S. 5391
Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2026
Sponsor: Tim Kaine · 0 cosponsors
Official summary
No official summary yet.
Text of the bill
I Additional inspection and investigation authority
II Enhanced enforcement authority
III Penalties
IV Miners’ Rights and Protections
V Modernizing health and safety standards
(a) In general. Section 115(a)(3) (30 U.S.C. 825(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
(3) all miners shall receive not less than 9 hours of refresher training not less frequently than once every 12 months, and such training shall include one hour of training on the statutory rights and responsibilities of miners and their representatives under this Act and other applicable Federal and State law, pursuant to a program of instruction developed by the Secretary and delivered by an employee of the Administration or by a trainer approved by the Administration that is a party independent from the operator;
(b) National hazard reporting hotline. Section 115 (30 U.S.C. 825), as so amended, is further amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
(c) Any health and safety training program of instruction provided under this section shall include distribution to miners of information regarding miners’ rights under this Act, and a toll-free hotline telephone number, which the Secretary shall maintain to receive complaints from miners and the public regarding hazardous conditions, discrimination, safety or health violations, or other mine safety or health concerns. Information regarding the hotline shall be provided in a portable, convenient format, such as a durable wallet card, to enable miners to keep the information on their person.
(c) Timing of initial statutory rights training. Notwithstanding section 115 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (30 U.S.C. 825), as amended by subsection (a), or the health and safety training program approved under such section, an operator shall ensure that all miners already employed by the operator on the date of enactment of this Act shall receive the one hour of statutory rights and responsibilities training described in section 115(a)(3) of such Act, not later than 180 days after such date.
VI Additional mine safety provisions