§20119 Study on use of certain reports and surveys

Summary

Require the Federal Railroad Administration to do a study to decide if it is in the public interest to keep certain safety reports and data out of federal or state injury or wrongful-death lawsuits against a railroad. The study must look at public safety and the legal rights of people hurt in railroad accidents. It covers reports, surveys, schedules, lists, or data used to evaluate, plan, or run a railroad safety risk reduction program, including a carrier’s risk analysis and its plans to reduce those risks. The agency must ask railroads, railroad non-profit employee labor groups, accident victims and their families, and the public for input. After the study, the Secretary may make a rule based on the results if it is in the public interest. Any such rule must go through notice-and-comment and cannot take effect until 1 year after it is adopted.