I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2600
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide that air carriers may
not transport unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 without written
certification of a custodial parent’s, foster parent’s, or legal guardian’s
permission, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 24, 2001
Mr. PUTNAM introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide that
air carriers may not transport unaccompanied minors
under the age of 18 without written certification of a
custodial parent’s, foster parent’s, or legal guardian’s
permission, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Children’s Air Travel
Protection Act’’.
SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 417 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end of sub-
chapter 1 the following:
‘‘§ 41722. Transportation of minors
‘‘(a) TRANSPORTATION
OF UNACCOMPANIED MI-
NORS.—No air carrier or foreign air carrier may provide
air transportation of an unaccompanied minor under the
age of 18 without a written certification of a custodial par-
ent’s, foster parent’s, or legal guardian’s permission.
‘‘(b) TRANSPORTATION OF ADULTS ACCOMPANYING
CERTAIN MINORS.—No air carrier or foreign air carrier
may provide air transportation of a minor under the age
of 18 that is accompanied by a person that is 18 years
of age or older unless such person certifies, in writing, that
the minor has the permission of the custodial parent, fos-
ter parent, or legal guardian to travel with such person.
‘‘(c) MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION.—An air car-
rier or foreign air carrier that receives a certification
under this section shall maintain a copy of the certification
for at least 1 year after the date of receipt.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for
such subchapter is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘41722. Transportation of minors.’’.
SEC. 3. FALSE CERTIFICATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 463 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘§ 46319. False certification of parental permission
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A person that knowingly pro-
vides to an air carrier or foreign air carrier under section
41722 false certification of parental or guardian permis-
sion with respect to a minor who is in fact a missing minor
shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than
2 years, or both.
‘‘(b) MISSING MINOR DEFINED.—In this section the
term ‘missing minor’ means a minor under the age of 18
with respect to whom a custodial parent, foster parent,
or legal guardian has filed a missing person report with
appropriate law enforcement authorities.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The analysis for
such subchapter is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘46319. False certification of parental permission.’’.
SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act, including any amendment made
by this Act, shall be construed as making an air carrier
or foreign air carrier liable to a parent, foster parent, or
legal guardian of a minor for providing air transportation
for the minor without parental or guardian permission.
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