Fly Safe Canine COVID Detection Act of 2021
Bill: S.343 | Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick (R-FL)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Fly Safe Canine COVID Detection Act of 2021
This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct a feasibility study on the use of canine units to detect the presence of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) in individuals with the virus.
The TSA must also determine (1) whether the canine units can be used at airports to screen passengers, individuals accompanying passengers, crew members, and other individuals passing through airports and airport screening locations; and (2) how the screening would be implemented and what metrics would be used to monitor the efficacy of the screening.

To require the Transportation Security Administration to conduct a 
feasibility study on the use of canine units for COVID-19 detection at 
                               airports.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fly Safe Canine COVID Detection Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON USE OF CANINE UNITS TO DETECT COVID-19 AT 
              AIRPORTS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration (in this section referred to as the ``Administrator''), 
in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the 
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall 
conduct a study to assess--
            (1) the feasibility of using canines to detect the presence 
        of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 
        2019 (commonly known as ``COVID-19''), in individuals infected 
        with the virus;
            (2) if using canines to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 
        is feasible, whether canine units could be used at airports to 
        screen passengers, individuals accompanying passengers, crew 
        members, and other individuals who pass through airports and 
        airport security screening locations for SARS-CoV-2 infection; 
        and
            (3) if using canine units to conduct screening described in 
        paragraph (2) is feasible, how such screening would be 
        implemented and what metrics would be used to monitor the 
        efficacy of the screening.
    (b) Assessment of Efficacy.--
            (1) In general.--In conducting the study required by 
        subsection (a), the Administrator shall conduct a comprehensive 
        review and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 detection solutions to 
        determine the efficacy of canines to detect SARS-CoV-2 in 
        individuals.
            (2) Use of review.--The Administrator shall use the results 
        of the review and analysis required by paragraph (1) to 
        determine the biological detection capabilities of canines and 
        to inform the operational factors and considerations necessary 
        for the deployment of canine units at airports to detect SARS-
        CoV-2.
    (c) Additional Elements.--In conducting the assessments required by 
subsections (a) and (b), the Administrator shall assess the following:
            (1) The probability of canines responding to the presence 
        of SARS-CoV-2.
            (2) The specificity of response by canines to SARS-CoV-2 
        compared to their response to a pool of similar viruses and 
        controls.
            (3) How close canine units must be to individuals to detect 
        SARS-CoV-2 at a high sensitivity and specificity.
            (4) The effectiveness of canine units in detecting SARS-
        CoV-2 in symptomatic carriers compared to asymptomatic 
        carriers.
            (5) Other valid measures to determine the efficacy of using 
        canine units to screen for SARS-CoV-2 at airports, such as the 
        accuracy of detection and the risks of false positives and 
        false negatives.
            (6) Identification of training and policy gaps that are 
        critical to be addressed before implementing a program to use 
        canine units at airports to screen passengers, individuals 
        accompanying passengers, crew members, and other individuals 
        who pass through airports and airport security screening 
        locations, for infection with SARS-CoV-2.
    (d) Considerations.--In conducting the study required by subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall consider the following:
            (1) Opportunities to leverage established, preexisting 
        scientific information regarding detection of SARS-CoV-2 by 
        canines.
            (2) Established programs in foreign countries related to 
        detection of SARS-CoV-2 by canine units.
            (3) Detection approaches and solutions related to the 
        optimization of detection of SARS-CoV-2 by canines.
            (4) Private industry approaches aimed to facilitate 
        detection of SARS-CoV-2 using canine units.
    (e) Third-Party Validation and Verification.--The Administrator 
shall ensure that any screening solutions developed pursuant to the 
study required by subsection (a) undergo validation and verification 
analysis by a third party with appropriate expertise to ensure accuracy 
of data obtained from the study.
    (f) Report Required.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report--
            (1) setting forth the results of the study required by 
        subsection (a), including the assessments required by 
        subsections (b) and (c); and
            (2) making a recommendation with respect to whether to 
        proceed with implementing a program to use canine units at 
        airports to screen passengers, individuals accompanying 
        passengers, crew members, and other individuals who pass 
        through airports and airport security screening locations, for 
        infection with SARS-CoV-2.
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