Airport Security Improvement Act of 2000
Public Law 106-528 · S. 2440 · 106th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Nov 22, 2000 · Transportation and Public Works
Sponsor: Sen. Kay Hutchison (R-TX)
Cosponsors (8): Sen. John McCain, Sen. Slade Gorton,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Airport Security Improvement Act of 2000 - Directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop an electronic fingerprint transmission pilot project for individual criminal history record checks into an aviation industry-wide program. Exempts any airport, air carrier, or screening company from participating in such program if they determine it would not be cost effective and notify the Administrator of such determination.
(Sec. 2) Amends Federal aviation law to require that a criminal history record check (fingerprint check) be done for any individual applying for a position as a security screener, a screener supervisor, or that will allow unescorted access to an aircraft or a secured area of an airport. Allows such persons during the first three years to work temporarily without a fingerprint check (provided such fingerprints have been submitted and an employment investigation has found no cause for suspicion) for 45 days during the first two years of such three year period, and for 30 days during the third year of such period. Requires all new employees, after the temporary periods, to have a fingerprint check before beginning work. Declares that an employment investigation shall not be required for an individual if a criminal history record check is completed before the individual begins working. Sets forth specified exceptions to the requirements of this Act.
Lists additional crimes in the past ten years preceding an employment investigation for which an individual will be barred from employment in a position as a security screener or a position that will allow unescorted access.
(Sec. 3) Directs the Administrator to issue a final rule on the certification of screening companies.
Establishes new minimum standards for the training of security screeners.
Directs the Administrator to work with air carriers and airports to ensure that computer-based training facilities intended for use by security screeners at an airport are conveniently located and easily accessible.
(Sec. 4) Requires each airport operator, air carrier, and security screening company to include a list of sanctions published by the Administrator in its security program for use as guidelines in the discipline of its employees for infractions of airport access control requirements. Requires the Administrator to work with airport operators and air carriers to improve airport access controls by January 31, 2001.
(Sec. 5) Directs the Administrator to take certain actions to ensure physical security at FAA staffed facilities that house air traffic control systems. Requires the Administrator to report to specified congressional committees on progress made in improving the physical security of air traffic control facilities, including the percentage of such facilities that have been granted physical security accreditation.
(Sec. 6) Directs the Administrator to issue an amendment to air carrier security programs to require a manual process which will increase the number of checked bags that are selected for screening by explosive detection systems.
(Sec. 7) Amends the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century to require the Secretary of Transportation to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (currently, the General Accounting Office) to conduct a certain airport noise study. Requires the National Academy of Sciences to report the results of such study to the Secretary.
Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 8) Revises the total number of members of the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Nov 22, 2000Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 106-528.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 14, 2000PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 25, 2000Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Oct 23, 2000FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. LaTourette moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Oct 4, 2000CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Oct 3, 2000FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Aug 25, 2000CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Jun 15, 2000CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Apr 13, 2000CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.