Cruise line passenger bill of rights; advisory committee for covered passenger vessel consumer protection

(a) Bill of rights (1) Enforceability Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Assistant General Counsel for the Office of Maritime Consumer Protection, shall determine whether any of the enumerated rights in the international cruise line passenger bill of rights, which was adopted in 2013 by the members of the Cruise Lines International Association, are enforceable under Federal law. (2) Required statement The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Assistant General Counsel for the Office of Maritime Consumer Protection, shall include in the standards developed under section 16104(a) of title 46, United States Code, a statement informing a prospective passenger— (A) which rights referred to in paragraph (1) are legally enforceable; and (B) how a passenger or prospective passenger might pursue such enforcement, including identifying any action, including a private cause of action, an administrative action, or any other method of enforcement, that may be taken or pursued. (b) Advisory committee for covered passenger vessel consumer protection (1) Definition of covered passenger vessel In this subsection, the term covered passenger vessel means a passenger vessel or small passenger vessel to which chapter 161 of title 46, United States Code, applies. (2) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Assistant General Counsel for the Office of Maritime Consumer Protection, shall establish an advisory committee for covered passenger vessel consumer protection (referred to in this subsection as the advisory committee) to advise the Secretary in carrying out activities relating to passenger vessel customer service improvements. (3) Membership (A) In general By not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall appoint the members of the advisory committee, which shall be comprised of 1 representative each of— (i) owners of passenger vessels, as defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code; (ii) owners of small passenger vessels, as defined in such section; (iii) international industry-related associations; (iv) State or local governments with expertise in consumer protection matters; (v) nonprofit public interest groups with expertise in consumer protection matters; (vi) nonprofit public interest groups with expertise in victim assistance; and (vii) relevant Federal agencies, as determined by the Secretary of Transportation. (B) Vacancies A vacancy in the advisory committee shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (C) Chair The Secretary of Transportation shall designate, from among the individuals appointed under subparagraph (A), an individual to serve as chair of the advisory committee. (4) Meetings The advisory committee shall meet at the call of the chair of the advisory committee, but not less frequently than annually. (5) Travel expenses Members of the advisory committee shall serve without pay, but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. (6) Duties The advisory committee shall— (A) evaluate existing consumer protection programs or services for covered passenger vessels; (B) recommend to the Secretary of Transportation— (i) improvements needed to the programs or services under subparagraph (A), as necessary; and (ii) any additional consumer protection programs or services for covered passenger vessels, as necessary; (C) not later than 1 year after the date on which the committee is established under paragraph (2), recommend to the Secretary of Transportation which key terms in a passage contract for a covered passenger vessel should be highlighted before such terms are binding, such as— (i) products and services available on board the covered passenger vessel for an undisclosed cost or fee or that otherwise are not included in the price of passage; (ii) the country under which the covered passenger vessel is registered or flagged; (iii) a statement that, under certain circumstances, a passenger on a covered passenger vessel may be subject to the law of a foreign country; (iv) the covered passenger vessel may not accept responsibility for any health care services provided to a passenger by medical staff on board the covered passenger vessel; (v) the maximum amount an owner of a covered passenger vessel will reimburse a passenger for lost or stolen property while on board the passenger vessel; and (vi) where to file a notice of claim or initiate any legal action against the owner of the covered passenger vessel; and (D) annually for the 5-year period beginning on the date on which the advisory committee is established, and periodically thereafter as the advisory committee determines necessary, review the recommendations described in subparagraphs (B) and (C) and submit any recommended updates to the Secretary of Transportation. (7) Report to Congress Not later than 30 days after the Secretary of Transportation receives recommendations, including updated recommendations, under paragraph (6) from the advisory committee, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that contains— (A) such recommendations of the advisory committee; (B) an explanation of whether and how the industry has implemented each recommendation; and (C) for each recommendation not implemented, the industry’s reason for not implementing the recommendation. (8) Termination The advisory committee shall terminate on the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act.