6 U.S.C. § 1143 Security Background Checks of Covered Individuals For Public Transportation

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 6 U.S.C. § 1143

(a) Definitions

In this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) Security background check

The term "security background check" means reviewing the following for the purpose of identifying individuals who may pose a threat to transportation security, national security, or of terrorism:

(A) Relevant criminal history databases.

(B) In the case of an alien (as defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(3) )), the relevant databases to determine the status of the alien under the immigration laws of the United States.

(C) Other relevant information or databases, as determined by the Secretary.

(2) Covered individual

The term "covered individual" means an employee of a public transportation agency or a contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency.

(b) Guidance

(1) Any guidance, recommendations, suggested action items, or any other widely disseminated voluntary action item issued by the Secretary to a public transportation agency or a contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency relating to performing a security background check of a covered individual shall contain recommendations on the appropriate scope and application of such a security background check, including the time period covered, the types of disqualifying offenses, and a redress process for adversely impacted covered individuals consistent with subsections (c) and (d) of this section.

(2) Not later than 60 days after August 3, 2007, any guidance, recommendations, suggested action items, or any other widely disseminated voluntary action item issued by the Secretary prior to August 3, 2007, to a public transportation agency or a contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency relating to performing a security background check of a covered individual shall be updated in compliance with paragraph (b)(1).

(3) If a public transportation agency or a contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency performs a security background check on a covered individual to fulfill guidance issued by the Secretary under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary shall not consider such guidance fulfilled unless an adequate redress process as described in subsection (d) is provided to covered individuals.

(c) Requirements

If the Secretary issues a rule, regulation or directive requiring a public transportation agency or contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency to perform a security background check of a covered individual, then the Secretary shall prohibit a public transportation agency or contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency from making an adverse employment decision, including removal or suspension of the employee, due to such rule, regulation, or directive with respect to a covered individual unless the public transportation agency or contractor or subcontractor of a public transportation agency determines that the covered individual-