---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 20119"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "20119"
heading: "Study on use of certain reports and surveys"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/20119"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Rail Programs"
  - "Part A — Safety"
  - "Chapter 201 — General"
  - "Subchapter I — General"
---

# §20119. Study on use of certain reports and surveys

- (a) **Study.—** The Federal [Railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) Administration shall complete a study to evaluate whether it is in the public interest, including public safety and the legal rights of persons injured in [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) accidents, to withhold from discovery or admission into evidence in a Federal or [State](/usc/49/26105.md?p=5) court proceeding for damages involving personal injury or wrongful death against a carrier any report, survey, schedule, list, or data compiled or collected for the purpose of evaluating, planning, or implementing a [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) safety risk reduction program required under this chapter, including a [railroad carrier](/usc/49/20102.md?p=3)’s analysis of its safety risks and its statement of the mitigation measures with which it will address those risks. In conducting this study, the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14) shall solicit input from the [railroads](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12), [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) non-profit [employee](/usc/49/21101.md?p=3) labor organizations, [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) accident victims and their families, and the general public.
- (b) **Authority.—** Following completion of the study required under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/49/22401.md?p=14), if in the public interest, including public safety and the legal rights of persons injured in [railroad](/usc/49/22401.md?p=12) accidents, may prescribe a rule subject to notice and comment to address the results of the study. Any such rule prescribed pursuant to this subsection shall not become effective until 1 year after its adoption.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title I, § 109(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4867.)