Airport Security Act of 2017

Summary: Airport Security Act of 2017  This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to establish a program to prohibit all but specified authorized individuals from possessing a firearm at a covered airport, including any individual who enters the airport, or exits public transportation at it, for air travel, meeting another individual, picking up cargo, or employment.  The TSA shall require airport operators to:    display conspicuous notices summarizing the program at each airport entrance, and   require law enforcement personnel to monitor the airport to prevent violations and escort air travelers who are authorized to carry a firearm.  The bill prescribes criminal penalties for nonauthorized individuals who knowingly possess a firearm at a covered airport.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Airport Security Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AT AIRPORTS.

    (a) Program To Prohibit Possession of Firearms at Airports.--
Section 44903 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(o) Program To Prohibit Possession of Firearms at Airports.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Administrator of the 
        Transportation Security Administration shall establish and 
        carry out a program to prohibit, except as provided in 
        paragraph (3), any individual from possessing a firearm at a 
        covered airport, including any individual who enters the 
        airport, or who exits public transportation at the airport, for 
        the following purposes:
                    ``(A) Air travel.
                    ``(B) Meeting another individual.
                    ``(C) Picking up cargo.
                    ``(D) Employment at the airport.
            ``(2) Requirements for airport operators.--In carrying out 
        the program established under paragraph (1), the Administrator 
        shall require each airport operator to--
                    ``(A) conspicuously display notices summarizing the 
                program described in paragraph (1)--
                            ``(i) at each entrance to the airport; and
                            ``(ii) in such form, and containing such 
                        information, as the Administrator shall by 
                        regulation prescribe; and
                    ``(B) require law enforcement personnel to--
                            ``(i) monitor the airport to prevent 
                        violations of paragraph (1); and
                            ``(ii) escort any individual described in 
                        paragraph (3)(B)(ii) who is discovered by such 
                        personnel to be in possession of a firearm 
                        described in paragraph (3)(B)(i), to ensure 
                        that such individual continues to be excepted 
                        from paragraph (1) by reason of being an 
                        individual described in paragraph (3)(B).
            ``(3) Exceptions.--The following individuals shall not be 
        prohibited by paragraph (1) from possessing a firearm under 
        such paragraph:
                    ``(A) Individuals authorized to carry a firearm.--
                An individual who, by regulation, is authorized by the 
                Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or 
                the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
                Administration to carry a firearm at the covered 
                airport.
                    ``(B) Travelers.--An individual who possesses a 
                firearm, if--
                            ``(i) the firearm is unloaded, carried in a 
                        hard-sided container that is locked, and the 
                        key or combination to the lock is in the 
                        exclusive possession of the individual; and
                            ``(ii) the individual--
                                    ``(I) is carrying a ticket in the 
                                name of the individual for a flight 
                                that is scheduled for departure from 
                                the covered airport within 24 hours or 
                                that has arrived at the airport within 
                                the preceding 24 hours; or
                                    ``(II) communicates the intention 
                                to obtain a ticket for departure 
                                referred to in subclause (I) at the 
                                covered airport and obtains and carries 
                                such ticket or does not obtain such 
                                ticket for a compelling reason.
                    ``(C) Individuals shipping firearms.--An individual 
                who possesses a firearm in a capacity relating to the 
                shipment of the firearm in air commerce and who, by 
                regulation, is authorized by the Administrator of the 
                Federal Aviation Administration or the Administrator of 
                the Transportation Security Administration to possess 
                the firearm at the covered airport in such capacity.
                    ``(D) Law enforcement officers.--An on-duty law 
                enforcement officer of a State or political subdivision 
                of a State, or an officer or employee of the Federal 
                Government, who is authorized to carry a firearm.
                    ``(E) Certain individuals on public 
                transportation.--An individual passing through an 
                airport on public transportation.
                    ``(F) Additional authorized individuals.--An 
                individual who is otherwise authorized by the 
                Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or 
                the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
                Administration to possess a firearm at a covered 
                airport.
            ``(4) Issuance of regulations.--Not later than one year 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
        the Transportation Security Administration shall issue 
        regulations to carry out this subsection.
            ``(5) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Airport.--The term `airport' means an airport 
                and any appurtenant building or area that is related to 
                the operation of the airport, including a building or 
                area on the site of the airport designed to--
                            ``(i) receive passengers or cargo before or 
                        after a flight; or
                            ``(ii) facilitate arrival at or departure 
                        from the airport, including--
                                    ``(I) a road or section of road 
                                used primarily for arrival at or 
                                departure from the airport;
                                    ``(II) an airport parking area; and
                                    ``(III) a public transportation 
                                stop.
                    ``(B) Airport operator.--The term `airport 
                operator' means the operator of a covered airport.
                    ``(C) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' 
                means the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
                Administration.
                    ``(D) Covered airport.--The term `covered airport' 
                means an airport that in the preceding fiscal year 
                received an amount allocated or apportioned under 
                chapter 471.
                    ``(E) Firearm.--The term `firearm' has the meaning 
                given the term in section 921(a)(3) of title 18.
                    ``(F) Public transportation.--The term `public 
                transportation' means a conveyance that provides 
                regular and continuing general or special 
                transportation to the public.''.
    (b) Criminal Penalty for Possession.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 44 of title 18, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        section:
``Sec. 932. Possession of firearms at airports
    ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), an 
individual who knowingly possesses a firearm at a covered airport shall 
be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
    ``(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual 
described in section 44903(o)(3) of title 49.
    ``(c) Definition of Covered Airport.--In this section, the term 
`covered airport' has the meaning given the term in section 
44903(o)(5)(D) of title 49.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date on 
        which the Administrator of the Transportation Security 
        Administration has issued regulations pursuant to section 
        44903(o)(4) of title 49, United States Code (as added by 
        subsection (a)).
            (3) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for 
        chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new item:

``932. Possession of firearms at airports.''.