Davis / 4 Senator Popal

S.B._____

A BILL
To mandate that every air traveler be patted down and searched after the full body scan process prior to
entering any commercial airline traveling either domestically or internationally.
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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 Airline Security Act of 2015.
SECTION 2. FINDINGS
Congress hereby finds and declares that,
A) "Red teams" with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General were able to
get banned items through the screening process in 67 out of 70 tests it conducted across the nation.
B) Metal appearing on the screen of the detectors appears black and can easily be snuck through.
C) Carefully placed metal objects will not show upon the scan due to the machines incapability to
differentiate between metal and backscatter.
D) Prof. J Alex Halderman and graduate student Eric Wustrow, was able to successfully conceal firearms
and plastic explosive simulants from the Rapiscan Secure 1000 scanner in laboratory tests
E) Passengers can potentially bring non-metallic hazardous objects through the security checkpoint.
F) The scanners are unable to penetrate beneath skin, therefore, hiding materials in body cavities or in
implants may conceal them
G) The TSA has been patting down travelers since 2002 and it has been working very well.
H) TSA officers are trained to give a respectful and professional screening process.
I) Airport pat-downs are supposed to be conducted by officers the same sex as the traveler, and passengers
can request a private screening and have a traveling companion present during the search.
J) Some biometric technologies, like airport scanners, are proven to be problematic due to their complexity.
SECTION 3. STATUTORY LANGUAGE
A) The Airline Security Act of 2015 shall mandate that full body pat downs be used on every air traveler
either after the TSA full body scan. This process shall take place during security screenings prior to any
commercial airline flight regardless whether the flight is domestic or international. Parents and/or
guardians of minors have the right to be present for the full body pat down. Specialized TSA agents will
conduct the pat downs. Hats must be removed during the pat down as well as jackets, sweaters, and
sweatshirts. TSA agents will thoroughly pat down the torso, lower body, and limbs of the traveler. If the
traveler passes the pat down then he/she will proceed to the TSA full body scanner. The TSA agents patting
down the traveler must be the same gender as the traveler. Travelers may not request specific TSA agents
for the pat down. In addition, if a traveler is suspected of possessing an illegal substance or suspicious
combination of substances then that traveler will be further questioned and their luggage will be thoroughly
searched by Homeland Security Agents.
B) The Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration will be
responsible for enforcing and funding this act. In addition, the air travelers will also be responsible for
paying a minimal fee of ten percent of their ticket price in order to fund this act.
C) The incentive for this bill is to ensure the safety of American citizens and air travelers in the United
States of America. If a passenger fails to comply with the orders of TSA or Homeland Security agents
he/she will not be allowed onto the flight. Under the circumstance in which an illegal substance is found
either with an air traveler or in a travelers luggage, standard United States laws will be carried out in
penalizing the suspect. If TSA or Homeland Security agents fail to carry out the expected duty then he/she
will be fired. The Airline Security Act of 2015 shall be enacted on January 1, 2016 and will be renewed
every five years.