text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Improved Security Vetting for 
  Aviation Workers Act of 2015''.
  
  SEC. 2. AVIATION SECURITY.
  
      (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title XVI of the Homeland Security 
  Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 561 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 
  1601 the following new section:
  
  ``SEC. 1602. VETTING OF AVIATION WORKERS.
  
      ``(a) In General.--By not later than December 31, 2015, the 
  Administrator, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Policy 
  of the Department, shall request from the Director of National 
  Intelligence access to additional data from the Terrorist Identities 
  Datamart Environment (TIDE) data and any or other terrorism-related 
  information to improve the effectiveness of the Administration's 
  credential vetting program for individuals with unescorted access to 
  sensitive areas of airports.
      ``(b) Security Inspection.--By not later than December 31, 2015, 
  the Administrator shall issue guidance for Transportation Security 
  Inspectors to annually review airport badging office procedures for 
  applicants seeking access to sensitive areas of airports. Such guidance 
  shall include a comprehensive review of applicants' Criminal History 
  Records Check (CHRC) and work authorization documentation during the 
  course of an inspection.
      ``(c) Information Sharing.--By not later than December 31, 2015, 
  the Administrator may conduct a pilot program of the Rap Back Service, 
  in coordination with the Director of the Federal Bureau of 
  Investigation, to determine the feasibility of full implementation of a 
  service through which the Administrator would be notified of a change 
  in status of an individual holding a valid credential granting 
  unescorted access to sensitive areas of airports across eligible 
  Administration-regulated populations.
      ``(d) Procedures.--The pilot program under subsection (c) shall 
  evaluate whether information can be narrowly tailored to ensure that 
  the Administrator only receives notification of a change with respect 
  to a disqualifying offense under the credential vetting program under 
  subsection (a), as specified in 49 CFR 1542.209, and in a manner that 
  complies with current regulations for fingerprint-based criminal 
  history records checks. The pilot program shall be carried out in a 
  manner so as to ensure that, in the event that notification is made 
  through the Rap Back Service of a change but a determination of arrest 
  status or conviction is in question, the matter will be handled in a 
  manner that is consistent with current regulations. The pilot program 
  shall also be carried out in a manner that is consistent with current 
  regulations governing an investigation of arrest status, correction of 
  Federal Bureau of Investigation records and notification of 
  disqualification, and corrective action by the individual who is the 
  subject of an inquiry.
      ``(e) Determination and Submission.--If the Administrator 
  determines that full implementation of the Rap Back Service is feasible 
  and can be carried out in a manner that is consistent with current 
  regulations for fingerprint-based criminal history checks, including 
  the rights of individuals seeking credentials, the Administrator shall 
  submit such determination, in writing, to the Committee on Homeland 
  Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
  Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, 
  Science, and Transportation of the Senate, together with information on 
  the costs associated with such implementation, including the costs 
  incurred by the private sector. In preparing this determination, the 
  Administrator shall consult with the Chief Civil Rights and Civil 
  Liberties Officer of the Department to ensure that protocols are in 
  place to align the period of retention of personally identifiable 
  information and biometric information, including fingerprints, in the 
  Rap Back Service with the period in which the individual who is the 
  subject of an inquiry has a valid credential.
      ``(f) Credential Security.--By not later than September 30, 2015, 
  the Administrator shall issue guidance to airports mandating that all 
  federalized airport badging authorities place an expiration date on 
  airport credentials commensurate with the period of time during which 
  an individual is lawfully authorized to work in the United States.
      ``(g) Aviation Worker Lawful Status.--By not later than December 
  31, 2015, the Administrator shall review the denial of credentials due 
  to issues associated with determining an applicant's lawful status in 
  order to identify airports with specific weaknesses and shall 
  coordinate with such airports to mutually address such weaknesses, as 
  appropriate.
      ``(h) Reports to Congress.--Upon completion of the determinations 
  and reviews required under this section, the Administrator shall brief 
  the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Transportation 
  and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
  Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on 
  Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the results of 
  such determinations and reviews.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of the Homeland 
  Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
  section 1601 the following new item:
  
  ``Sec. 1602. Vetting of aviation workers.''.
  
  SEC. 3. STATUS UPDATE ON RAP BACK SERVICE PILOT PROGRAM.
  
      Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
  the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall 
  submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
  Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
  Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
  the Senate a report on the status of plans to conduct a pilot program 
  in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the Rap 
  Back Service in accordance with subsection (c) of section 1602 of the 
  Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 2 of this Act. The 
  report shall include details on the business, technical, and resource 
  requirements for the Transportation Security Administration and pilot 
  program participants, and provide a timeline and goals for the pilot 
  program.
  
              Passed the House of Representatives July 27, 2015.
  
              Attest:
  
                                                   KAREN L. HAAS,
  
                                                                   Clerk.
target: Improved Security Vetting for Aviation Workers Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 todirect the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), by December 31, 2015, in coordination with the DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy, to request from the Director of National Intelligence access to additional data from the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment data and any or other terrorism-related information to improve the effectiveness of TSA's credential vetting program for individuals with unescorted access to sensitive areas of airports. The TSA, by the same deadline, shall:   issue guidance for Transportation Security Inspectors to review annually airport badging office procedures for applicants seeking access to sensitive airport areas, including a comprehensive review of applicants' Criminal History Records Check and work authorization documentation during the course of an inspection; issue guidance to airports requiring that all federalized airport badging authorities place an expiration date on airport credentials commensurate with the period of time during which an individual is lawfully authorized to work in the United States; and review the denial of credentials owing to an applicants's lawful status in order to identify airports with specific weaknesses and coordinate with them to address such weaknesses.  The TSA may conduct a Rap Back Service pilot program, in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to determine the feasibility of full implementation of a service through which the TSA would be notified of a change in status of an individual holding a valid credential granting unescorted access to sensitive airport areas across eligible TSA-regulated populations. (The FBI Rap Back Service notifies authorized agencies of criminal, and, in limited cases, civil activity of individuals that occurs after the initial processing and retention of criminal or civil transactions.) Certain pilot program procedures are prescribed regarding notification only of a change with respect to a disqualifying offense under the credential vetting program. (Sec. 3) The TSA, within 60 days after enactment of this Act, shall report to Congress on the status of plans to conduct the Rap Back Service pilot program.
feat_title: Improved Security Vetting for Aviation Workers Act of 2015