Recreational vessel operator education and training

(a)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall study and report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate regarding recreational vessel operator training. The study and report shall include a review of— (1)Coast Guard Auxiliary and Power Squadron training programs; (2)existing State boating education programs, including programs by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (in this section referred to as NASBLA); and (3)other hands-on training programs available to recreational vessel operators. (b)

Included subjects

The study shall specifically examine— (1)course materials; (2)course content; (3)training methodology; (4)assessment methodology; and (5)relevancy of course content to risks for recreational boaters. (c)

Contents of report

The report under this section shall include— (1)a section regarding steps the Coast Guard and NASBLA have taken to encourage States to adopt mandatory recreational vessel operator training; (2)an evaluation of the ability of the States to harmonize their education programs and testing procedures; (3)an analysis of the extent States have provided reciprocity among the States for their respective mandatory and voluntary education requirements and programs; (4)a section examining the level of uniformity of education and training between the States that currently have mandatory education and training programs; (5)a section outlining the minimum standards for education of recreational vessel operators; (6)a section analyzing how a Federal training and testing program can be harmonized with State training and testing programs; (7)an analysis of course content and delivery methodology for relevancy to risks for recreational boaters; (8)a description of the current phase-in periods for mandatory boater education in State mandatory education programs and recommendation for the phase-in period for a mandatory boater education program including an evaluation as to whether the phase-in period affects course availability and cost; (9)a description of the extent States allow for experienced boaters to bypass mandatory education courses and go directly to testing; (10)recommendations for a bypass option for experienced boaters; (11)a section analyzing how the Coast Guard would administer a Federal boating education, training, and testing program; and (12)an analysis of the extent to which a Federal boating education, training, and testing program should be required for all waters of a State, including internal waters.