Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Merchant Mariner Credentials Improvement Act of 2007

Oaths

Sections 7105 and 7305 of title 46, United States Code, and the items relating to such sections in the analysis for chapters 71 and 73 of such title, are repealed.

Duration of credentials

(a)

Merchant mariner’s documents

Section 7302(f) of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

(f)

Periods of validity and renewal of merchant mariners’ documents

(1)

In general

Except as provided in subsection (g), a merchant mariner’s document issued under this chapter is valid for a 5-year period and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods. (2)

Advance renewals

A renewed merchant mariner’s document may be issued under this chapter in advance but is not effective until the date that the previously issued merchant mariner’s document expires.

(b)

Duration of licenses

Section 7106 of such title is amended to read as follows:

7106.

Duration of licenses

(a)

License renewal

A license issued under this part is valid for a 5-year period and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods; except that the validity of a license issued to a radio officer is conditioned on the continuous possession by the holder of a first-class or second-class radiotelegraph operator license issued by the Federal Communications Commission. (b)

Advance renewals

A renewed license issued under this part may be issued in advance but is not effective until the date that the previously issued license expires.

(c)

Certificates of registry

Section 7107 of such title is amended to read as follows:

7107.

Duration of certificates of registry

(a)

Certificates of registry renewal

A certificate of registry issued under this part is valid for a 5-year period and may be renewed for additional 5-year periods; except that the validity of a certificate issued to a medical doctor or professional nurse is conditioned on the continuous possession by the holder of a license as a medical doctor or registered nurse, respectively, issued by a State. (b)

Advance issuance

A renewed certificate of registry issued under this part may be issued in advance but is not effective until the date that the previously issued certificate of registry expires.

Processing time for documents

Section 2110 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(l)

Limitation with respect to processing time

The Secretary may not charge a fee under this section for the application, processing, or issuance of a merchant mariner’s document for an individual under chapter 73 if, within 30 days after the date the individual submits a complete application for the document, the Secretary has not— (1)issued the document to the individual; or (2)notified the individual that the document will not be issued because the individual does not meet the qualifications for issuance of that document under that chapter.

Fingerprinting

(a)

Merchant mariner licenses and documents

Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

7507.

Fingerprinting

(a)

In general

The Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating may not require an individual to be fingerprinted for the issuance or renewal of a license, a certificate of registry, or a merchant mariner’s document under chapter 71 or 73 if the individual was fingerprinted when the individual applied for a transportation security card under section 70105.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:

7507. Fingerprinting.

Authorization to extend the duration of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents

(a)

Merchant mariner licenses and documents

Chapter 75 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by section 5(a) of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:

7508.

Authority to extend the duration of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariner documents

(a)

Licenses and certificates of registry

Notwithstanding section 7106 and 7107, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may extend for one year an expiring license or certificate of registry issued for an individual under chapter 71 if the Secretary determines that such action is required to enable the Coast Guard to eliminate a backlog in processing applications for such licenses or certificates of registry. (b)

Merchant mariner documents

Notwithstanding section 7302(g), the Secretary may extend for one year an expiring merchant mariner’s document issued for an individual under chapter 71 if the Secretary determines that such action is required to enable the Coast Guard to eliminate a backlog in processing applications for such documents. (c)

Manner of extension

Any extensions granted under this section may be granted to individual seamen or a specifically identified group of seamen. (d)

Expiration of authority

The authority for providing an extension under this section shall expire on June 30, 2009.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The analysis for such chapter, as amended by section 5(b), is further amended by adding at the end the following:

7508. Authority to extend the duration of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariner documents.

Merchant mariner documentation

(a)

Interim clearance process

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 develop an interim clearance process for issuance of a merchant mariner document to enable a newly hired seaman to begin working on an offshore supply vessel or towing vessel if the Secretary makes an initial determination that the seaman does not pose a safety and security risk. (b)

Contents of process

The process under subsection (a) shall include a check against the consolidated and integrated terrorist watch list maintained by the Federal Government, review of the seaman’s criminal record, and review of the results of testing the seaman for use of a dangerous drug (as defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code) in violation of law or Federal regulation.

Merchant mariner assistance report

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report regarding a plan— (1)to expand the streamlined evaluation process program that was affiliated with the Houston Regional Examination Center of the Coast Guard to all processing centers of the Coast Guard nationwide; (2)to include proposals to simplify the application process for a license as an officer, staff officer, or operator and for a merchant mariner’s document to help eliminate errors by merchant mariners when completing the application form (CG–719B), including instructions attached to the application form and a modified application form for renewals with questions pertaining only to the period of time since the previous application; (3)to provide notice to an applicant of the status of the pending application, including a process to allow the applicant to check on the status of the application by electronic means; and (4)to ensure that all information collected with respect to applications for new or renewed licenses, merchant mariner documents, and certificates of registry is retained in a secure electronic format.

Merchant mariner shortage report

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report concerning methods to address the current and future shortage in the number of merchant mariners, particularly entry-level mariners, including an evaluation of whether an educational loan program providing loans for the cost of on-the-job training would provide an incentive for workers and help alleviate the shortage.

10.

Merchant mariner document standards

Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate— (1)a plan to ensure that the process for an application, by an individual who has, or has applied for, a transportation security card under section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, for a merchant mariner document can be completed entirely by mail; and (2)a report on the feasibility of, and a timeline to, redesign the merchant mariner document to comply with the requirements of such section, including a biometric identifier, and all relevant international conventions, including the International Labour Organization Convention Number 185 concerning the seafarers identity document, and include a review on whether or not such redesign will eliminate the need for separate credentials and background screening and streamline the application process for mariners.