Sec. 111. CONSENSUS STANDARDS AND EXTENSION OF CERTAIN SAFETY REGULATION REQUIREMENTS
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## SEC. 111 CONSENSUS STANDARDS AND EXTENSION OF CERTAIN SAFETY REGULATION REQUIREMENTS **[**[51 U.S.C. 50905](/us/usc/t51/s50905)**]** Section 50905(c) is amended— ####
(1)in paragraph (1), by inserting “In general.—” before “The Secretary”; ####
(2)in paragraph (2), by inserting “Regulations.—” before “Regulations”; ####
(3)by striking paragraph (3); ####
(4)by redesignating paragraph
(4)as paragraph (10); ####
(5)by inserting after paragraph
(2)the following: > > #### “(3) Facilitation of standards > > The Secretary shall continue to work with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, to facilitate the development of voluntary industry consensus standards based on recommended best practices to improve the safety of crew, government astronauts, and space flight participants as the commercial space sector continues to mature. > > > #### “(4) Communication and transparency > > Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary to discuss potential regulatory approaches, potential performance standards, or any other topic related to this subsection with the commercial space industry, including observations, findings, and recommendations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, prior to the issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking. Such discussions shall not be construed to permit the Secretary to promulgate industry regulations except as otherwise provided in this section. > > > #### “(5) Interim voluntary industry consensus standards reports > > > ##### “(A) In General > > Not later than December 31, 2016, and every 30 months thereafter until December 31, 2021, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the progress of the commercial space transportation industry in developing voluntary industry consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety. > > > ##### “(B) Contents > > The report shall include, at a minimum— > > > ###### “(i) > > any voluntary industry consensus standards that have been accepted by the industry at large; > > > ###### “(ii) > > the identification of areas that have the potential to become voluntary industry consensus standards that are currently under consideration by the industry at large; > > > ###### “(iii) > > an assessment from the Secretary on the general progress of the industry in adopting voluntary industry consensus standards; > > > ###### “(iv) > > any lessons learned about voluntary industry consensus standards, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; > > > ###### “(v) > > any lessons learned associated with the development, potential application, and acceptance of voluntary industry consensus standards, best practices, and commercial space launch operations; and > > > ###### “(vi) > > recommendations, findings, or observations from the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, on the progress of the industry in developing voluntary industry consensus standards that promote best practices to improve industry safety. > > > #### “(6) Report > > Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of the SPACE Act of 2015, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report specifying key industry metrics that might indicate readiness of the commercial space sector and the Department of Transportation to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations under paragraph
(9)that considers space flight participant, government astronaut, and crew safety. > > > #### “(7) Reports > > Not later than March 31 of each of 2018 and 2022, the Secretary, in consultation and coordination with the commercial space sector, including the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, or its successor organization, shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that identifies the activities, described in this subsection and subsection
(d)most appropriate for a new safety framework that may include regulatory action, if any, and a proposed transition plan for such safety framework. > > > #### “(8) Independent review > > Not later than December 31, 2022, an independent systems engineering and technical assistance organization or standards development organization contracted by the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an assessment of the readiness of the commercial space industry and the Federal Government to transition to a safety framework that may include regulations. As part of the review, the contracted organization shall evaluate— > > > ##### “(A) > > the progress of the commercial space industry in adopting voluntary industry consensus standards as reported by the Secretary in the interim assessments included in the reports under paragraph (5); > > > ##### “(B) > > the progress of the commercial space industry toward meeting the key industry metrics identified by the report under paragraph (6), including the knowledge and operational experience obtained by the commercial space industry while providing services for compensation or hire; and > > > ##### “(C) > > whether the areas identified in the reports under paragraph
(5)are appropriate for regulatory action, or further development of voluntary industry consensus standards, considering the progress evaluated in subparagraphs
(A)and
(B)of this paragraph. > > > #### “(9) Learning period > > Beginning on October 1, 2023, the Secretary may propose regulations under this subsection without regard to subparagraphs
(C)and
(D)of paragraph (2). The development of any such regulations shall take into consideration the evolving standards of the commercial space flight industry as identified in the reports published under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7).” > ; and ####
(6)in paragraph (10), as redesignated, by inserting “Rule of construction.—” before “Nothing”.
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Sec. 111
CONSENSUS STANDARDS AND EXTENSION OF CERTAIN SAFETY REGULATION REQUIREMENTS
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