Checkpoint Safety Act of 2017

To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the deployment of law enforcement personnel at airport screening locations at very large airports, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Checkpoint Safety Act of 2017 2. Deployment of law enforcement personnel at airport screening locations at very large airports Section 44901 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking Under Secretary of Transportation for Security Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (2) by striking Under Secretary Administrator (3) in subsection (h), by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: (2) Minimum requirements (A) In general Except at airports required to enter into agreements under subsection (c), the Administrator shall order the deployment of at least one law enforcement officer authorized to carry firearms within 300 feet of each airport security screening location and within the terminal during operating hours at each airport at which the number of annual enplanements for the most recent calendar year for which data are available is 8 million or more or the number of international enplanements is 1 million or more. The Administrator shall order the deployment of additional law enforcement officers authorized to carry firearms at such airports if the Administrator determines that such additional deployment is necessary to ensure airport security. (B) Waiver The Administrator may waive the application of all or part of the requirements of subparagraph (A) only if the relevant law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over an airport described in such subparagraph certifies in a written application to the Administrator that adherence to all or part of such requirements would— (i) make provision of adequate security for such airport impossible; and (ii) cause extreme hardship to such law enforcement agency that would severely impair its ability to perform its duties. . 3. Law enforcement assistance in Federal airport security Section 44903 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking Under Secretary of Transportation for Security Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (2) by striking Under Secretary Administrator (3) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking passengers persons (4) in subsection (c)(1)— (A) in the first sentence, as amended by paragraph (2)— (i) by striking The Administrator (A) The Administrator (ii) by striking passengers all persons and property (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) Any air transportation security program established pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be adequate to ensure— (i) close cooperation between all relevant parties in ensuring airport security; (ii) high training standards for all security and law enforcement personnel; (iii) prompt notification of and law enforcement response to any security incidents which may arise at the airport, including detention of persons who may attempt to evade transportation security screening; and (iv) multiple means for Transportation Security Officers or members of the public to request prompt law enforcement assistance in the airport. . 4. Stationing of deputized law enforcement officers Section 44922 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking Under Secretary of Transportation for Security Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (2) by striking Under Secretary Administrator (3) by striking subsection (f).

Summary: Checkpoint Safety Act of 2017 This bill revises minimum requirements for the deployment of armed law enforcement personnel at security screening locations at certain airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), formerly the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security of the Department of Transportation, shall order the deployment of at least one armed law enforcement officer within 300 feet of the security screening location and within the terminal during operating hours of each airport having annual enplanements of 8 million or more or international enplanements of 1 million or more. The TSA shall order the deployment of additional armed law enforcement officers at such airports if deemed necessary to ensure airport security. The bill revises air transportation security program requirements to require that such programs ensure: law enforcement presence at each airport is adequate to ensure the safety of passengers, as under current law, and their property; close cooperation between all relevant parties in ensuring airport security; high training standards for all security and law enforcement personnel; prompt notification of, and law enforcement response to, any security incidents at airports, including detention of persons who attempt to evade transportation security screening; and multiple means for TSA Officers or members of the public to request prompt law enforcement assistance in the airport. The bill repeals TSA authority for allowing deputized state and local law enforcement officers to be stationed other than at airport security screening locations.