PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary must make rules for a single, uniform State system to report vessel accidents. The rules will say which accidents to report and how to report them. Each State must collect and send the Secretary reports, information, and statistics about accidents it gets, including how many involved alcohol. The Secretary will collect, study, and publish those reports, information, and statistics and may add findings and recommendations. If a State’s system bars public release or use of non‑statistical report information or forbids using it against a person, the Secretary may use that information only the same way the State allows.

Title 46, §6102

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(a)The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for a uniform State marine casualty reporting system for vessels. Regulations shall prescribe the casualties to be reported and the manner of reporting. A State shall compile and submit to the Secretary reports, information, and statistics on casualties reported to the State, including information and statistics concerning the number of casualties in which the use of alcohol contributed to the casualty.

(b)The Secretary shall collect, analyze, and publish reports, information, and statistics on marine casualties together with findings and recommendations the Secretary considers appropriate. If a State marine casualty reporting system provides that information derived from casualty reports (except statistical information) may not be publicly disclosed, or otherwise prohibits use by the State or any person in any action or proceeding against a person, the Secretary may use the information provided by the State only in the same way that the State may use the information.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 610246:1486 section 6102(a) requires the Secretary to prescribe

Regulations

for a uniform State marine casualty reporting system for vessels. The Secretary may limit the scope and types of casualties to be investigated and reported by the State. It also requires the State to submit to the Secretary reports, information, and statistics on casualties reported to the State. Subsection (b) requires the Secretary to analyze the information that is received from the State. It also prohibits the Secretary from disclosing the information, proceeding against any person based on this information, or otherwise using the information, if the State cannot use the information in the same way.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–557 inserted provisions relating to alcohol as a contributing factor to the casualty.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Plan To Increase Marine Casualty Reporting Pub. L. 104–324, title III, § 314(a), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3922, provided that: “Not later than one year after enactment of this Act [Oct. 19, 1996], the Secretary of Transportation shall, in consultation with appropriate State agencies, submit to the Committee on Resources [now Committee on Natural Resources] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan to increase reporting of vessel accidents to appropriate State law

Enforcement

officials.”

§6102 State Marine Casualty Reporting System