109th CONGRESS
2d Session

S. 3621

To permit certain local law enforcement officers to carry firearms on aircraft.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 29, 2006

Mr. REID introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To permit certain local law enforcement officers to carry firearms on aircraft.

    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 `Safer Skies Act of 2006'.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO CARRY FIREARMS ON AIRCRAFT.

    (a) In General- Subchapter I of chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`Sec. 44926. Authority of local law enforcement officers to carry firearms on aircraft

    `(a) In General- Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Safer Skies Act of 2006, the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security shall prescribe regulations that permit qualified local law enforcement officers to carry accessible weapons while onboard an aircraft to the same extent and subject to the same limits as Federal law enforcement officers are permitted under section 1544.219 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

    `(b) Qualified Local Law Enforcement Officer- In this section, the term `qualified local law enforcement officer' means any full-time State or local enforcement officer, whether or not on official travel, who--

      `(1) is a direct employee of a government agency that--

        `(A) employs more than 400 employees; and

        `(B) is accredited by a nationally recognized law enforcement accreditation program;

      `(2) is armed in accordance with an agency-wide policy established by the employing agency by directive or policy statement; and

      `(3) otherwise complies with the requirements relating to Federal law enforcement officers.'.

    (b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections for chapter 449 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item related to section 44925 the following:

      `Sec. 44926. Authority of local law enforcement officers to carry firearms on aircraft.'.

END