 203. Injunctive authority.
Sec. 204. Revocation of approval of plans.
Sec. 205. Challenging a decision to approve, modify, or revoke
a coal or other mine plan.
TITLE III—Penalties
Sec. 301. Civil penalties.
Sec. 302. Civil and criminal liability of officers, directors,
and agents.
Sec. 303. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 304. Commission review of penalty assessments.
Sec. 305. Delinquent payments and prejudgment
interest.
TITLE IV—Worker Rights and Protections
Sec. 401. Protection from retaliation.
Sec. 402. Protection from loss of pay.
TITLE V—Modernizing health and safety standards
Sec. 501. Pre-shift review of mine conditions.
Sec. 502. Rock dust standards.
Sec. 503. Atmospheric monitoring systems and additional
technological improvements.
Sec. 504. Technology related to respirable dust.
Sec. 505. Refresher training on miner rights and
responsibilities.
Sec. 506. Additional training.
Sec. 507. Brookwood-Sago mine safety grants.
Sec. 508. Certification of personnel.
Sec. 509. Electronic records requirement.
TITLE VI—Additional mine safety provisions
Sec. 601. Definitions.
Sec. 602. Assistance to States.
Sec. 603. Black lung medical reports.
Sec. 604. Study on workforce needs.
Sec. 605. Mine Safety and Health Administration strategic
planning.
Sec. 606. Double encumbrance; succession plan.
TITLE VII—Amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970
Sec. 701. Coverage of public employees.
Sec. 702. Enhanced protections from retaliation.
Sec. 703. Victims’ rights.
Sec. 704. Correction of serious, willful, or repeated
violations pending contest and procedures for a stay.
Sec. 705. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 706. Civil penalties.
Sec. 707. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 708. Penalties.
Sec. 709. Effective date.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)Employers have an
obligation to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for all
employees.
(2)To help fulfill
that obligation, Congress must conduct oversight of the executive agencies
responsible for enforcing workplace safety laws and must revise and update
Federal laws when necessary to protect the safety and health of the workforce
of the United States.
(3)In response to
several mining tragedies in early 2006, Congress quickly passed the most
sweeping changes to mine safety laws in 30 years. The Mine Improvement and New
Emergency Response Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–236, 120 Stat. 493), also known
as the MINER Act
, was signed into law on June 15, 2006.
(4)As a result of
the MINER Act—
(A)coal miners are
entitled to at least 2 hours of readily accessible oxygen supplies for use in
emergencies and additional oxygen supplies every 30 minutes along escape
routes;
(B)mines are
required to implement emergency response plans and have 2 rescue teams located
within one hour from the mine;
(C)mine operators
are subjected to penalties for failing to quickly notify the Mine Safety and
Health Administration about accidents; and
(D)a new grant
program was created to provide mine safety training.
(5)Although the
MINER Act made significant improvements to mine rescue capabilities, Congress
was again reminded of the need to continually improve and vigorously enforce
our Federal mine safety laws when, on April 5, 2010, an explosion ripped
through the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, killing 29 brave
West Virginia coal miners and seriously injuring another. This was the worst
coal mining disaster in the United States in nearly 40 years.
(6)We must never
forget those who have been impacted by this tragedy—family members, friends,
coworkers, loved ones, and most importantly, the individuals who perished in
the Upper Big Branch explosion: Carl Pee Wee
Acord, Jason
Matthew Atkins, Christopher Lee Bell, Sr., Gregory Steven Brock, Kenneth A.
Chapman, Sr., Robert Eugene Clark, Cory Davis, Charles Timothy Davis, Michael
Lee Elswick, William Ildon Griffith, Steven J. Smiley
Harrah,
Edward Dean
Jones, Richard Keith Lane, William Roosevelt Lynch,
Joe Marcum, Ronald Lee Maynor, Nicolas D. McCroskey, James Eddie
Mooney, Adam K. Morgan, Rex Lane Mullins, Joshua Scott Napper, Howard
Boone
Payne, Jr., Dillard Earl Dewey
Persinger,
Joel R. Jody
Price, Gary Wayne Quarles, Deward Allan Scott,
Grover Dale Skeens, Benny Ray Willingham, and Ricky L. Workman. Another miner,
James Woods, was seriously injured in the explosion and a second survivor, Tim
Blake, has been credited with heroically attempting to save the lives of his
fellow miners by applying emergency breathing devices to them while they were
unconscious.
(7)Five Federal,
State, and independent entities have conducted investigations into the Upper
Big Branch disaster. Together, these reports conclude that the Upper Big Branch
disaster was a preventable explosion caused by a failure of the operator to
follow known safety standards, including those that are intended to prevent
large-scale explosions.
(8)The United States
Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia has launched a criminal
investigation into the Upper Big Branch disaster, which to date has resulted in
the conviction of, or guilty pleas from, 4 employees or former employees of the
Upper Big Branch mine.
(9)In the 2 years
following the Upper Big Branch disaster, Congress has held a total of 9
hearings on the disaster and on mine safety generally.
(10)Congress
enacted, as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act (Public Law 111–203, 124 Stat. 1376), an amendment requiring publicly
traded mining companies to disclose serious safety violations to shareholders,
the public, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(11)Congress
appropriated $22,000,000 through the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010
(Public Law 111–212) to reduce the backlog of appeals at the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Review Commission, investigate the Upper Big Branch disaster,
and purchase emergency response equipment. During the year that this funding
was available, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission was able to
hire 6 additional judges and support staff and, along with the Department of
Labor, was able to dispose of 11,643 cases, including 6,924 cases that had been
specifically targeted for backlog reduction.
(12)In September
2010, the Mine Safety and Health Administration issued an emergency temporary
standard that strengthened rock dusting requirements to reduce the likelihood
and severity of explosions in underground mines. In June 2011, the agency
issued final regulations requiring mine operators to maintain incombustible
content of combined dust of at least 80 percent in underground mines.
(13)Since April
2010, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has increased its enforcement
by implementing impact inspections that target violations at unsafe mines with
poor compliance history or specific safety concerns. As of March 2013, the
Administration had conducted 579 impact inspections, resulting in 10,036
citations, 946 orders, and 43 safeguards.
(14)The Mine Safety
and Health Administration has also—
(A)revised the
screening criteria for placing mines onto pattern of violations status under
section 104(e) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C.
814(e)), which subjects unsafe mines to increased enforcement and
oversight;
(B)created a new
online tool to allow operators, miners, and the public to monitor whether a
mine could be subject to a pattern of violations; and
(C)finalized new
regulations that will eliminate regulatory loopholes that have allowed unsafe
mines to avoid being placed onto pattern of violations status
altogether.
(15)In April 2011,
for the first time in history since the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of
1977 (30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) was enacted, the Mine Safety and Health
Administration placed 2 mines onto pattern of violations status, and as of
November 2012, had issued 98 letters notifying mines that they faced a
potential pattern of violations, which is the regulatory precursor to being
placed onto pattern of violations status.
(16)The entities
charged with investigating the Upper Big Branch disaster have made several
recommendations to improve the safety of miners that can only be accomplished
through the legislative process. At this time, Congress has not passed
comprehensive mine safety legislation that is critical to improving the
long-term structure of mine safety efforts and providing the maximum level of
protection for our Nation’s miners and their families.
3.Except in title VII and as otherwise
expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment is expressed as an
amendment to a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to
be made to a section or other provision of the Federal Mine Safety and Health
Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.).
<enum>I</enum><header>Additional
inspection and investigation authority</header>
<section id="H27938FD8A4544ED093A753C52DFAB973" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Independent accident
investigations</header>
<subsection id="HB607D24767C6470D9646CED72D2E01CD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103(b) (30
U.S.C. 813(b)) is amended by striking <quote>(b) For the purpose</quote> and
inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCBC9ACE93F2846F9A375424D0FF0642C" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HE79963BFAAA1421EBC14AEDB648B33DA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Accident
investigations</header>
<paragraph id="H75414ACF536E484D98C9D408E63DC107"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For all accident
investigations under this Act, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBEA7370EA7F044E6BB0D6D1B144F35B8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>determine why the
accident occurred;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCE13507EA6AF4966BE541FF89A4EA376"><enum>(B)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id335AA1A466174A2CA2DEF0C38C5FD0B9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>determine whether there
were violations of law, mandatory health or safety standards, or other
requirements; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id0C6B838063E343B9B1CD21E9D2A01ED1" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if there is evidence of conduct
that may constitute a violation of Federal criminal law, refer such evidence to
the Attorney General of the United States; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H19547FD26A1A4C5ABEA06A540F74583F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>make
recommendations to avoid any recurrence.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0FC13BEF8E6443B1B3DF0DDAE4463E8E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Independent
accident investigations</header>
<subparagraph id="HEAEC6B24B5A846E2A7E6E0F23C208DA4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>There shall be, in addition to an accident investigation
under paragraph (1), an independent investigation by an independent
investigation panel (referred to in this subsection as the
<quote>Panel</quote>) appointed under subparagraph (B) for—</text>
<clause id="id5D849857839347B58E9CE6C2F1A27E4C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any accident
involving 3 or more deaths; or</text>
</clause><clause id="idFC08DD99ACE04CC5B32B124A4E0EFE73"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any accident
that is of such severity or scale for potential or actual harm that, in the
opinion of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the accident merits an
independent investigation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A6D2E729BF740D987D344A7B1904B27"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Appointment</header>
<clause id="H770C924CF960498D928FA8E31024A3F5"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>As soon as practicable after an accident described in
subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall appoint 5
members for the Panel required under this paragraph from among individuals who
have expertise in accident investigations, mine engineering, or mine safety and
health that is relevant to the particular investigation.</text>
</clause><clause id="H6FE89B04E04F4693B8365580A4DEF758"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Chairperson</header><text>The
Panel shall include, and be chaired by, a representative from the Office of
Mine Safety and Health Research, of the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (referred to in this subsection as
<quote>NIOSH</quote>).</text>
</clause><clause id="H2683CED41CBD453598A0536D9862641F"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Conflicts of
interest</header><text>Panel members, and staff and consultants assisting the
Panel with an investigation, shall be free from conflicts of interest with
regard to the investigation, and be subject to the same standards of ethical
conduct for persons employed by the Secretary.</text>
</clause><clause id="H8AEFE39C4392409FB9491FC43B22DC8C"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Composition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human
Services—</text>
<subclause id="id8D54C33FA1994765A65F696A948B9E00"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall appoint as members of the
Panel—</text>
<item id="HDBB9D89D24BF49289401BB33839282F6"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>1
operator of a mine or individual representing mine operators; and</text>
</item><item id="H99C486F046814B4E96EC8FEA2807139F"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>1
member of a labor organization or other representative of miners; and</text>
</item></subclause><subclause id="idCC45D1554C154D6381D3D92E8B7EECC1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>shall not
appoint more than 1 of either type of individuals described in items (aa) and
(bb) as members of the Panel.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HEA8DD3DF65E24C1E9A7CD9ADCC81E028"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Staff and
expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director of
NIOSH shall designate NIOSH staff to facilitate the work of the Panel. The
Director may accept as staff personnel on detail from other Federal agencies or
may re-employ annuitants. The detail of personnel under this paragraph may be
on a non-reimbursable basis, and such detail shall be without interruption or
loss of civil service status or privilege. The Director of NIOSH shall have the
authority to procure on behalf of the Panel such materials, supplies, or
services, including technical experts, as requested in writing by a majority of
the Panel.</text>
</clause><clause id="H6BAE0804736D450B82FCA8D7BC1F10DA"><enum>(vi)</enum><header>Compensation
and travel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All members of the
Panel who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without
compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or
employees of the United States. Each Panel member who is not an officer or
employee of the United States shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the
Executive Schedule under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5315">section 5315</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, for each
day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the
performance of duties of the Panel. The members of the Panel shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized
for employees of agencies under subchapter 1 of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/57">chapter 57</external-xref> of title 5, United
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the
performance of services for the Panel.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1A12FD614BD047B8A3B75132D15C47A4"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
Panel shall—</text>
<clause id="H0B24C2CEE7C745D69E67FDC31530F176"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assess and identify any factors that caused
the accident, including deficiencies in safety management systems, regulations,
enforcement, industry practices or guidelines, or organizational
failures;</text>
</clause><clause id="H3CAEF041D9294576A194797D70B0BDB7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>identify and
evaluate any contributing actions or inactions of—</text>
<subclause id="H79F27C42634F4DC181ED48CB3D0E5082"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the
operator;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD55EEED835294F3AA8DF02F45996C1D2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any contractors
or other persons engaged in mining-related functions at the site;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H22B7DDB5324049CAA42D94C54D4A0F9C"><enum>(III)</enum><text>any State agency
with oversight responsibilities;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HDEAD92A9B20F45C3A64841DE427E6812"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>any agency or
office within the Department of Labor;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="idC259388006D549C0B9DA2EF36EC7443A"><enum>(V)</enum><text>the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Review Commission; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HAB17502ECD2041E9B6054327F69F9E57"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>any other person
or entity (including equipment manufacturers);</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HC0D01A5BE12346A380B0E75555E3C173"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>review the
determinations and recommendations made by the Secretary under paragraph
(1);</text>
</clause><clause id="H735832B2339E41A89F997A4890BE0768"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>prepare a report
that—</text>
<subclause id="HEBEE4BBB1F07467E94C8692DF04484C4"><enum>(I)</enum><text>includes the
findings regarding the causal factors described in clauses (i) and (ii);</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HDDA522ADDE704FFF82276B9D5E6FC359"><enum>(II)</enum><text>identifies any
strengths and weaknesses in the Secretary’s investigation; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H967A71DD6205475B8ACBDEE385537351"><enum>(III)</enum><text>includes
recommendations, including interim recommendations where appropriate, to
industry, labor organizations, State and Federal agencies, or Congress,
regarding policy, regulatory, enforcement, administrative, or other changes,
that, in the judgment of the Panel, would prevent a recurrence at other mines;
and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H1A7E301CA5C648A781F91F0288D43719"><enum>(v)</enum><text>publish such
findings and recommendations (excluding any portions which the Attorney General
requests that the Secretary withhold in relation to a criminal referral) and
hold public meetings to inform the mining community and families of affected
miners of the Panel's findings and recommendations.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDFAEBFD5CA59426EA8A4ADDBDAB372E3"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Hearings;
applicability of certain Federal law</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Panel shall have the authority to
conduct public hearings or meetings, but shall not be subject to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). All public hearings of the Panel shall
be subject to the requirements under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/552b">section 552b</external-xref> of title 5, United States
Code.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9F711587A4DD425EA79DFF6835C073C9"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Memorandum of
Understanding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than
90 days after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of
2013</short-title>, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall conclude and publically issue a memorandum of
understanding that—</text>
<clause id="H2DB741EF69CD4BF99E539E820133AA60"><enum>(i)</enum><text>outlines
administrative arrangements which will facilitate a coordination of efforts
between the Secretary of Labor and the Panel, ensures that the Secretary's
investigation under paragraph (1) is not delayed or otherwise compromised by
the activities of the Panel, and establishes a process to resolve any conflicts
between such investigations;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF0142616FF614347B6DF4F0467153EA6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>ensures that
Panel members or staff will be able to participate in investigation activities
(such as mine inspections and interviews) related to the Secretary of Labor’s
investigation and will have full access to documents that are assembled or
produced in such investigation, and ensures that the Secretary of Labor will
make available to the Panel all of the authority provided to such Secretary
under this section, including subpoena authority, to obtain information and
witnesses which may be requested by such Panel; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H9B2909F02C2947E69145168E9A1280E0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>establishes such
other arrangements as are necessary to implement this paragraph.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9BEBC84C6C3F47A8B275231328101B9D"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of the <short-title>Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013</short-title>, the Secretary of Health
and Human Services shall establish procedures to ensure the consistency and
effectiveness of Panel investigations. In establishing such procedures, such
Secretary shall consult with independent safety investigation agencies, sectors
of the mining industry, representatives of miners, families of miners involved
in fatal accidents, State mine safety agencies, and mine rescue organizations.
Such procedures shall include—</text>
<clause id="HC4FE42844B934F91A056EDC87F9A26E0"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">authority for the Panel to use evidence,
samples, interviews, data, analyses, findings, or other information gathered by
the Secretary of Labor, as the Panel determines valid;</text>
</clause><clause id="H5D3ACF89326F4640928A97B08D9BD924"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provisions to
ensure confidentiality if requested by any witness, to the extent permitted by
law, and prevent conflicts of interest in witness representation; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H223FDC896B944EB0BB8FA36B572BC4CB"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provisions for
preservation of public access to the Panel’s records through the Secretary of
Health and Human Services.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1d17336dd96f4219b797129498de1623"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Subpoenas;
contempt; witnesses</header>
<clause id="id7d938d7d4ea444958bfc326bc1279e17"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Hearings and
subpoena authority</header><text>For the purpose of carrying out any
investigation of any accident or other occurrence relating to health or safety
in a coal or other mine under this paragraph, the Director of NIOSH shall, at
the request of a majority of the Panel or upon the Director's own initiative
sign, and issue subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the
production of relevant papers, books, and documents, and administer oaths.
Witnesses summoned shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid
witnesses in the courts of the United States.</text>
</clause><clause id="id04a13e7ca5ba41f1bc091cff73b451a3"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Contumacy</header><text>In
case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena served upon any person under
this subparagraph, the district court of the United States for any district in
which such person is found, resides, or transacts business, upon application by
the United States and after notice to such person, shall have jurisdiction to
issue an order requiring such person to appear and give testimony before the
Director of NIOSH or Panel, or to appear and produce documents before the
Director or Panel, or both, and any failure to obey such order of the court may
be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.</text>
</clause><clause id="id611d3c7a65964b0ca47f041791536159"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Additional
investigative authority</header><text>In carrying out inspections and
investigations under this paragraph, the Director of NIOSH or the Panel, and
the staff of and attorneys representing the Director or Panel, are authorized
to question any individual privately. Under this subparagraph, any individual
who is willing to speak with or provide a statement to the Director or Panel,
or the staff or attorneys of the Director or Panel, may do so without the
presence, involvement, or knowledge of the operator or the operator's agents or
attorneys. The Director or Panel shall keep the identity of an individual
providing such a statement confidential to the extent permitted by law. Nothing
in this paragraph prevents any individual from being represented by that
individual’s personal attorney or other representative.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HABD4DCEE17AF443DBAD178D507CAD576"><enum>(H)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this subsection such sums as may be necessary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H80A009E5F3F340BD8D70FD7F1F750D8B"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Powers and
processes</header><text>For the
purpose</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H13FAEBC140DB40A9BAA5BA2D164BC5B9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reporting
requirements</header><text>Section 511(a) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/958">30 U.S.C. 958(a)</external-xref>) is amended by
inserting after <quote>501,</quote> the following: <quote>the status of
implementation of recommendations from each independent investigation panel
under section 103(b) received in the preceding 5 years,</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H020C9D913D084065860CBD58E29B7CB9"><enum>102.</enum><header>Subpoena
authority and miner rights during inspections and investigations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 103(b) (as amended by section
101(a)) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/813">30 U.S.C. 813(b)</external-xref>) is further amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8998D2DF3B3A4AF28C3033BFDED8B8CB" style="traditional">
<paragraph id="H54E6614D735749988A7474A43CA5B5FE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Additional
powers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purpose of
enabling the Secretary to perform any of the functions under this Act, the
Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee, may sign and issue subpoenas for the
attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of information,
including all relevant data, papers, books, documents, and items of physical
evidence, and administer oaths. Witnesses summoned shall be paid the same fees
that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. In carrying out
inspections and investigations under this subsection, authorized
representatives of the Secretary and attorneys representing the Secretary are
authorized to question any individual privately. Under this section, any
individual who is willing to speak with or provide a statement to such
authorized representatives or attorneys representing the Secretary may do so
without the presence, involvement, or knowledge of the operator or the
operator’s agents or attorneys. The Secretary shall keep the identity of an
individual providing such a statement confidential to the extent permitted by
law. Nothing in this paragraph prevents any individual from being represented
by that individual’s personal attorney or other
representative.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE1CA958DA08A4FA6BA2EA4B3CE7E6165" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header>Designation of miner
representative</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 103(f)
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/813">30 U.S.C. 813(f)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting before the last sentence the
following: <quote>If any miner is entrapped, disabled, killed, or otherwise
prevented as the result of an accident in such mine from designating such a
representative directly, such miner’s closest relative may act on behalf of
such miner in designating such a representative. If any miner is not currently
working in such mine as the result of an accident in such mine, but would be
currently working in such mine but for such accident, such miner may designate
such a representative. A representative of miners shall have the right to
participate in any accident investigation the Secretary initiates pursuant to
subsection (b), including the right to participate in investigative interviews
and to review all relevant papers, books, documents and records produced in
connection with the accident investigation, unless the Secretary, in
consultation with the Attorney General, excludes such representative from the
investigation on the grounds that inclusion would interfere with or adversely
impact a criminal investigation that is pending or under
consideration.</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HB23EF364859D45EFB526B5DA3F187839"><enum>104.</enum><header>Additional
amendments relating to inspections, investigations, and recordkeeping</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HC7A5D42B2B0E45E68422D2E9D089FAA1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hours of
inspections</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103(a)
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/813">30 U.S.C. 813(a)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the third sentence the
following: <quote>Such inspections shall be conducted during the various shifts
and days of the week during which miners are normally present in the mine to
ensure that the protections of this Act are afforded to all miners working all
shifts. If an inspection of a working section of a mine occurs during a shift
on which a mechanized mining unit is producing, or customarily produces, coal
on such section, then such inspection shall be conducted while such unit is
producing coal at a rate that is reasonably consistent with the average rate of
production at the mine during the previous quarter.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id6DD9E6B03BAC4BF8A812CD7E819DA534"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Increased
targeted inspections</header><text>Section 103(a) (as amended by subsection
(a)) is further amended by inserting after the fifth sentence (as inserted by
such subsection) the following: <quote>If the Secretary determines that the
operator has not properly maintained a record of all violations of this Act
(including any mandatory health or safety standard or regulation promulgated
under this Act) for a mine, the Secretary shall provide, during the 3-month
period following such determination, a minimum of one spot inspection by his
authorized representative of all or part of such mine, during every 15 working
days and at irregular intervals. Such inspections shall be in addition to any
other inspections required under this section.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id31fc013ba35e4beea1d6f0a678c30652"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Injury and
illness reporting</header><text>Section 103(d) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/813">30 U.S.C. 813(d)</external-xref>) is amended by
striking the last sentence and inserting the following: <quote>The records to
be kept and made available by the operator of the mine shall include man-hours
worked and occupational injuries and illnesses, and shall be maintained
separately for each mine and be reported at a frequency determined by the
Secretary, but at not less than annually. Each operator shall be responsible
for reporting on all miners working at such mine regardless of their employer,
except that independent contractors (within the meaning of section 3(d)) shall
only be responsible for reporting on miners in their employ or under their
direction or authority.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H17C810A5FF2345AD9EDFBEBD80C1373E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Orders following
an accident</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103(k)
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/813">30 U.S.C. 813(k)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>, when
present,</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id0c96ac26b5034580a6cadf06c5a7ca25"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Conflict of
interest in the representation of miners</header><text>Section 103(a) (30
U.S.C. 813(a)) (as amended by subsections (a) and (b) is further amended by
adding at the end the following: <quote>During inspections and investigations
under this section, and during any litigation under this Act, no attorney shall
represent or purport to represent both the operator of a coal or other mine and
any other individual, unless such individual has knowingly and voluntarily
waived all actual and reasonably foreseeable conflicts of interest resulting
from such representation. The Secretary is authorized to take such actions as
the Secretary considers appropriate to ascertain whether such individual has
knowingly and voluntarily waived all such conflicts of interest. If the
Secretary finds that such an individual cannot be represented adequately by
such an attorney due to such conflicts of interest, the Secretary may petition
the appropriate United States District Court which shall have jurisdiction to
disqualify such attorney as counsel to such individual in the matter. The
Secretary may make such a motion as part of an ongoing related civil action or
as a miscellaneous action.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id9FBBBD9857F245D6AE6321FEFE742D26"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Electronic
database</header><text>Section 103 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/813">30 U.S.C. 813</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE644F3AE098F473795EB2C7877B468D2" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="id3EE9A80016774A26AB395C493B272886"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Electronic
database</header><text>The Secretary shall establish and maintain a publicly
available electronic database containing current and historical data on the
safety records of each coal or other mine. Such database shall be user-friendly
and searchable, and shall have the ability to provide aggregate data for each
mine, each operator, and each controller of a mine and the ability to compare
safety data between mines, operators, and
controllers.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id528E1D66E105446BB265B6DA40799610"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Federal-State
coordination</header><text>Section 103 (as amended by subsection (f)) is
further amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDFC21340BAA4429EAF6D732D782E24CD" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="id696CE5447C9F493B88B23AA79F754D0B"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Federal-State
coordination</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idC993427F865E423D92AF51F934BE3D19"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, when the Secretary
identifies a mine as having a significant or persistent safety or health
problem—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idC7132C96D40F4F33987BC6D4C7CACE8D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an authorized
representative of the Secretary shall request a meeting with the appropriate
State-level regulator to share the concerns of the Secretary when the Secretary
determines that such actions would improve conditions of the mine; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id5147845DBC344D8C97B49E17DCBB1D3C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary and
the State-level regulator may develop a joint plan designed to correct the
identified problem.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id0984F8D3F5FD46FA957F2AA37E858AC6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Rule of
construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
require the Secretary to take action that could delay or compromise any civil
or criminal enforcement action or
proceeding.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id8816F6AFA4F246B7BB490AFA25091648"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Outside experts
in investigations</header><text>Section 112 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/822">30 U.S.C. 822</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id79A327ECBC144AFABAE011F0FF05A904"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Except as provided</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id286D1FE0958F46549CC3E8C829045BF7" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="idC19BD1673097424A8A9FDD907B20290A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Civil
litigation representation</header><text>Except as
provided</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idE163F3AB4B9C4473BE11AC199E9B063F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0CE7AE8BDAF245DCB051935E4B2DDDEC" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="idB857E2C1E795453A8AE09B6E22872559"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mining experts
in investigations</header><text>The Attorney General shall designate 1 or more
full-time employees with expertise in the mining industry to coordinate with
the Department of Labor and assist United States attorneys in the investigation
and prosecution of criminal violations under this
Act.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Enhanced
enforcement authority</header>
<section commented="no" id="H7F0C2B2F31954DFFAF80BBFEEB02522C"><enum>201.</enum><header>Significant and
substantial violations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><italic></italic>Section 104(d)(1) (30
U.S.C. 814(d)(1)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HE5D6BEF640034CD7A1CBA1C46E7ABA72"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first
sentence—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HD567600E8CCB4F24BE3748455C44AABB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>any mandatory health or safety standard</quote> and inserting <quote>any
provision of this Act, including any mandatory health or safety standard or
regulation promulgated under this Act</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HCD41CDD263344ED991A5E316CEABFBB9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>such mandatory health or safety standards</quote> and inserting
<quote>such provisions, regulations, or mandatory health or safety
standards</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H963C318238884068B60A89CD4E9D1CD1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the second
sentence, by striking <quote>any mandatory health or safety standard</quote>
and inserting <quote>any provision of this Act, including any mandatory health
or safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act,</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H46DB9329861C46DDB68A805F73B1EF09"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after the first sentence the
following: <quote>For purposes of this Act, a violation of a provision of this
Act, including any mandatory health or safety standard or regulation
promulgated under this Act, is of such nature as could significantly and
substantially contribute to the cause and effect of a safety or health hazard
if there is a reasonable possibility that such violation could result in
injury, illness, or death.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" id="id2EEF06ED29CC48E083177EE5F27028D8"><enum>202.</enum><header>Procedures and
criteria for determining a pattern of violations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 104(e)(4) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9DBA65FE05B4450F882252DBF46A876F" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="id3434D530C5E84232B502232A1FD31BED"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The criteria for
determining when a pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety
standards exists, and the requirements for the issuance and termination of
notice of a pattern of violations, shall be the criteria and requirements in
the regulations promulgated by the Secretary under part 104 of chapter I of
title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, as published on January 23, 2013 (78
Federal Register 5073 through
5074).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H46CCA562028346FCAC57A9B2AF1A32AA"><enum>203.</enum><header>Injunctive
authority</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 108(a)(2)
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/818">30 U.S.C. 818(a)(2)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>a pattern of violation
of</quote> and all that follows and inserting <quote>a course of conduct that
in the judgment of the Secretary constitutes a continuing hazard to the health
or safety of miners, including violations of this Act or of mandatory health or
safety standards or regulations under this Act.</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H2708603282094D5BBDE616760755E45E"><enum>204.</enum><header>Revocation of
approval of plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 105
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/815">30 U.S.C. 815</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H4326EF8E6C7648E4A48CCCAF3C25DF73"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (d) as subsection (e); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5651ECCB1A5E4497B72BAA980CFEC883"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (c) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H88CF0D4202A94BB9BB34FF2972329E4F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HD9578090F48044E0A96757B8E9D6BC54"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Revocation of
approval of plans</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4A0F0162B72F467A9CA901CCE6CF2D2D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Revocation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary finds that any program or
plan of an operator, or part thereof, that was approved by the Secretary under
this Act is based on inaccurate information or that circumstances that existed
when such plan was approved have materially changed and that continued
operation of such mine under such plan constitutes a hazard to the safety or
health of miners, the Secretary shall revoke the approval of such program or
plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H28D2FDC108DF4573930D00B0A5782566"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Withdrawal
orders</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon revocation of the
approval of a program or plan under subsection (a), the Secretary may
immediately issue an order requiring the operator to cause all persons, except
those persons referred to in section 104(c), to be withdrawn from such mine,
and to be prohibited from entering such mine, until the operator has submitted
and the Secretary has approved a new
plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H1A358337A4A548A98A4102FE0F41EE9A"><enum>205.</enum><header>Challenging a
decision to approve, modify, or revoke a coal or other mine plan</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 105(e) (as redesignated by section
204(1)) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/815">30 U.S.C. 815(e)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:
<quote>In any proceeding in which a party challenges the Secretary’s decision
regarding whether to approve, modify, or revoke a coal or other mine plan under
this Act, the Commission and the courts shall affirm the Secretary’s decision
unless the challenging party establishes that such decision was arbitrary,
capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with
law.</quote>.</text>
</section><enum>III</enum><header>Penalties</header>
<section id="H759D1B419C0448BD93386FD21356743D"><enum>301.</enum><header>Civil
penalties</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HD0C4711051724791A1863ECEA76EF1C9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Maximum civil
penalties</header><text>Section 110(a)(1) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/820">30 U.S.C. 820(a)(1)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H7583A4FA3A264956BC9F37C2E1F8D878"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>including any regulation promulgated under this Act,</quote> after
<quote>this Act,</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H3407F5CF7C9C41748E95610074D2FA85"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>violation.</quote> and inserting <quote>violation, except that, in the
case of a significant and substantial violation, the penalty shall be not more
than $150,000 for each such violation.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idea9ea3289f664ad6907d8217a2b071f0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Increased civil
penalties</header><text>Section 110(b) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/820">30 U.S.C. 820(b)</external-xref>) is amended by adding
at the end the following—</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide89497c4d76641f581a224422633ef52" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idd57b967ff93d4c32bcc045e036f9d1db"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The operator of a
coal or other mine may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $220,000 by
the Secretary for—</text>
<subparagraph id="id051ed1fedf4044f38e6f9b0e256667f7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any change in
ventilation in a coal or other mine, where such ventilation system or control
is required by a ventilation plan, safety standard, or order, that is made
without prior approval from the Secretary;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc571bd1e9aff4830824ac9839f8690e4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a violation of a
mandatory health or safety standard requiring rock dusting;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idce25711c1b16447294a219631d446b54"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a violation of
the prohibition under section 101 regarding providing advance notice of an
inspection;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddac9cf5b82c645e09f5bd440e1ccf0f7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a violation of a
mandatory health or safety standard requiring examinations of work areas in an
underground coal mine; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id83b3167df23b45e2ad57838b01806094"><enum>(E)</enum><text>a failure to keep
the records required for the mine by the Secretary in accordance with this
Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id58ef262d242c491fb2acb5a967ba81fa"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Act, an operator of a coal or other mine that is in
pattern of violations status under section 104(e) shall be assessed an
increased civil penalty for any violation of this Act, including any mandatory
health or safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act. Such
increased penalty shall be twice the amount that would otherwise be assessed
for the violation under this Act, including the regulations promulgated under
this Act, subject to the maximum civil penalty established for the violation
under this
Act.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H9A3C5A23B6E74BA6B6EBB6A42A7286C5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Civil penalty
for retaliation</header><text>Section 110(a) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/820">30 U.S.C. 820(a)</external-xref>) is further
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H043C22B3860D42DC935420C2F347917B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEBB4750537594ABCB98AD752FF609883"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HADD70C1269A24F3AB911E29A7BE7FD97" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H4662C4CCCD424B54B93B651924FD7D58" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>If any person violates section
105(c), the Secretary shall propose, and the Commission shall assess, a civil
penalty of not less than $10,000 or more than $100,000 for the first occurrence
of such violation, and not less than $20,000 or more than $200,000 for any
subsequent violation, during any 3-year
period.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H71F3EAEE5BC8400EBD5495990265E3EC"><enum>302.</enum><header>Civil and
criminal liability of officers, directors, and agents</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 110(c) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/820">30 U.S.C. 820(c)</external-xref>) is amended
to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H57803BA8B18447359A727F200E1AE7C7" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H3E0B72B50037466D9ED98423446CAFEB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Civil and
criminal liability of officers, directors, and agents</header><text>Whenever an
operator violates a provision of this Act, including any mandatory health or
safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act, or knowingly violates
or fails or refuses to comply with any order issued under this Act or any order
incorporated in a final decision issued under this Act, any director, officer,
or agent of such operator who knowingly authorized, ordered, or carried out
such violation, failure, or refusal, or any policy or practice that contributed
to the occurrence of such violation, failure, or refusal, shall be subject to
the same civil penalties, fines, and imprisonment that may be imposed upon a
person under this
section.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HB2AE94E005C643849E3D9E3A77024709"><enum>303.</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header>
<subsection id="H4BA36422B48F495595554A69C8C31AD9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Intent
requirements for criminal penalty standards</header><text>Section 110(d) (30
U.S.C. 820(d)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H3B06963842B2461A9F547C76B2FE438B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>willfully</quote> and
inserting <quote>knowingly</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD826C349F47643A0BE07A87F6E79851D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>$250,000, or by
imprisonment for not more than one year</quote> and inserting
<quote>$1,000,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 5 years</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5392C89C64124150A6298A672C356563"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$500,000, or by imprisonment for not more than five years</quote> and
inserting <quote>$2,000,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 10
years</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7EAD53C981264CE6805FEAD7064A538B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Criminal penalty
for retaliation</header><text>Section 110(d) is further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HC5E7F3675C27415F91CFF98783EF4890"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(1)</quote> before <quote>Any operator</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H46E594A41DE84410BB6A5DDE4CF68546"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H82D684EB532940119D8EE2A22C36148C" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9E661AD19D534379ADC3CD6312F0210B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Whoever knowingly takes any action
that is directly or indirectly harmful to any person, including action that
interferes with the lawful employment or livelihood of any person, because such
person has provided an authorized representative of the Secretary or another
law enforcement officer with any information related to the existence of a
health or safety violation or an unhealthful or unsafe condition, policy, or
practice under this Act shall be fined under title 18, United States Code,
imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or
both.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5ACDB39CAA844F39A7AFCDD2EAAA3B93"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Advance notice
of inspections</header>
<paragraph id="H25B08611D0934E8F82F6D57102A2A6B6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 110(e) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/820">30 U.S.C. 820(e)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H079B5359FD71490DB1AD15BA68C5923C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Unless</quote> and inserting <quote>(1) Unless</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE4A3C4E109C44E4091B88DADF10DC414"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1417CCF45127456FA635BA5FE75E214F" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H2085CA25DBFC47409918961CE1277812" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Unless otherwise authorized by this
Act, any operator, agent or contractor of any operator, miner, inspector,
employee of the Administration, or State mine inspector, that knowingly gives,
causes to give, or attempts to give or cause to give advance notice of any
inspection to be conducted under this Act shall be fined under title 18, United
States Code, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or
both.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7C88A14503DB4273897B635A22F35FBA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Posting of
advance notice penalties</header><text>Section 109 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/819">30 U.S.C. 819</external-xref>) is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B013D767F4C49B79EF85EED6B0D8D9D" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HB1657E0AEDCE431FB83B6C4108148175"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Posting of
advance notice penalties</header><text>Each operator of a coal or other mine
shall post, on the bulletin board described in subsection (a) and in a
conspicuous place near each staffed entrance onto the mine property, a notice
stating, in a form and manner to be prescribed by the Secretary—</text>
<paragraph id="H4BB38F5DFA034B12BF26B3D50351F17F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>that giving,
causing to give, or attempting to give or cause to give advance notice of any
inspection to be conducted under this Act is unlawful pursuant to section
110(e); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD9696A6387444A878DB95602AD9865B0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the maximum
penalties for a violation under such
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H9F7B7A7DC5ED4315B2624247BD862B2E"><enum>304.</enum><header>Commission
review of penalty assessments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 110(i) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/820">30 U.S.C. 820(i)</external-xref>) is amended
by striking <quote>In assessing civil monetary penalties, the Commission shall
consider</quote> and inserting the following: <quote>In any review of a
citation and proposed penalty assessment contested by an operator, the
Commission shall assess not less than the penalty derived by using the same
methodology (including any point system) prescribed in regulations under this
Act, so as to ensure consistency in operator penalty assessments, except that
the Commission may assess a penalty for less than the amount that would result
from the utilization of such methodology if the Commission finds that there are
extraordinary circumstances. If there is no such methodology prescribed for a
citation or there are such extraordinary circumstances, the Commission shall
assess the penalty by considering</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HBB14B2B37E2F479BAE89A03CE4380B3A"><enum>305.</enum><header>Delinquent
payments and prejudgment interest</header>
<subsection id="HBD7AAD1E40094C27B8F396DB28B43D26"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Pre-Final order
interest</header><text>Section 110(j) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/820">30 U.S.C. 820(j)</external-xref>) is amended by striking
the second and third sentences and inserting the following: <quote>Pre-final
order interest on such penalties shall begin to accrue on the date the operator
contests a citation issued under this Act, including any mandatory health or
safety standard or regulation promulgated 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 annum.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6684A74A2D0E44CEBDD84AF190CCC7F4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Ensuring payment
of penalties</header>
<paragraph id="H31C46F54FF6349F789995F789376092E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 110 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/820">30 U.S.C. 820</external-xref>) is further
amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB3874FC41F714C51A4AF4FA3C826DF63"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (l) as
subsection (m); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H80247A86F47F4A60A569354C30CB35F9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (k) the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE1595AEB1B0B4F4989AFEF6A3B5DA66A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HAD23C28E3C134587B57F6792C55F3966"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Ensuring
payments of penalties</header>
<paragraph id="HEF706FC710AD493A9733E160C59DEC07"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Delinquent
payment letter</header><text>If the operator of a coal or other mine fails to
pay any civil penalty assessment that has become a final order of the
Commission or a court within 45 days after such assessment became a final
order, the Secretary shall send the operator a letter advising the operator of
the consequences under this subsection of such failure to pay. The letter shall
also advise the operator of the opportunity to enter into or modify a payment
plan with the Secretary based upon a demonstrated inability to pay, the
procedure for entering into such plan, and the consequences of not entering
into or not complying with such plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H23313081F1E24C4BAC623DBCFB42287D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Withdrawal
orders following failure to pay</header><text>If an operator that receives a
letter under paragraph (1) has not paid the assessment by the date that is 180
days after such assessment became a final order and has not entered into a
payment plan with the Secretary, the Secretary shall issue an order requiring
such operator to cause all persons, except those referred to in section 104(c),
to be withdrawn from, and to be prohibited from entering, the mine that is
covered by the final order described in paragraph (1), until the operator pays
such assessment in full (including interest and administrative costs) or enters
into a payment plan with the Secretary. If such operator enters into a payment
plan with the Secretary and at any time fails to comply with the terms
specified in such payment plan, the Secretary shall issue an order requiring
such operator to cause all persons, except those referred to in section 104(c),
to be withdrawn from the mine that is covered by such final order, and to be
prohibited from entering such mine, until the operator rectifies the
noncompliance with the payment plan in the manner specified in such payment
plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5B2E0E07631C444DB1AD5B4277DAF6C0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability
and effective date</header><text>The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall
apply to all unpaid civil penalty assessments under the Federal Mine Safety and
Health Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/801">30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.</external-xref>), except that, for any unpaid civil
penalty assessment that became a final order of the Commission or a court
before the date of enactment of this Act, the time periods under section 110(l)
of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (as amended) (30 U.S.C.
820(l)) shall be calculated as beginning on the date of enactment of this Act
instead of on the date of the final order.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Worker Rights and
Protections</header>
<section id="HBFB25A65D64D419B80C273295C0CE048"><enum>401.</enum><header>Protection from
retaliation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 105(c) (30
U.S.C. 815(c)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H047CFB6AF0A24CA2B880C2F8ACC2628B" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HB944FB7A6D094DD4A659DAB7D83E4DFF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Protection from
retaliation</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Retaliation
prohibited</header>
<subparagraph id="id61cd7293c3ff4bab8e8f6683b85e1549"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Retaliation for
complaint or testimony</header><text>No person shall discharge or in any manner
discriminate against or cause to be discharged or cause discrimination against
or otherwise interfere with the exercise of the statutory rights of any miner
or other employee of an operator, any representative of miners, or any
applicant for employment—</text>
<clause id="id7940851e903843e3b491b3297714f019"><enum>(i)</enum><text>because such
miner or other employee, representative, or applicant for employment—</text>
<subclause id="id491884c48af84e79a5e111a84e9a6be8"><enum>(I)</enum><text>has filed or made
a complaint, or is about to file or make a complaint, including a complaint
notifying the operator or the operator’s agent, or the representative of the
miners at the coal or other mine, of an alleged danger or safety or health
violation in a coal or other mine;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id142df66fed4942989cc5403878b5c2ad"><enum>(II)</enum><text>has instituted
or caused to be instituted, or is about to institute or cause to be instituted,
any proceeding under or related to this Act or has testified or is about to
testify in any such proceeding;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id5C0CE5A93D544DC5B36F3488D320C4D4"><enum>(III)</enum><text>has exercised,
on behalf of him or herself or others, any right afforded by this Act, or has
reported any injury or illness to an operator or agent;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id371a9a2082b24c8e8e6849aa40dcdc62"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>has testified or
is about to testify before Congress or any Federal or State proceeding related
to safety or health in a coal or other mine; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id1f58805e44e94eb5a52eaf9c53e57156"><enum>(V)</enum><text>refused to
violate any provision of this Act (including any mandatory health or safety
standard or regulation promulgated under this Act);</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="id1de3eca2ded7455fbda8a42a0ac67258"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>because such
miner is the subject of medical evaluations and potential transfer under a
standard published pursuant to section 101;</text>
</clause><clause id="idbfa8905addf04f418790884045e99de6"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>where the
discharge, discrimination or other retaliation was based on a suspicion or
belief that such miner or other employee, representative, or applicant, or
engaged in, or is about to engage in, any of the activities described in clause
(i); or</text>
</clause><clause id="idD769D5E030CE4EDBA12565E040AFC7E7"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>because the
spouse, sibling, child, or parent of the miner or other employee or applicant
for employment—</text>
<subclause id="idB01A5F2596C24211A474B5AD76A88698"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is a miner or
other employee or applicant at a mine under the control of the same operator;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id1CCA946B5CDD4924A8FCB99426E63952"><enum>(II)</enum><text>has engaged in
activity that is protected under clause (i), (ii), or (iii).</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD955A26A9B4D4320866985E2E2BB4227"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Retaliation for
refusal to perform duties</header>
<clause id="HBF8E048857F54ADE960D232E60690192"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No person shall
discharge or in any manner discriminate against a miner or other employee of an
operator for refusing to perform the miner’s or other employee’s duties if the
miner or other employee has a good-faith and reasonable belief that performing
such duties would pose a safety or health hazard to the miner or other employee
or to any other miner or employee.</text>
</clause><clause id="H5164BE0FEF1F48DB97CCD4772C8AE407"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Standard</header><text>For
purposes of clause (i), the circumstances causing the miner’s or other
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 miner or other employee, would conclude that
there is such a hazard. In order to qualify for protection under this
paragraph, the miner or other employee, when practicable, shall have
communicated or attempted to communicate the safety or health concern to the
operator and have not received from the operator a response reasonably
calculated to allay such concern.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H85FFAD909C314DAAB3B22EEF0DBF20F4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Complaint</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any miner or other employee, representative
of miners, or applicant for employment who believes that he or she has been
discharged, disciplined, or otherwise discriminated against by any person in
violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> may file a complaint with the
Secretary alleging such discrimination not later than 180 days after the later
of the last date on which an alleged violation of such
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph</internal-xref> occurs or the date on which the
miner or other employee or representative knows or should reasonably have known
that such alleged violation occurred.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H711653AEA8AB41BBB8EA9A1746FCEE21"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Investigation
and hearing</header>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC1FBE734DFC041BB8721B42884358D67"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Commencement of
investigation and initial determination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon receipt of such complaint, the
Secretary shall—</text>
<clause display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id40051B03354A41AAA400B8CA5F4E83D5"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">forward a copy of the complaint to the
respondent;</text>
</clause><clause display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3535D3E9AF0A4A1D996379D00274E3F0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">commence an investigation within 15 days of
the Secretary’s receipt of the complaint; and</text>
</clause><clause display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE2E7A3E17F7B41279E805522CAFB8EF3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as soon as practicable after commencing
such investigation, make the determination required under subparagraph (B)
regarding the reinstatement of the miner or other employee.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE6EA220324A64054B4D0165627A8ACF3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reinstatement</header><text>If
the Secretary finds that such complaint was not frivolously brought, the
Commission, on an expedited basis upon application of the Secretary, shall
order the immediate reinstatement of the miner or other employee until there
has been a final Commission order disposing of the underlying complaint of the
miner or other employee. If either the Secretary or the miner or other employee
pursues the underlying complaint, such reinstatement shall remain in effect
until the Commission has disposed of such complaint on the merits, regardless
of whether the Secretary pursues such complaint by filing a complaint under
subparagraph (D) or the miner or other employee pursues such complaint by
filing an action under paragraph (4). If neither the Secretary nor the miner or
other employee pursues the underlying complaint within the periods specified in
paragraph (4), such reinstatement shall remain in effect until such time as the
Commission may, upon motion of the operator and after providing notice and an
opportunity to be heard to the parties, vacate such complaint for failure to
prosecute.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCD6D547D47D9477A9188285F3F668EA7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Investigation</header><text>Such
investigation shall include interviewing the complainant and—</text>
<clause id="H48DB5011DFF84F4B90BA1D7DC38EE332"><enum>(i)</enum><text>providing the
respondent an opportunity to submit to the Secretary a written response to the
complaint and to present statements from witnesses or provide evidence;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H5EA1702E16D14E4BBC16EC5AE02036B5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>providing the
complainant an opportunity to receive any statements or evidence provided to
the Secretary and to provide additional information or evidence, or to rebut
any statements or evidence.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC5D6FE4906034B15A851D21C8BD2F6AF"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Action by the
Secretary</header><text>If, upon such investigation, the Secretary determines
that the provisions of this subsection have been violated, the Secretary shall
immediately file a complaint with the Commission, with service upon the alleged
violator and the miner or other employee, representative of miners, or
applicant for employment alleging such discrimination or interference and
propose an order granting appropriate relief.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4CECE729FC1C4671BD4518DFA6856E5D"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Action of the
Commission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission
shall afford an opportunity for a hearing on the record (in accordance with
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/554">section 554</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, but without regard to subsection
(a)(3) of such section) and thereafter shall issue an order, based upon
findings of fact, affirming, modifying, or vacating the Secretary’s proposed
order, or directing other appropriate relief. Such order shall become final 30
days after its issuance. The complaining miner or other employee,
representative, or applicant for employment may present additional evidence on
his or her own behalf during any hearing held pursuant to this
paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9EEEB4CEBB424139AA7835F9A2A0EBAC"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>The
Commission shall have authority in such proceedings to require a person
committing a violation of this subsection to take such affirmative action to
abate the violation and prescribe a remedy as the Commission considers
appropriate, including—</text>
<clause id="H9668B5E0C14F425FA15083E6361B8DE8"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the rehiring or reinstatement of the miner
or other employee with back pay and interest and without loss of position or
seniority, and restoration of the terms, rights, conditions, and privileges
associated with the complainant’s employment;</text>
</clause><clause id="H8CBE0533E58A400C92A780C3EC0C5788"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other
compensatory and consequential damages sufficient to make the complainant
whole, and exemplary damages where appropriate; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HA3E24B5955754387961231E76C9B5DFB"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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></paragraph><paragraph id="HA67DEB254D5743C49195A8AC7F5B45FD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Notice to and
action of complainant</header>
<subparagraph id="H094E9A10FF81465AABF49720B2D7B9FB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Notice to
complainant</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the receipt of a
complaint filed under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall notify, in writing,
the miner or other employee, representative of miners, or applicant for
employment of his determination whether a violation has occurred.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26ED830487E14EAD979F55E5C7B21E98"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Action of
complainant</header><text>If the Secretary, upon investigation, determines that
the provisions of this subsection have not been violated, the complainant shall
have the right, within 30 days after receiving notice of the Secretary’s
determination, to file an action in his or her own behalf before the
Commission, charging discrimination or interference in violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H46E76596BB564210860AF2291190BB90"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Hearing and
decision</header><text>The Commission shall afford an opportunity for a hearing
on the record (in accordance with <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/554">section 554</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code,
but without regard to subsection (a)(3) of such section), and thereafter shall
issue an order, based upon findings of fact, dismissing or sustaining the
complainant’s charges and, if the charges are sustained, granting such relief
as it deems appropriate as described in
<internal-xref idref="H4CECE729FC1C4671BD4518DFA6856E5D" legis-path="(c)(3)(B)">paragraph (3)(F)</internal-xref>. Such order shall
become final 30 days after its issuance.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA38CEAC88A0E4921B4E19EE14D38183C"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Burden of
proof</header><text>In adjudicating a complaint pursuant to this subsection,
the Commission may determine that a violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> has occurred only if the
complainant demonstrates that any conduct described in
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> with respect to the
complainant was a contributing factor in the adverse action alleged in the
complaint. A decision or order that is favorable to the complainant shall not
be issued 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>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCE97B9FD7064488B9F6EBF5F56E20BB0"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Attorney’s
fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whenever an order is
issued sustaining the complainant’s charges under this subsection, a sum equal
to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees,
as determined by the Commission to have been reasonably incurred by the
complainant for, or in connection with, the institution and prosecution of such
proceedings, shall be assessed against the person committing such violation.
The Commission shall determine whether such costs and expenses were reasonably
incurred by the complainant without reference to whether the Secretary also
participated in the proceeding.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBA2F89BC4C8E42489EA082AA6DB93B52"><enum>(7)</enum><header> Expedited
proceedings; Judicial review</header><text>Proceedings under this subsection
shall be expedited by the Secretary and the Commission. Any order issued by the
Commission under this subsection shall be subject to judicial review in
accordance with section 106. Violations by any person of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> shall be subject to the
provisions of sections 108 and 110(a)(4).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF6A6F87470864B14B812417A2B07BADA"><enum>(8)</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="H234C2BA355B94F71931A7F2D607876D1"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Savings</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or
remedies of any miner or employee who exercises rights under any Federal or
State law or common law, or under any collective bargaining
agreement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" id="HF8956A4A26C74A4D82D934AFB3041E3D"><enum>402.</enum><header>Protection from
loss of pay</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 111 (30
U.S.C. 821) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6EF468AE99E649A28EA92CD3D206B0BE" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" id="H22F7B14CEDC24F64B473A75A912379EE"><enum>111.</enum><header>Entitlement of
miners</header>
<subsection id="H8F44200AEE2E4B1581023B7355D7C999"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Protection from
loss of pay</header>
<paragraph id="H18C649DFD3794E4E825E02AB8F298A96"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Withdrawal
order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a coal or other mine
or area of such mine is closed by an order issued under section 103, 104, 107,
108, or 110, all miners who are idled by such order shall be entitled,
regardless of the result of any review of such order, to full compensation by
the operator at their regular rates of pay and in accordance with their regular
schedules of pay for the entire period for which they are idled.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC52B6CB84C8942B1805A40B9ABCFB9F7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Closure in
advance of order</header><text>If the Secretary finds that such mine or such
area of a mine was closed by the operator in anticipation of the issuance of
such an order, all miners who are idled by such closure shall be entitled to
full compensation by the operator at their regular rates of pay and in
accordance with their regular schedules of pay, from the time of such closure
until such time as the Secretary authorizes reopening of such mine or such area
of the mine.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H39563B503BE44E3BA8DECF72AD7CD43F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Refusal to
comply</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whenever an operator
violates or fails or refuses to comply with any order issued under section 103,
104, 107, 108, or 110, all miners employed at the affected mine who would have
been withdrawn from, or prevented from entering, such mine or area thereof as a
result of such order shall be entitled to full compensation by the operator at
their regular rates of pay, in addition to pay received for work performed
after such order was issued, for the period beginning when such order was
issued and ending when such order is complied with, vacated, or
terminated.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id700D3312D6064C81B507901453FA62DF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<paragraph id="idA2301E7B55C6463B817EF07CD004DD8E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Commission
orders</header><text>The Commission shall have authority to order compensation
due under this section upon the filing of a complaint by a miner or a miner's
representative and after opportunity for a hearing on the record subject to
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/554">section 554</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code. Whenever the Commission issues an
order sustaining the complaint under this subsection in whole or in part, the
Commission shall award the complainant reasonable attorneys’ fees and
costs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id90FE3D1BA2FE468292BB8A8B1870AE00"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Failure to pay
compensation due</header><text>Consistent with the authority of the Secretary
to order miners withdrawn from a mine under this Act, the Secretary shall order
a mine that has been subject to a withdrawal order under section 103, 104, 107,
108, or 110, and has reopened, to be closed again if compensation in accordance
with the provisions of this section is not paid by the end of the next
regularly scheduled payroll period following the lifting of a withdrawal
order.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>V</enum><header>Modernizing health
and safety standards </header>
<section commented="no" id="H0888BD04609042E48E9E785F3116E987"><enum>501.</enum><header>Pre-shift
review of mine conditions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 303(d) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/863">30 U.S.C. 863(d)</external-xref>) is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H12158459612B4C40B39E46E460092BFE" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H1041C0E3521D47FCA50CA3377E9BD84E" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H31495686D7BB4E83BD2F0E8B3C2CA647"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than 30 days
after the issuance of the interim final rules promulgated under subparagraph
(C), each operator of an underground coal mine shall implement a communication
program at the underground coal mine to ensure that each miner entering the
mine is made aware, at the start of such miner’s shift, of the current
conditions of the mine, including—</text>
<clause id="H99F67ADFD616404786D849B8FC4AD319" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any conditions that are hazardous or
that violate a mandatory health or safety standard or a plan approved under
this Act; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HC76D029041BB4F28BDB39927038D657E" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the general conditions of that
miner’s assigned working section or other area.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H835AB0D1A3D24B7D98C8C69B9FC470DE" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In an effort to facilitate the
communications described in subparagraph (A), each agent of the operator who is
responsible for ensuring the safe and healthful working conditions at the mine,
including mine foremen, assistant mine foremen, and mine examiners, shall, upon
exiting the mine or workplace, verbally communicate with any oncoming agent
replacing the exiting agent on duty in order to update the oncoming agent on
the conditions the exiting agent observed during the exiting agent's shift,
including any conditions that are hazardous or that violate a mandatory health
or safety standard or a plan approved under this Act. Such communications
process shall be completed prior to the start of each shift at the mine and
recorded in a book designated for that purpose and available for inspection by
all interested parties. In the event the mine operation is idle prior to the
start of any shift, the oncoming agent of the operator shall meet with the
individual who was responsible for examining the mine to obtain the necessary
information.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5AF73CCB2C444CA5AE3283FA188A8770" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of the <short-title>Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013</short-title>, the Secretary shall
promulgate interim final rules implementing the requirements of subparagraphs
(A) and
(B).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H0744E1B67BC64DCE9306C9D34E29F251"><enum>502.</enum><header>Rock dust
standards</header>
<subsection id="H912A96C367BC4C72B12B17C0CB4F534F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Standards</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 304(d) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/864">30 U.S.C. 864(d)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H54243F124C0640EDA17A412147F3DEAD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Where rock</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H950D4225D66D417A9ACB275571B75978" style="OLC">
<text><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Rock dust</header-in-text>.—</text><paragraph id="H05379F3967CE483C8753C10EA2582561"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Where rock</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2ACB23BC788F474AA6E2BED797C6689A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>65 per centum</quote>
and all that follows and inserting <quote>80 percent. Where methane is present
in any ventilating current, the percentage of incombustible content of such
combined dusts shall be increased 0.4 percent for each 0.1 percent of
methane.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2596C1ABE642475EA1A0F940957C259D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3A587D91C6F148A09D7BF33F9E66501E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H60180DBAE26745A290FB699457B81AA1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Methods of
measurement</header>
<subparagraph id="idf6b1101a0a2640938e73c4f027060f2b"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Each operator of an underground coal mine shall take
accurate and representative samples that measure the total incombustible
content of combined coal dust, rock dust, and other dust in such mine to ensure
that the coal dust is kept below explosive levels through the appropriate
application of rock dust.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf5ee0caf9c3c460b9b999f4fb6085f10"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Direct reading
monitors</header><text>In order to ensure timely assessment and compliance with
the requirements of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, beginning not later
than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013, require operators to measure total
incombustible content in samples of combined coal dust, rock dust, and other
dust, using direct reading monitors that the Secretary has approved for use in
an underground coal mine, such as coal dust explosibility monitors.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6b6de2120e3f45579bdc77fbd27dc459"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The
Secretary shall, by not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the
Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013, promulgate an
interim final rule that prescribes methods for sampling of total incombustible
content (or an equivalent measure of explosibility) in samples of combined coal
dust, rock dust, and other dust using direct reading monitors and includes
requirements for locations, methods, and intervals for mandatory operator
sampling.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd27b2ce53fb1461ebe53a57a256e2126"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall, based upon the latest research, recommend to the Secretary of
Labor any revisions to the mandatory operator sampling locations, methods, and
intervals included in the interim final rule described in subparagraph (C) that
may be warranted in light of such
research.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9CCF4B486BF1488CB88C4279C0065817"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall
prepare and submit, to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate, a report—</text>
<paragraph id="H8CE34BAC556F4E7894E6141989E469A5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>regarding whether
any direct reading monitor described in section 304(d)(2)(B) of the Federal
Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/864">30 U.S.C. 864(d)(2)(B)</external-xref>) is sufficiently
reliable and accurate for the enforcement of the mandatory health or safety
standards by the Secretary of Labor under such Act, and whether additional
improvement to such direct reading monitor, or additional verification
regarding reliability and accuracy, would be needed for enforcement purposes;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF49F0BE56719434588935B5373137097"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifying any
limitations or impediments for such use in underground coal mines.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6E2DF6A04E434425B12986765429DFDD"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Additional rock
dust reporting</header><text>Section 103(h) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/813">30 U.S.C. 813(h)</external-xref>) is amended by
inserting after the first sentence the following: <quote>An operator of a coal
or other mine shall, as part of the recordkeeping requirements of this Act,
maintain up-to-date records of the amount of rock dust purchased and
dispersed.</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HF3AC7915216A419D802806E2BC1A6603"><enum>503.</enum><header>Atmospheric
monitoring systems and additional technological improvements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 317 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/877">30 U.S.C. 877</external-xref>) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9A50C57A899B4DB2B21608EA43EF7BC5" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HD1D5DD6A318E478FA93B09FEA9E4BDEA"><enum>(u)</enum><header>Atmospheric
monitoring systems</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the <short-title>Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013</short-title>, the Secretary shall
promulgate regulations requiring that each operator of an underground coal mine
install atmospheric monitoring systems that—</text>
<paragraph id="HEC4BF3961232419683F80E20736699AB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>protect miners
where the miners normally work and travel;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H146692BADC514C9B8095F743034A0488"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide real-time
information regarding methane and carbon monoxide levels, and airflow
direction, as appropriate, with sensing, annunciating, and recording
capabilities; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H01B13126E1494A86859362E05E3A09A6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>can, to the
maximum extent practicable, withstand explosions and fires.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8ED0D93BAB41474EA0301ACC529900F5"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Additional
technological improvements</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of the <short-title>Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013</short-title>, the Secretary shall
promulgate regulations requiring that mining equipment used in a coal mine
incorporate an atmospheric monitoring and recording device that samples and
records the methane, oxygen, carbon monoxide, and coal dust levels in the
mine.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id388526f048ec4d22ba5838ef9ee12c77" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id19c27a61555d4035ae881409031cc6ac"><enum>(w)</enum><header>Proximity
detectors</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
the Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013, the
Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring that mining equipment and
other mobile equipment incorporate proximity
detectors.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HB60A8AAA7462489091737166987D1891"><enum>504.</enum><header>Technology
related to respirable dust</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202(d) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/842">30 U.S.C. 842(d)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HE3D4E7798CEB4F59A1871AEBFE22092A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>of Health, Education, and Welfare</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2254521CAEDA4627AD4556A492CDB1B2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
second sentence and inserting the following: <quote>Not later than 6 months
after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Robert C.
Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013</short-title>, the
Secretary shall issue a final regulation lowering permissible exposure levels
to respirable dust and updating sampling and testing procedures, in order to
provide the maximum feasible protection from respirable dust, including coal
and silica dust, that is achievable through environmental controls. Not later
than 5 years after the date of issuance of such final regulation, and once
every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall reexamine the incidence of
pneumoconiosis in miners and, unless there is a decline in pneumoconiosis,
shall update the regulation.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CC273E7ACED4732A99966461757E21D"><enum>505.</enum><header>Refresher
training on miner rights and responsibilities</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFAA2C281E67642C8A7C8C14A68D19B1C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 115(a)(3) (30
U.S.C. 825(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCAE7B3299B72482698058C290F26D6AF" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HA27160691ACB4D49A04990408422CD3F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>all miners shall
receive not less than 9 hours of refresher training not less frequently than
once every 12 months, and such training shall include one hour of training on
the statutory rights and responsibilities of miners and their representatives
under this Act and other applicable Federal and State law, pursuant to a
program of instruction developed by the Secretary and delivered by an employee
of the Administration or by a trainer approved by the Administration that is a
party independent from the
operator;</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H93F2BCB6E220464798CAEE113C3B04BE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Timing of
initial statutory rights training</header><text>Notwithstanding section 115 of
the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (as amended by subsection (a))
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/825">30 U.S.C. 825</external-xref>) or the health and safety training program approved under such
section, an operator shall ensure that all miners already employed by the
operator on the date of enactment of this Act shall receive the one hour of
statutory rights and responsibilities training described in section 115(a)(3)
of such Act by not later than 180 days after such date.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H2FC4AB6D00174067A792B2782ABE2805"><enum>506.</enum><header>Additional
training</header>
<subsection id="H806AF4C7995D4EEBA4C6A4C09E976E6B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To
mandate additional training</header>
<paragraph id="id107B430262BB45B399815C6281A41852"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 115 (30
U.S.C. 825) is further amended by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection
(f) and inserting after subsection (d) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFE6219FBE8084CA4B7E8485B7FD23932" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HE17FEDF702544ED79AB5CB9D85523A66"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authority To
mandate additional training</header>
<paragraph id="H607FFD5A6C9D4851ACF3138470184E5C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary is authorized to issue an order requiring
that an operator of a coal or other mine provide additional training beyond
what is otherwise required by law, and specifying the time period within which
such training shall be provided, if the Secretary finds that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFA8181446BF34B4D8B6ED31420F7A6CA"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H34E4DA17A2114033AABC88B373DA1425"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a serious or fatal
accident has occurred at such mine; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H1D00B3D53FD84E74B787631C87DA6343" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>such mine has experienced accident
and injury rates, citations for violations of this Act (including mandatory
health or safety standards or regulations promulgated under this Act),
citations for significant and substantial violations, or withdrawal orders
issued under this Act, at a rate above the average for mines of similar size
and type; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H178CA324B2FC433E81EA1F9A8FE411C6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>additional
training would benefit the health and safety of miners at the mine.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBECD96738CC241668E449FD6B3D3D337"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Withdrawal
order</header><text>If the operator fails to provide training ordered under
paragraph (1) within the specified time, the Secretary shall issue an order
requiring such operator to cause all affected persons, except those persons
referred to in section 104(c), to be withdrawn, and to be prohibited from
entering such mine, until such operator has provided such
training.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H79CBE90DD3CB4B92A6A64993F4041A5B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text>Section 104(g)(2) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/814">30 U.S.C. 814(g)(2)</external-xref>) is amended by
striking <quote>under paragraph (1)</quote> both places it appears and
inserting <quote>under paragraph (1) or section 115(e)</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idD6AA4F09314F4652B4E2EE0BF665489C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Additional
training</header><text>Section 115(a) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/825">30 U.S.C. 825(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id45EF613E80AE441AA4D6B65D4051AFB2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (5),
by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id1C04A978B1B24DCAB94855BC406F2CF5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2639EA9F8C564EF694D8BDFA616387EB" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="id661303E03F644986B9189BB9EAA851F2"><enum>(6)</enum><text>each miner in an
underground coal mine shall receive quarterly training on the use of
self-rescue devices, which shall be conducted in circumstances that approximate
actual operating circumstances as closely as practicable, including practice
during production events and during shift
changes.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idcb01a88b24d34771b22e139faccd840d"><enum>507.</enum><header>Brookwood-Sago
mine safety grants</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
14(e)(2) of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (30
U.S.C. 965(e)(2)) is amended by inserting before the period <quote>, and
underground mine rescue training activities that simulate mine accident
conditions</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H0CD452F3A6EA489696C3739492A621E0"><enum>508.</enum><header>Certification
of personnel</header>
<subsection id="H31468005EBC94E6BA847DC78509BE68B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title I is further
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA3E0FFF0AEC5453FA594B6287FA80DA3" style="OLC">
<section id="HC54C0239FA214B4AA02344F42416E800"><enum>118.</enum><header>Certification
of personnel</header>
<subsection id="HB786A3DA09104EE2A38FD424A7863194"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Certification
required</header><text>Any person who is authorized or designated by the
operator of a coal or other mine to perform any duties or provide any training
that this Act, including a mandatory health or safety standard or regulation
promulgated pursuant to this Act, requires to be performed or provided by a
certified, registered, qualified, or otherwise approved person, shall be
permitted to perform such duties or provide such training only if such person
has a current certification, registration, qualification, or approval to
perform such duties or provide such training consistent with the requirements
of this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0A6EC6974E264A389E5415734243095F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment of
certification requirements and procedures</header>
<paragraph id="HF2E2F95FBF1E423B9FC6CD83A796C14F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and
Health Act of 2013</short-title>, the Secretary shall issue mandatory standards
to establish—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7F420B8C2F344230B1D90B3F15E0B440"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">requirements for such certification,
registration, qualification, or other approval, including the experience,
examinations, and references that may be required as appropriate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1CBEC58E43024E919FE33446EC580CA6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">time limits for such certifications and
procedures for obtaining and renewing such certification, registration,
qualification, or other approval; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F19772B19D44ABEA957B4233CF93648"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">procedures and criteria for revoking such
certification, registration, qualification, or other approval, including
procedures that ensure that the Secretary responds to requests for
revocation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H56AB4BDD3A7942639DB214D0DE8BCA17"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coordination
with States</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing the
standards under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with States that
have miner certification programs to ensure effective coordination with
existing State standards and requirements for certification. The standards
required under paragraph (1) may provide that the certification, registration,
qualification, or other approval of the State in which the coal or other mine
is located satisfies the requirement of subsection (a) if the State’s program
of certification, registration, qualification, or other approval is no less
stringent than the standards established by the Secretary under paragraph
(1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H6B159A258CA54D6C92117C1EA7FECAE0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Operator Fees
for certification</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H44924BDC7DA24896BDF1D293EE5B7A51"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Assessment and
collection</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Beginning 180 days
after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Robert C.
Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013</short-title>, the
Secretary shall assess and collect fees, in accordance with this subsection,
from each operator for each person certified under this section. Fees shall be
assessed and collected in amounts determined by the Secretary as necessary to
fund the certification programs established under this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H731557C875964B4F8DCDD51F963AEC6F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mine Safety and
Health Certification Fund</header><text>There is established in the Treasury of
the United States a separate account for the deposit of fees collected under
this subsection to be known as the Mine Safety and Health Certification Fund.
The Secretary shall deposit any fees collected pursuant to
<internal-xref legis-path="30107.(b)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> into the
fund.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H81C71B3991AC43E59820485018BEE21A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts in the Mine Safety and Health
Certification Fund shall be available to the Secretary, as provided in
paragraph (4), for making expenditures to carry out the certification programs
established under this subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H501D1015D43F4AAAB844AD0878DD72A6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to
funds appropriated under section 114, there is authorized to be appropriated
from the Mine Safety and Health Certification Fund to the Assistant Secretary
for Mine Safety and Health for each fiscal year in which fees are collected
under <internal-xref legis-path="30107.(b)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> an
amount equal to the total amount collected during the previous fiscal year from
fees assessed pursuant to this subsection. Such amounts are authorized to
remain available until expended.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE806009ABDF745A7A98D642FB6536190"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Crediting and
Availability of Fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fees
authorized and collected under this subsection shall be available for
obligation only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in
appropriations Acts.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9B1CB166640D4846859B0AF4E84533B1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Citation;
withdrawal order</header><text>Any operator who permits a person to perform any
of the health or safety related functions described in subsection (a) without a
current certification that meets the requirements of this section shall be
considered to have committed an unwarrantable failure under section 104(d)(1),
and the Secretary shall issue an order requiring that the miner be withdrawn or
reassigned to duties that do not require such
certification.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HAFD470697A9148C28DF65EF9C85400EE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Act is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idFA031FE9CCEF495BAF0118FC03656897"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in section 318 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/878">30 U.S.C. 878</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBA66E5957B02461FA1BAEE32CDE973AE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
subsections (a) and (b);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H51C2126444B64DAA931798336AAEDE23"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (c),
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C),
respectively;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9AFDEA28CF8243BDADDFBB92C9AC4099"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (g), by redesignating
paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2CE22A9E46814AF5B55D6A0F109D5990"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (c) through (j) as paragraphs (1) through (8), respectively;
and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idC59F42F3CD674EE2A4056951AEABEA87"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating
section 214 as section 114.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="id6863bc581256409281eb5c7786501a37"><enum>509.</enum><header>Electronic
records requirement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
103 is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id95ba11b69ba6434fa54053d0b6abee1a" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="id436af34c9b9341569045b7101e99690f"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Electronic
records</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id14E8120CF4174F4BB39B5E5E72FE4652"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
the Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013, the
Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring that mine operators retain
records and data required by this Act, or otherwise required by the Secretary,
that are created, stored or transmitted in electronic form.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id5531293D57E4466BA4ACC42BA95D0564"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The
records described in paragraph (1) shall include records pertaining to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id3362226454CB4862B594292E883FF78C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>miner safety and
health, tracking and communications;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idE4E8923E933F46D58BAB967993B03CC0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>atmospheric
monitoring of methane, carbon monoxide, oxygen, coal dust, and other mine
conditions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idB589CFA5B817462CA82A00C84EF4E6A4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>equipment usage
history and operating parameters;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idB7F556E34B9B408BA6EF22C64310D5B8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>equipment
calibration and maintenance; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id30FA9E1F3DB041C9B5A044C1E5FD00CE"><enum>(E)</enum><text>other information
relevant to compliance with Federal mine health and safety laws (including
health or safety standards and regulations).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idA342D58A98CF4ED0B33C3B84F0867EC9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>Not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2013, the Secretary shall promulgate a
regulation regarding the minimum necessary capabilities of equipment to retain,
store, and recover data created or transmitted in electronic form for purposes
of this
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>VI</enum><header>Additional mine
safety provisions</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H53EC84490A33493785BBEFBD729A8DDE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>601.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subsection id="H2FDE62FE3DD5476EBF260B8BB3E0CECE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of
operator</header><text>Section 3(d) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/802">30 U.S.C. 802</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HACF04EBD6E7E4C8B87A9A078C09100A6" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HF81F808B02DC4ED08C96C99BE3E7C274"><enum>(d)</enum><text><quote>operator</quote>
means—</text>
<paragraph id="H510549CB9C614A83A7A76A15602B84E9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any owner, lessee,
or other person that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6556A0F44EBA4D2BBB8F426210FE0152"><enum>(A)</enum><text>operates or
supervises a coal or other mine; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2698C6AD953C4D02BB576E2F9577B4C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>controls such mine
by making or having the authority to make management or operational decisions
that affect, directly or indirectly, the health or safety at such mine;
or</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB1D18CF5B1FF4778BACA50611FC28448"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any independent
contractor performing services or construction at such
mine;</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB437DEEEB729426080F8B41C2AC2A807"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definition of
agent</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(e) (30 U.S.C.
802(e)) is amended by striking <quote>the miners</quote> and inserting
<quote>any miner</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAC5A28DEF9574218B9A95C5CFD8CC365"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definition of
miner</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(g) (30 U.S.C.
802(g)) is amended by inserting after <quote>or other mine</quote> the
following: <quote>, and includes any individual who is not currently working in
a coal or other mine but would be currently working in such mine, but for an
accident in such mine</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id9d80c6b7a6c446bc960bef8cf09d4c72"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definition of
Imminent Danger</header><text>Section 3(j) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/802">30 U.S.C. 802(j)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id73607F5ADA02480D85AB7B5D5249D77D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>means the</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idFB5DB6152ECA487D8972836CDA070E7A" style="OLC">
<text>means—</text><paragraph id="id62D8BFDEB6A24EBBB84914A55082D96F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idB115077459EA48FCBA0C72903DF24E26"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
semicolon at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF82ABC8B70FA4514ACAE13E859EC5B6E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA167FA8F1D4E40C69D3729884C8D52CA" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id7CEEF68E30E241599F93504786444B54"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the existence of
multiple conditions or practices (regardless of whether related to each other)
that, when considered in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to cause
death or serious physical harm before such conditions or practices can be
abated;</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF95790A267714DD4A7092519E4CEF0DF"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Definition of
significant and substantial violations</header><text>Section 3 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/802">30 U.S.C. 802</external-xref>)
is further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HEFBCA3F7497F41628D703889166BB856"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (m),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0CACB6603A534026A351B4A1E92D1A19"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (n),
by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC0C17A3CF22A48A68C13FBAB55FF302C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (o),
by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEABF871604CD46CFBCBF52F8805A3D82"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6A1BEF9A145A487BA2BE1585772E5FA2" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HBD094B5C398648EC860C888E1C967D7A"><enum>(p)</enum><text><term>significant
and substantial violation</term> means a violation of this Act, including any
mandatory health or safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act,
that is of such nature as could significantly and substantially contribute to
the cause and effect of a coal or other mine safety or health hazard as
described in section
104(d).</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HACD3540467AA482FA66981973A63D3F9"><enum>602.</enum><header>Assistance to
States</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 503 (30 U.S.C.
953(a)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H58D858AE00284F8AA48925A9A521F2C4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9559240AF1314611AEDC238226B3C6B9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>, in coordination with the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Secretary of the
Interior,</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H81119DF9DC914BE18688C3B6F88492CB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA44A1241BE37438EA0ECB0BC5472237E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3),
by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5DBD95D2D65A41E9B8D97C692839A34A"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1E3AC41DDE884B8A852765E6CFE7A67D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H51A9FDCF78334C8EAFDB35C82FF98993"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to assist such
State in developing and implementing any certification program for coal or
other mines required for compliance with section
118.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0CC33FC93D74443A8B521BBEBC2202B5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (h),
by striking <quote>$3,000,000 for fiscal year 1970, and $10,000,000 annually in
each succeeding fiscal year</quote> and inserting <quote>$20,000,000 for each
fiscal year</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HF62A21A3A4224AA4AA2F5CE194726ED8"><enum>603.</enum><header>Black lung
medical reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Black Lung
Benefits Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/901">30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5689098731904CBBA52A931FA59D3052" style="OLC">
<section id="HC0AD624E1858478D986FFDE4A70B03C8"><enum>435.</enum><header>Medical
reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In any claim for
benefits for a miner under this title, an operator that requires a miner to
submit to a medical examination regarding the miner’s respiratory or pulmonary
condition shall, not later than 14 days after the miner has been examined,
deliver to the claimant a complete copy of the examining physician’s report.
The examining physician’s report shall be in writing and shall set out in
detail the examiner’s findings, including any diagnoses and conclusions and the
results of any diagnostic imaging techniques and tests that were performed on
the
miner.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" id="id8C03664C390B456685CCABBF3C608918"><enum>604.</enum><header>Study on
workforce needs</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="id0772101B185B40DDB81EBC6F5EE55B1D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall conduct a study on the workforce needs of the mining
industry and Federal and State mining enforcement agencies, including the need
for engineers and mine safety and health professionals.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idD7E9B1B028FE42B29413EC1458A10211"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Issues To be
studied</header><text>The study in subsection (a) shall include—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id6B9CA653F36C4661820A2F1AED48224E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an analysis of
the training and expertise of the mine engineers and the mine safety and health
workforce; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id3DB09BB544BB4157B70050518F2B6ECF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the need for a
highly trained workforce of engineers and safety and health professionals
within—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idB5720D9D77D64D44B9D78AE231CFE4BE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the mining
industry;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id5133F13A1E3E4D498258489E9EF76C26"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Mine Safety
and Health Administration; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD8140497D1FB44F6B5818E0B51830077"><enum>(C)</enum><text>State enforcement
agencies responsible for mine safety and health.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idCFFE12AD1104403D890276A738CD1E3B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The
Comptroller General of the United States shall prepare and submit to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives a
report on the study described in subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id3C52E6A235BC4AF59D6FFC9B49988458"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>As
needed, the Comptroller General of the United States shall provide
recommendations for improvement in the report in subsection (c).</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="id3807973DDD2F463B8B9DDB2E1E1DB8CF"><enum>605.</enum><header>Mine Safety
and Health Administration strategic planning</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="id6C1AA6C146154C08BCD32D8D396DDCC1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Strategic
plan</header><text>Not later than December 31, 2013, the Secretary of Labor,
acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health,
shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and to the
Congress, and post on the public website of the Mine Safety and Health
Administration, a 5-year strategic plan for program activities. Such plan shall
be—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idF8A3EDB1246A47449245C3C0D66DEC32"><enum>(1)</enum><text>prepared in
accordance with the requirements for agency strategic plans under section 306
of title 5, United States Code, except as otherwise provided in this
section;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id9DA11747B0DC4AAFA0EC64BFA5949C95"><enum>(2)</enum><text>aligned with the
strategic plan of the Department of Labor; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id9AF13EAF65D348D29570BA50F24440B0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>revised at least
once every 4 years.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id66D74102D8674C1DB7070E077F0DFA57"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual
performance plan</header><text>Beginning with the Mine Safety and Health
Administration budget submission for fiscal year 2015, the Secretary of Labor,
acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health,
shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget an annual
performance plan covering each program activity set forth in the budget of the
Mine Safety and Health Administration. Such plan shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id372141E3218647EEA3DD964E7AE9CB43"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be prepared in
accordance with the requirements for performance plans under section 1115 of
title 31, United States Code, except as otherwise provided in this
section;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idDB8DDB7B4E454580AAC8F3362EF1657A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>be consistent
with the strategic plan of the Mine Safety and Health Administration under
subsection (a); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id2047B9A9FC1943E2BFF2266FB07CB31C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>include a
strategic workforce plan that provides a clear line of sight between the
performance goals and objectives of the Mine Safety and Health Administration
and the human capital strategies employed to meet such goals and
objectives.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id9916AC1A726F418FBCC20F425EA2EF5E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 150 days after the end of each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal
year 2015, the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary of
Labor for Mine Safety and Health, shall prepare and submit to the President and
Congress, and post on the public website of the Mine Safety and Health
Administration, a report on the program performance for the previous fiscal
year. Such report shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id76014BAC63BF4E65BE9343C8EBB69600"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be prepared in
accordance with the requirements for program performance reports under section
1116 of title 31, United States Code; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id5DA4FA775D07414CAA51EB0990CEBF28"><enum>(2)</enum><text>address the
extent to which the Mine Safety and Health Administration is using performance
information to improve program performance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ide7005ab2295141daab7de84e00bab00a"><enum>606.</enum><header>Double
encumbrance; succession plan</header>
<subsection id="idd1a2082079664fe1ae43bec10f0c130e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>Notwithstanding
any personnel procedures, rules, or guidance, the Secretary of Labor is
authorized to double encumber a position or utilize early replacement hiring
for authorized representatives and technical specialist positions in the Mine
Safety and Health Administration. The number of such positions shall be
consistent with the staffing requirements set forth in the succession plan
under subsection (b).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6ac0c47e774b4045978152c8a775abe7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Succession
plan</header>
<paragraph id="id7D73715C59E74E03BD007D4086D76D80"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall develop and provide to Congress a
succession plan for the Mine Safety and Health Administration for the next 5
years to assure timely replacement of qualified employees critical to
maintaining the agency’s mission. The succession plan shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="iddbf4519546bd411a835dbdf6a8ee6d72"><enum>(A)</enum><text>estimate employee
turnover for each year;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id97bb3cd776a942c9b4886cc3abf990e6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>set benchmarks
for maximum allowable percentage of vacancies, and a maximum ratio of trainees
to authorized representatives;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3d0b87476beb4cc0bb14ea8013d572c7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>utilize double
encumbrance or early replacement hiring for authorized representatives and
technical specialists;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida5140673d5dd4a1f83cef577756968f8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>include the
implementation of tracking systems to assure that staffing levels of authorized
representatives and technical specialists do not fall below the minimum
required to conduct necessary inspections, thoroughly review mine plans, and
conduct accident and special investigations; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id58036164aa9247e08194557566414b33"><enum>(E)</enum><text>identify
resources necessary to implement such plan. Such succession plan shall be
updated biennially.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id47E804FF2944403888D7AEB55C7590E5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Update of
plan</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall update the succession plan
under subsection (a) biennially.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>VII</enum><header>Amendments to
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970</header>
<section id="H02BDFA1A88AC462E8AA609E95EAADE8A"><enum>701.</enum><header>Coverage of
public employees</header>
<subsection id="id3808DBB25E8F493B8A9721AE1A0D51D3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>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 id="id783972C1D645425ABB78CFAB95686F42"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing
in this Act, or the amendments made by 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 id="idA963AA7E27D44A0ABDF3872A93BF5356"><enum>702.</enum><header>Enhanced
protections from retaliation</header>
<subsection id="id9477930D18814180A63E32F35C797A3A"><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="id3BABF30BD5E742A9963BFD7E79C898DE"><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="id0323D7D2AC6C45AAB1A2572126DCF689" 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="id90514555B2B348218DA5EE2FDEB097F9" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEB7EB22E23EA46CEBEE6674A9F4CF0AD"><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="id7E03F48BC0124639BFA20E61EF1851DF" style="OLC">
<text>this Act;</text><subparagraph id="idBB3DECCF1FA24BC6BB5C92FD24E2C5D8" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such employee
has</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id7A74B9DF19C9417BB5BDDA0DCB3CC10C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>such proceeding or because of the exercise</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id20E569F2F45A4F8A90F3CD42C759883A" style="OLC">
<text>before Congress or in any Federal or
State proceeding related to safety or health;</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD43E602916B4415FB76F8AC5CEE0D5F5" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such employee has refused to violate
any provision of this Act; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4FE4285B6E994FFE954B222B4064297A" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>of the
exercise</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7C9F4618D5DA4037A3033EF9283EA612"><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="H9C4B4F291F114525BD7C4AF44A4EF442"><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="HF7719545B2274A23BE32712FED81478D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H88FDCFFF20494490A0B107FF85D68CEE" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8D3CE1D2C2494550B12108D4397D12C5"><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="HF5265233520C4E168722CF81C361E23F" 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="HA6B12C25592340F0A7BD99AA212B1F43"><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="HBAE419D1941D4A51904C4E62A427E7DE" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H512006DDBE9A43AB8B8D229B20C603F4"><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="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5).</internal-xref></text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD9A9B5E10E224B2FAE62B4F68D9B29CE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Statute of
limitations</header>
<subparagraph id="HF1C0597D38514F06888719F86A39117C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee may take the action permitted by paragraph
(3) not later than 180 days after the later of—</text>
<clause id="H84E6595E605E44968E11047D0EE22B66"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the date on which
an alleged violation of paragraph (1) or (2) occurs; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H99DFA17EAA7744448020E88A3D573242"><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="HEDD07A9A8CF44C90BB0088A5D3C1C738"><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="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Investigation</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HAD4A9A71E9694A2E85A4AA8CD5DE21C4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee may, within the time period required under
<internal-xref idref="HEDD07A9A8CF44C90BB0088A5D3C1C738" legis-path="(4)(B)">paragraph (4)</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="H0CA10E07F78A424BBE5D18E2C97DEF93"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall
include—</text>
<subclause id="HA40E02292E8644B78BC46CC3F3AED17B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>interviewing the
complainant;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HA394A05A67BC490D92BECCCC47D0C539"><enum>(II)</enum><text>providing the
respondent an opportunity to—</text>
<item id="HC24DD4D8613349E5BFAEB4EAA1D5953A"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>submit to the
Secretary a written response to the complaint; and</text>
</item><item id="H05C151A2C5894F90ACBCEE90FC2397C1"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary to present statements from witnesses or provide evidence; and</text>
</item></subclause><subclause id="H2082B767A5F4452F9A1DB9DE155D517F"><enum>(III)</enum><text>providing the
complainant an opportunity to—</text>
<item id="H6CA4BA13236E4B9B86053590C6674F63"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>receive any
statements or evidence provided to the Secretary;</text>
</item><item id="H0109C8ABAA6E4785989792C24386C90F"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary; and</text>
</item><item id="H038D3C1052E54610AA89232E2558B2D0"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>rebut any
statements or evidence; and</text>
</item></subclause></clause><clause id="HC7D35304133D426691FD75F415ED8279"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may include
issuing subpoenas for the purposes of such investigation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HB338EDA90FFE4DE38C2A22C4D1B9A2EF"><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="H65576C16C65D43518BB1AF6AF7DCFC1F"><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="HD34C86E3E44E4AD5A0F2490284141756"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">issue a decision granting or denying
relief.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F214394E3564EDCBB0BC2BB6A24D40B"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Preliminary
order following investigation</header><text>If, after completion of an
investigation under
<internal-xref idref="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" 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="HB40234DB62C7452687D14BE43E596D5E" legis-path="(14)">paragraph (14)</internal-xref> at the same time the Secretary
issues a decision under
<internal-xref idref="HB338EDA90FFE4DE38C2A22C4D1B9A2EF" 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="HFDA2981541A04A1E837F04AABC6BCE75" 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="HFDA2981541A04A1E837F04AABC6BCE75"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Hearing</header>
<subparagraph id="HAEDC93BC630F447F8EA7B01C70634ED2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Request for
hearing</header>
<clause id="H207D1D37EA854E0B8FB4AE474930C3F5"><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="HB6E9ACDFC76C40F0A6A39031A260DDB9"><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 paragraph 5(D) or paragraph (6) respectively;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H704AFFD7CD5140489048946AFD511456"><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="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>(A); or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H20B04738AAB4402F836FA8B4E5D711DA"><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="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)(</internal-xref>B).</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HA2B39CD563C74218B598EB63EA7C6225"><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="H8F214394E3564EDCBB0BC2BB6A24D40B" legis-path="(6)">paragraph (6)</internal-xref>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H404A380010424D16BA55568498C6AC3B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Procedures</header>
<clause id="HA0B658E9C17D4A6FB59E3A9955133E9E"><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="HD1CBEA9CD0A24E21A9830E47CDDF1466"><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="H31CED0818A364784AAE706A239DD2D03"><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="HB40234DB62C7452687D14BE43E596D5E" 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="H4F5AD686DC2B4888AB3F44FBFD37C667"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Administrative
appeal</header>
<subparagraph id="H0946AF8D103E4067AF618ED816F859ED"><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="HFDA2981541A04A1E837F04AABC6BCE75" 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
<quote>review board</quote>).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B5484C87AAB4B789322B043655E2E48"><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="ID62eb7aae9d774adab67f99e84abc932b"><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="H10E182AF221F4CD1A52CEC4CF8B2C91E"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Settlement in
the Administrative Process</header>
<subparagraph id="HB4B1C10DEBEC48EDBB038178A1FF96ED"><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="H3A15FD38080A4C358B0C0F3C56D7D9FA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public policy
considerations</header><text>Neither the Secretary, an administrative law
judge, or 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="HFA33996DF1734C6285FE1544E3AF0D23"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Inaction by the
review board or administrative law judge</header>
<subparagraph id="H224583D5B40D48CDA58CEADAECA4F596"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The complainant may bring a de novo action described in
<internal-xref idref="H3F38822F4C1A4D8AA94F3A9928C21C33" legis-path="(10)(B)">subparagraph (B)</internal-xref> if—</text>
<clause id="HA981690D2F3A4574857F581D17CCD40D"><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="HFDA2981541A04A1E837F04AABC6BCE75" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)</internal-xref>(B)(iii); or</text>
</clause><clause id="H578E6AAE7014459FA08993150DC26C42"><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="H4F5AD686DC2B4888AB3F44FBFD37C667" legis-path="(8)">paragraph (8)</internal-xref>(C).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3F38822F4C1A4D8AA94F3A9928C21C33"><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="HB50F2E7430E141428DD4112BC2375DAC"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Judicial
review</header>
<subparagraph id="H443824B587F34017B74E77DF43A806D8"><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="H3AA305C37C434ACBB078167D6F34E2DC"><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="H2EAEDB6C3D794CCAACB265BFCED0068D"><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="H2C1CF2D9205C4819873A51D3D128E762"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Burdens of
proof</header>
<subparagraph id="H03FB052725494A8DBC1509F80B35F691"><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="H307AD8D6865C492682D55DF406B3C56A"><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="HB40234DB62C7452687D14BE43E596D5E"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Relief</header>
<subparagraph id="HC5C9D9B923564847A4FE7C572BD7FF54"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Order for
relief</header><text>If the Secretary, administrative law judge, review board,
or a court determines that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred,
the Secretary or court, respectively, shall have jurisdiction to order all
appropriate relief, including injunctive relief, compensatory and exemplary
damages, including—</text>
<clause id="HF5232BBDF3C04AC7B1706C5A2C2126C8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>affirmative action
to abate the violation;</text>
</clause><clause id="H162C97AC401D4EE3B6B8F087FED75A0A"><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="HF43068EFE7E44196B0A6CDBDB609D499"><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="H4408BCF1EFD2411B8F04350BDD8F4AF1"><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="HA6A6A67B0F734182A6FF119F29DA5483"><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="H088BDF7BE3E547D298354F1A61CF101F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>reasonable
attorneys’ fees; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H9FAD81ED380E4FBEA15A1E8CF877EA1A"><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="H07BE41CE25B648B6A08CEA65155C4B6B"><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="H9C270898181645FCBC773210F2ACEA38"><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="H7FBAEB7D29144DE6A85769138040DB20"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Election of
venue</header>
<subparagraph id="H6601F3614F5543CF887BC7CC3DEA05D6"><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="H33342721D8AB4EA7924004EAD2E0B572"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary
under <internal-xref idref="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H996DF20A4A50494DB39EC0C1BB51976C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
State plan administrator in such State.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE60E18760EFD430C8CD20C4DD1C376C9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Referrals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If—</text>
<clause id="HA9130DA5A26B49BEABD6DADDCD2B8AEF"><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="H62663EEC083448348686778FEDEC13F5"><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="H0558925CD7C545E9AA40FF953744DA98"><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><section id="H6D300F1B4E2841D89624E82E8EB3223D"><enum>703.</enum><header>Victims’
rights</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/651">29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.</external-xref>) 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="H62957FB76C9B4D29A59F3C6139554025" style="OLC">
<section id="H77E47CE7805F446AAE66DA52D3997CFB"><enum>9A.</enum><header>Victims'
rights</header>
<subsection id="H5641CC1BCDF94944A66CB6266E6E15AD"><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="HBBCDDA252D41442B90C623A639460206"><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="H37C8AF9CD9C743E887B1FA7332A04320"><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="H42016AB804424D65BE0D1A1837355D7C"><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="H729195A1601A40BA88E0211E887E1A09"><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="H715FCE6F3D524FB99158828EC7F339EF"><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="HB8FC01C9496A44ECA2985391584DCC76"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be notified of the
time and date of any proceeding before the Commission;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA1745C0B19B74EEC97D13D2AB9736179"><enum>(2)</enum><text>receive pleadings
and any decisions relating to the proceedings; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAE902DE0C1A84F23A99C3FB049CBA807"><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="H396EBAFA0D584CC19ECF5CD2A0354287"><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="HB7D17A23762747B08F05151388C8C761"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Secretary
Procedures</header><text>The Secretary shall establish procedures—</text>
<paragraph id="H2FDA216E1A6848B988600EC0EF03D928"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to inform victims
of their rights under this section; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H91F3C4E0A73C4C6F97A05A386EE65138"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for the informal
review of any claim of a denial of such a right.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1AF315AF9BAA429198FC25D69E5714A3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Commission
procedures and considerations</header><text>The Commission shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id1D001D1E0C3F4E59A13F48B2CDB9DDDC"><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="id875D96034C6D4FD6BD72C427050EA17B"><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="H3B7834E043D64A869AAEEC42B0E2AB77"><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="H2E7B87E4DC0B4742A715DA498D606999"><enum>(1)</enum><text>keep victims
informed of the status of investigations, enforcement actions, and settlement
negotiations; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1ACE323E40B14DBBBD12398EFDC751E6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assist victims in
asserting their rights under this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H93D9656740F848F0A7D34CFBFD10821A"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In
this section, the term <term>victim</term> means—</text>
<paragraph id="H502A9BC3579447C7A6C6D7DE7D0A0060"><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="HD7FF15CA62AD46D0A25AB53143A3998E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a family member
(as further defined by the Secretary) of a victim described in paragraph (1),
if—</text>
<subparagraph id="H71E3DCC674D641C8A64FFEA1A6BB58CF"><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="HFD13EA72B683449B909499A98092F404"><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="H7659F32F3B4045E8B92FAE66E729744D"><enum>704.</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="H5E6A27BAB4FC4BE59D3B4AF095EA0723">
<subsection commented="no" id="HF5EB0583CC4A443F9B1C66CA7C87CD92"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Correction of
serious, willful, or repeated violations pending contest and procedures for a
stay</header>
<paragraph id="H0CA4608613204FECA74B46CDFB3BE490"><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="HF48C29E484724ACF8596DAFAD161CD4B"><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="H3C2A5604CFE341B58EA4907FA99A5347"><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="H974AFEFB71FD4E6EBDB9EE59CEF89CCB"><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="HDAA892949B294BD4BA1393119B1F08C2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Criteria and
rules of procedure for stays</header>
<subparagraph id="H134AC1AFC0394D6AB4B3B3057CCEB1D7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Motion for a
stay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An employer may file
with the Commission a motion to stay a period for the correction of a violation
designated as serious, willful, or repeated.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDF192F9EF5C341E8AA6A0D866F5B1330"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>In
determining whether a stay should be issued on the basis of a motion filed
under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall consider whether—</text>
<clause id="HA17A59CD66A449C8AE73E9CCA27A6225"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the employer has
demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success on its contest to the
citation;</text>
</clause><clause id="HE6D9C920358F489A8C48ED74FDC88DC2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the employer will
suffer irreparable harm absent a stay; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HEF4A7120755346F18500AEAA95AD5467"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a stay will
adversely affect the health and safety of workers.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H70E24E4DEF084500A318B54D5D3F6C2C"><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="H72D63B9749354FEEA9A00C35ABE4109D"><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="HF7219A9D830740498D647499593F66AF"><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="H137E6F7FB5A54918A1BA392921230C0B"><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="H9BAB9F316EDF4081B7ABDA27642A8A2B"><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="ID71b2934a59234c819044bd21e430bd49"><enum>705.</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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="idFB6E8017BFF64FF9859E00C4135464F3" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID530b5f163d154d0b824967bdaaed820b"><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>
</section><section id="H85994872199141A69A9E2CD95CC8E8F9"><enum>706.</enum><header>Civil
penalties</header>
<subsection id="H5575B285D4AE4128A962C9E8FE7FD6FF"><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="H89CCFF13F5CC47A09AE8BD853999D99D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE812141493A140D28A98805D8D007813"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$70,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$120,000</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB05A04B27A9B4D1387E4DB9F6BBD8B18"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$5,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$8,000</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H98E6B29F31434EA9A94529ABE5D57EAA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following: <quote>In determining whether a violation is repeated, the
Secretary 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="H1F936AA571C04429AC2BDC6CF284AA00"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE0ABDC132EF04CA4BAFE2FB0127BE03F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$7,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$12,000</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H234B045A885544FC8AF0776B9DF4B165"><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="H68CCDC77A7BC401191A2BF4FFF62256F"><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="H39DCC4D701854DBEA81EA538639A4204"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (d),
as amended by section 705, by striking <quote>$7,000</quote> each place it
occurs and inserting <quote>$12,000</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC47F86B1794243D99E6B3765FB48DD4F"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (e) through (l) as subsections (f) through (m), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB65CE8EE8DE34EC6BE1E1AE99F278FB8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in subsection (j)
(as redesignated by paragraph (5)), by striking <quote>$7,000</quote> and
inserting <quote>$12,000;</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB918B885ECAB4B86A1EB473796CE6E50"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inflation
Adjustment</header><text>Section 17 of such Act is further amended by inserting
after subsection (d) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HEC73C76B0DF247BE8867C16EB49C6926" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H16DF4E72E1904B27BCFD39F549CAECA4"><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, 2016, 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 id="H9DED76A8BD874D65A17C76F0877EB1CB"><enum>707.</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header>
<subsection id="HFA12506AF2D147EA9CE4211C69871AD0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>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 sections 705 and 706) is further
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HDBC31E7DB30345ACA90F49213BD611A1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by amending
subsection (f) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H9F03FC75D76A401B8B030230C372BB1A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HD10FA33FEB6D4320A1C563FA92ABB5B2"><enum>(f)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H882C9BD12D304772B9E8F9999610E078"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any employer who
knowingly violates any standard, rule, or order promulgated under section 6, or
of any regulation prescribed under this Act, and that violation caused or
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="HEE8B61D063CC472B9A74FEF5E5257AE6" 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, any officer or
director.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEF65F964E99F4FABB7352B8028B2DC76"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (g),
by striking <quote>fine of not more than $1,000 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 2
years,</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1B37938435974C4A9798E72EE2821325"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (h),
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>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H056F04D825D8451B971A9AF527DB80B7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (j) through (m) as subsections (k) through (n), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H39B4A32BB9E44AE1B5C3B1BCB4CBA240"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (i) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H6E678D327BF041E59A83F0D97707854A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H43A6C01AF0A14E0A86AEA741F3A0B968"><enum>(j)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H7E8DA02A958D4A0FBC1E6C4EEC748589"><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 causes or
contributes 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="HD7DB93DA881A4FB9B07193385110E139" 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, any officer or director.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE9F159CC0A4C4D0C95CCAE2B705EC3CA" 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="H5142981F96AD4FF5B4F7B5192CC7F1A0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a
substantial risk of death;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1333B52F1B8D49AA966D9C097D77B7B0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>protracted unconsciousness;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H644E5DF692C348C381F89FC34B008BA4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>protracted and obvious physical
disfigurement; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H104521958506484F96F093422491008B"><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="HA586CDC243EC4795BD1A46B3A82C8007"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Jurisdiction for
Prosecution Under State and Local Criminal Laws</header><text>Section 17 of
such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/666">29 U.S.C. 666</external-xref>) (as amended by this Act) is further amended by adding
at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HEB1030C78CA54CD1BC52C393DEA6FDA1" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HCCB5F59104F749268546E28E60909D05"><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="idA5D7C963497E45868D21453F2DCA84A4"><enum>708.</enum><header>Penalties</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 17(n) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970 (as redesignated by section 707(a)(4)) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/666">29 U.S.C. 666(n)</external-xref>) 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 section 6621 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><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H08E025E8F78A4F7D9FA6B5AE82D7A46D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>709.</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<subsection id="H1E88A6A34B8E4CB5A41D2FBA2100CCFD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>General
Rule</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided for
in subsection (b), this title and the amendments made by this title shall take
effect not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6E24A94F4DD349ADBDAFA3ED4B88749A"><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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCA126100E3C64FB6B794389339AAD3CE"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State that has a State plan approved
under section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C.
667) 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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE9FDCAB199FA4ECA9E6BD9C86E6615CD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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 such section 18 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/667">29 U.S.C. 667</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>