Sec. 11503. EXONERATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS

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## SEC. 11503 EXONERATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS ###

(a)Restructuring Chapter 305 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— ####

(1)by inserting before section 30501 the following: > > ### “Subchapter I General Provisions” > ; ####

(2)by inserting before section 30503 the following: > > ### “Subchapter II Exoneration and Limitation of Liability” > ; and ####

(3)by redesignating sections 30503 through 30512 as sections 30521 through 30530, respectively. ###

(b)Definitions Section 30501 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: > > ## “SEC. 30501 Definitions > > “In this chapter: > > > #### “(1) Covered small passenger vessel > > The term ‘**covered small passenger vessel**’— > > > ##### “(A) > > means a small passenger vessel, as defined in section 2101, that is— > > > ###### “(i) > > not a wing-in-ground craft; and > > > ###### “(ii) > > carrying— > > > ###### “(I) > > not more than 49 passengers on an overnight domestic voyage; and > > > ###### “(II) > > not more than 150 passengers on any voyage that is not an overnight domestic voyage; and > > > ##### “(B) > > includes any wooden vessel constructed prior to March 11, 1996, carrying at least 1 passenger for hire. > > > #### “(2) Owner > > The term ‘**owner**’ includes a charterer that mans, supplies, and navigates a vessel at the charterer’s own expense or by the charterer’s own procurement.” > . ###

(c)Applicability Section 30502 of title 46, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: > > ## “SEC. 30502 Application > > > ### “(a) In General > > Except as otherwise provided, this chapter (except section 30521) applies to seagoing vessels and vessels used on lakes or rivers or in inland navigation, including canal boats, barges, and lighters. > > > ### “(b) Exception > > This chapter (except for section 30526) shall not apply to covered small passenger vessels.” > . ###

(d)Provisions Requiring Notice of Claim or Limiting Time for Bringing Action Section 30526(b) of title 46, United States Code, as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended— ####

(1)in paragraph (1)— #####

(A)by inserting “, in the case of seagoing vessels,” after “personal injury or death”; and #####

(B)by inserting “, or in the case of covered small passenger vessels, to less than two years after the date of the injury or death” after “date of the injury or death”; and ####

(2)in paragraph (2)— #####

(A)by inserting “, in the case of seagoing vessels,” after “personal injury or death”; and #####

(B)by inserting “, or in the case of covered small passenger vessels, to less than two years after the date of the injury or death” after “date of the injury or death”. ###

(e)Chapter Analysis The analysis for chapter 305 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— ####

(1)by inserting before the item relating to section 30501 the following:" “subchapter i—general provisions” "; ####

(2)by inserting after the item relating to section 30502 the following:" “subchapter ii—exoneration and limitation of liability” "; ####

(3)by striking the item relating to section 30501 and inserting the following:" “30501. Definitions.” "; and ####

(4)by redesignating the items relating to sections 30503 through 30512 as items relating to sections 30521 through 30530, respectively. ###

(f)Conforming Amendments Title 46, United States Code, is further amended— ####

(1)in section 14305(a)(5) by striking “section 30506” and inserting “section 30524”; ####

(2)in section 30523(a), as redesignated by subsection (a), by striking “section 30506” and inserting “section 30524”; ####

(3)in section 30524(b), as redesignated by subsection (a), by striking “section 30505” and inserting “section 30523”; and ####

(4)in section 30525, as redesignated by subsection (a)— #####

(A)in the matter preceding paragraph

(1)by striking “sections 30505 and 30506” and inserting “sections 30523 and 30524”; #####

(B)in paragraph

(1)by striking “section 30505” and inserting “section 30523”; and #####

(C)in paragraph

(2)by striking “section 30506(b)” and inserting “section 30524(b)”.