I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1690 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 3, 2011 Mr. Rogers of Alabama (for himself, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Walsh of Illinois, and Mr. Brooks) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To amend titles 49 and 46, United States Code, and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for certain improvements in surface transportation security, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Modernizing of Documentation and Elimination of Redundant Identification and Security Credentials Act or the MODERN Security Credentials Act.

2.

Consolidation and harmonization of security threat assessment process for transportation workers

(a)

Requirement for Rulemaking

By not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, by rulemaking, consolidate and harmonize the Department of Homeland Security’s security threat assessment process for transportation workers, to reduce redundant background checks performed by the Department to the extent possible under law and in accordance with the relative security vulnerabilities of the transportation sectors and any other security considerations the Secretary determines are relevant. (b)

Consultation

In developing the rulemaking under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, within 120 days of enactment of this Act, consult with and seek input from representatives from air carriers, airport operators, labor organizations, port authorities, port operators, and other relevant stakeholders. (c)

Limitation

(1)

Existing processes and functions

Any rule issued under subsection (a) shall not apply to a process or function carried out by a non-Federal airport operator as of the date of enactment of this Act. (2)

Authority to restrict access

Nothing in any rule issued under subsection (a) shall affect the authority of an airport operator to restrict an individual’s access to secure areas within an airport or other aviation facility. (d)

Analysis

The rulemaking under subsection (a) shall include an analysis of— (1)how security threat assessment processes for transportation workers will be consolidated and harmonized; (2)any reductions in costs or fees that will be realized; and (3)any other efficiencies, including a reduction or streamlining of pertinent regulations, that will be realized.

3.

Transportation Security Administration employment disqualification

Section 44936 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking Under Secretary of Transportation for Security and inserting Secretary of Homeland Security (in this section referred to as the Secretary); (2)by striking Under Secretary each place it appears (other than in subsection (a)(1)(A)) and inserting Secretary; (3)in subsection (a)(2), by inserting before the period the following: “and the results of that investigation are provided to the Secretary”; (4)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (1)— (i)in subparagraph (A), by striking “or”; and (ii)by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following new subparagraphs: (B)the Secretary determines that the individual is disqualified under section 70105(c)(1) of title 46 from being issued a biometric or other transportation security card; or (C)the Secretary determines that the individual poses a threat to transportation or national security. ; and (B)by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (4)An individual disqualified by the Federal Government from being issued a biometric or other transportation security card under paragraph (1)(B) may seek a waiver pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 70105(c) of title 46. (5)Nothing in this subsection shall affect the authority of an air carrier, foreign air carrier, airport operator, or government, to disqualify any individual from employment based on a review or adjudication of a criminal history record check. (6)An airport operator shall not be required to issue an airport credential providing unescorted access to a Secure Identification Display Area to any individual based solely on the waiver process established under this section. (7)No cause of action, suit, or other proceeding shall arise— (A)from any denial of a request of a waiver under this section; or (B)from any disqualification for employment, if the cause of action, suit, or proceeding is based solely on the fact that the applicant for employment was granted a waiver under this subsection. ; (5)in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following: “The fees authorized under this section— (1)shall not exceed the aggregate costs incurred by the Department of Homeland Security associated with performing background record checks; (2)must be reasonably related to the costs of incurred from— (A)conducting or obtaining a criminal history record check or reviewing available law enforcement databases and commercial databases and records of other governmental and international agencies; (B)reviewing and adjudicating requests for waiver and appeals of agency decisions with respect to performing the background record check and denying requests for waiver and appeals; and (C)any other costs related to performing the background record check; and (3)may be used, subject to appropriations, only to pay the costs incurred in providing services in connection with the activity or item for which the fee is charged, and may remain available until expended. ; and (6)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f)

Use of information

Any information constituting grounds for disqualifying an individual from being issued a biometric or other transportation security card under subsection (b)(1) by the Federal Government shall be maintained by the Secretary and may be shared to the extent allowable under section 552a of title 5. .

4.

Disqualification from being issued a biometric transportation security card

(a)

Permanently disqualifying offenses

Section 70105(c)(1)(A) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1)by redesignating clauses (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), and (xii) as clauses (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiv), and (xv), respectively; (2)by inserting after clause (iv) the following new clauses: (v)Aircraft piracy punishable under section 46502(a) of title 49. (vi)Aircraft piracy outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States punishable under section 46502(b) of title 49. ; (3)by inserting after clause (xii), as so redesignated, the following new clause: (xiii)Improper transportation of a hazardous material punishable under section 46312 of title 49. ; (4)in clause (xiv), as so redesignated, by striking (iv) and inserting (vi); and (5)in clause (xv), as so redesignated, by striking clauses (v) through (x) and inserting clauses (vii) through (xiii). (b)

Interim disqualifying offenses

Section 70105(c)(1)(B) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new clauses: (xvi)Interference with air navigation punishable under section 46308 of title 49. (xvii)Forgery of certificates, false marking of aircraft, and other aircraft registration violations punishable under section 46306 of title 49. (xviii)Interference with flight crew members or flight attendants punishable under section 46504 of title 49. (xix)Commission of certain crimes aboard aircraft in flight punishable under section 46506 of title 49. (xx)Carrying a weapon or explosive aboard aircraft punishable under section 46505 of title 49. (xxi)Destruction of an aircraft or aircraft facility punishable under section 32 of title 18. (xxii)Unlawful entry into an aircraft or airport area that serves air carriers or foreign air carriers contrary to established security requirements punishable under section 46314 of title 49. (xxiii)Lighting violations involving transportation of controlled substances punishable under section 46315 of title 49. (xxiv)Violence at international airports punishable under section 37 of title 18. (xxv)Conveying false information and threats punishable under section 46507 of title 49. .

5.

Surface transportation security

(a)

In general

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: . (b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents contained in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (116 Stat. 2135) is amended by adding at the end the following: Title XXI—Surface Transportation Security Sec. 2101. Transportation of security-sensitive materials. Sec. 2102. Enrollment locations. Sec. 2103. Commercial motor vehicle operators registered to operate in Mexico or Canada. Sec. 2104. Redundant background checks. Sec. 2105. Transition. Sec. 2106. Savings clause. Sec. 2107. Definitions. . (c)

Security cards for certain motor vehicle operators

Section 70105(b)(2) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by striking and after the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G) and inserting ; and, and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (H)an individual who operates a motor vehicle in commerce while transporting security-sensitive material (as that term is defined in section 1501 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1151). . (d)

Civil penalties

Section 114(v) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1)in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting under title XXI of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 or after Secretary of Homeland Security; and (2)by striking applicable provision of this title each place it appears and inserting applicable provision.

6.

Limitation on issuance of HAZMAT licenses

Section 5103a of title 49, United States Code, and the item relating to that section in the analysis for chapter 51 of such title, are repealed.

7.

Deadlines and effective dates

(a)

Issuance of transportation security cards

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security (as that term is defined in section 70101 of title 46, United States Code) shall begin issuance of transportation security cards under section 70105(b)(2)(H) of title 46, United States Code, as amended by this Act, to individuals who seek to operate a motor vehicle in commerce while transporting security-sensitive materials. (b)

Effective date of prohibitions

The prohibitions under in section 2101 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by section 5) shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (c)

Effective date of section 6 amendments

The amendments made by section 6 of this Act shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

8.

Task force on disqualifying crimes

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a task force, with an official designated by the Secretary to be the Chair of the task force, to review the lists of crimes that disqualify individuals from transportation-related employment under current regulations of the Transportation Security Administration and assess whether such lists of crimes are accurate indicators of a terrorism security risk. (b)

Membership

The task force shall be composed of representatives of appropriate industries, including labor unions representing employees of such industries, Federal agencies, and other appropriate entities, as determined by the Secretary. (c)

Report

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the task force shall submit to the Secretary and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report containing the results of the review, including recommendations for a common list of disqualifying crimes and the rationale for the inclusion of each crime on the list.