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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to passenger security screening and reporting by certain |
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local government airport operators. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 23, Transportation Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: Sec. 23.002. COMMISSIONING OF EMPLOYEES AS PEACE |
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OFFICERS. (a) The governing body may commission an employee of an |
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airport security force established under this chapter as a peace |
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officer, subject to Subchapter C, Chapter 415, Government Code, |
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Subchapter G, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, if the employee gives |
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an oath and a bond for the faithful performance of the employee's |
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duties as required by the governing body. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 23, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 23.004 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 23.004. SCREENING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. (a) In this |
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section, "airport operator" means: |
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(1) a local government that owns or controls an |
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airport; or |
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(2) a person who operates, as the agent of a local |
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government or otherwise, an airport owned or controlled by the |
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local government. |
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(b) Not later than January 1, 2014, an airport operator |
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shall apply to the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security |
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under 49 U.S.C. Section 44920 to participate in the security |
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screening opt-out program. |
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(c) The airport operator shall submit the following |
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information to the Director of the Texas Department of Public |
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Safety and the executive director of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation: |
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(1) not later than the 30th day after an application |
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has been submitted under Subsection (b), a written statement that |
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an application has been submitted; |
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(2) not later than the 30th day after receiving the |
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notice, a copy of the notice of the disposition of the application; |
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and |
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(3) not later than January 31, 2019, a written |
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statement regarding any failure to receive a notice of the |
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disposition of the application. |
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(d) an airport operator that fails to comply with subsection |
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(b) may not receive state funding for the operation of the airport. |
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(e) This section expires August 31, 2019. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 23, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 23.005 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 23.005. PASSENGER COMPLAINT REPORT. (a) In this |
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section, "airport operator" means: |
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(1) a local government that owns or controls an |
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airport; or |
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(2) a person who operates, as the agent of a local |
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government or otherwise, an airport owned or controlled by the |
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local government. |
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(b) Not later than January 1, 2015 and on January 1 of each |
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year thereafter, an airport operator shall submit the following |
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information to the Director of the Texas Department of Public |
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Safety and the executive director of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation: |
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(1) a written report describing the number and nature |
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of complaints received by the airport operator from passengers |
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concerning the behavior of Transportation Security Administration |
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agents. |
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(c) The written report submitted pursuant to Subsection (b) |
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shall not include the identification of passengers or information |
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that would compromise the privacy or security of passengers. |
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(d) This section expires August 31, 2019. |
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SECTION 4. Chapter 23, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 23.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 23.006 REPORT TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. Before |
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the end of each even-numbered year, the director of the governor's |
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Office of Homeland Security shall prepare and submit to the Texas |
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Congressional delegation a report making recommendations regarding |
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airport security screening. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |