AVAILABILITY AND USE OF EPIRBS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS.

SEC. 309. AVAILABILITY AND USE OF EPIRBS FOR RECREATIONAL VESSELS. The Secretary of Transportation, through the Coast Guard and in consultation with the National Transportation Safety Board and recreational boating organizations, shall, within 24 months of the date of the enactment of this Act, assess and report to Congress on the use of emergency position indicating beacons (EPIRBs) and similar devices by operators of recreational vessels on the Intracoastal Waterway and operators of recreational vessels beyond the Boundary Line. The assessment shall at a minimum— (1) evaluate the current availability and use of EPIRBS and similar devices by the operators of recreational vessels and the actual and potential contribution of such devices to recreational boating safety; and (2) provide recommendations on policies and programs to encourage the availability and use of EPIRBS and similar devices by the operators of recreational vessels.