[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2600 Introduced in House (IH)]







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.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 2001

  Mr. Putnam introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within 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 Representatives 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 subchapter 1 the following:
``Sec. 41722. Transportation of minors
    ``(a) Transportation of Unaccompanied Minors.--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 parent'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, foster parent, or 
legal guardian to travel with such person.
    ``(c) Maintenance of Certification.--An air carrier 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 following:

``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 following:
``Sec. 46319. False certification of parental permission
    ``(a) In General.--A person that knowingly provides to an air 
carrier or foreign air carrier under section 41722 false certification 
of parental or guardian permission 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 following:

``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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