Passenger vessel security and safety requirements

(a) Vessel design, equipment, construction, and retrofitting requirements Section 3523(a), as redesignated by section 201(a)(3) of this Act, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking to which this subsection applies and inserting to which this subchapter applies; (B) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking The vessel and inserting Each exterior deck of a vessel; and (ii) by inserting unless the height requirement would interfere with the deployment of a lifesaving device or other emergency equipment as identified by the Commandant before the period at the end; (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking entry doors that include peep holes or other means of visual identification. and inserting an entry door that includes a peep hole or other means of visual identification that provides an unobstructed view of the area outside the stateroom or crew cabin. For purposes of this subparagraph, the addition of an optional privacy cover on the interior side of the entry shall not in and of itself constitute an obstruction.; and (D) in subparagraph (E), by striking when operating in high risk areas (as defined by the United States Coast Guard); and (2) by adding at the end the following: (3) Waivers; record of waivers The Secretary— (A) may waive a requirement under paragraph (1) as the Secretary determines necessary; (B) shall maintain a record of each waiver under subparagraph (A); and (C) shall include in such record the justification for the waiver.. (b) Medical standards (1) Medical standards Section 3525, as redesignated by section 201(a)(3) of this Act, is amended— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) there are a sufficient number of qualified medical staff members on the vessel to treat the number of passengers who may be on board the vessel, as determined by regulation by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services;; (C) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by striking; and and inserting or any successor standard;; (D) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by subparagraph (A)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking and after the semicolon; (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (C) the location and proper use of automated external defibrillators; and (D) the proper way to report an incident or to seek security assistance in the event of a medical emergency;; and (E) by adding at the end the following: (5) if a United States citizen dies on board the vessel and the citizen’s next of kin requests that the citizen’s body return to the United States on the vessel— (A) such request is granted— (i) unless— (I) the vessel comes within the domestic jurisdiction of a country that requires human remains to be removed from a vessel or requires human remains to undergo post-mortem offshore autopsy; or (II) the vessel is scheduled to enter the domestic jurisdiction of such a country as part of the scheduled voyage; and (ii) except that, in cases in which the vessel is not scheduled to return to a United States port for 21 or more days after the citizen's death, arrangements may be made to return the body on a different appropriate vessel; and (B) the owner of the vessel pays for any transportation costs related to the return; (6) every crew member on the vessel has received basic life support training and is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and (7) every passenger-facing crew member on a vessel leaving from or en route to a United States port of call has a basic understanding of the English language, including— (A) at least a Basic score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language for both listening and speaking; (B) at least a 4 Skill Level score on the International English Language Testing System for both listening and speaking; or (C) at least a basic level of proficiency for listening and speaking on another test of the English Language designated by the Secretary.. (2) Effective date The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.