§20119 Study on Use of Certain Reports and Surveys

Summary

Requires the Federal Railroad Administration to study whether it would be in the public interest — including public safety and the legal rights of people hurt or killed — to keep out of federal or state injury and wrongful-death lawsuits any reports, surveys, lists, schedules, or data made for required railroad safety risk reduction programs, such as a carrier’s risk analysis and its plans to fix risks. The study must get input from railroads, employee groups, accident victims and families, and the public. After the study, the Secretary may write a rule based on the results, using notice-and-comment. Any rule cannot take effect until 1 year after it is adopted.