text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Airport Security Act of 2010''.
  
  SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AT AIRPORTS.
  
      (a) Program To Prohibit Possession.--Section 44903 of title 49, 
  United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
  subsection:
      ``(m) Program To Prohibit Possession of Firearms at Airports.--
              ``(1) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary of Homeland 
          Security (Transportation Security Administration) shall 
          establish and carry out a program to prohibit, except as 
          provided in paragraph (3), any individual from possessing a 
          firearm at a covered airport, including any individual who 
          enters the airport, or who exits public transportation at the 
          airport, for the following purposes:
                      ``(A) Air travel.
                      ``(B) Meeting another individual.
                      ``(C) Picking up cargo.
                      ``(D) Employment at the airport.
              ``(2) Requirements for airport operators.--In carrying out 
          the program established under paragraph (1), the Assistant 
          Secretary shall require each airport operator to--
                      ``(A) conspicuously display notices summarizing the 
                  program--
                              ``(i) at each entrance to the airport; and
                              ``(ii) in such form, and containing such 
                          information, as the Assistant Secretary shall 
                          by regulation prescribe; and
                      ``(B) require law enforcement personnel to--
                              ``(i) monitor the airport to prevent 
                          violations of paragraph (1); and
                              ``(ii) escort any individual described in 
                          paragraph (3)(B)(ii) who is discovered by such 
                          personnel to be in possession of a firearm 
                          referred to in paragraph (3)(B)(i), to ensure 
                          that such individual continues to be excepted 
                          from paragraph (1) by reason of paragraph 
                          (3)(B).
              ``(3) Exceptions.--The following individuals shall not be 
          prohibited by paragraph (1) from possessing a firearm under 
          such paragraph:
                      ``(A) Individuals authorized to carry a firearm.--
                  An individual who, by regulation, is authorized by the 
                  Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or 
                  the Assistant Secretary to carry a firearm at the 
                  covered airport.
                      ``(B) Travelers.--An individual who possesses a 
                  firearm, if--
                              ``(i) the firearm is unloaded, carried in a 
                          hard-sided container that is locked, and the 
                          key or combination to the lock is in the 
                          exclusive possession of the individual; and
                              ``(ii) the individual--
                                      ``(I) is carrying a ticket in the 
                                  name of the individual for a flight 
                                  that is scheduled for departure from 
                                  the covered airport within 24 hours or 
                                  that has arrived at the airport within 
                                  the preceding 24 hours; or
                                      ``(II) communicates the intention 
                                  to obtain a ticket for departure 
                                  referred to in subclause (I) at the 
                                  covered airport and obtains and carries 
                                  such ticket or does not obtain such 
                                  ticket for a compelling reason.
                      ``(C) Individuals shipping firearms.--An individual 
                  who possesses a firearm in a capacity relating to the 
                  shipment of the firearm in air commerce and who, by 
                  regulation, is authorized by the Administrator of the 
                  Federal Aviation Administration or the Assistant 
                  Secretary to possess the firearm at the covered airport 
                  in such capacity.
                      ``(D) Law enforcement officers.--An on-duty law 
                  enforcement officer of a State or political subdivision 
                  of a State, or an officer or employee of the Federal 
                  Government, who is authorized to carry a firearm.
                      ``(E) Certain individuals on public 
                  transportation.--An individual passing through an 
                  airport on public transportation.
                      ``(F) Additional authorized individuals.--An 
                  individual who is otherwise authorized by the 
                  Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or 
                  the Assistant Secretary to possess a firearm at a 
                  covered airport.
              ``(4) Issuance of regulations.--Not later than one year 
          after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant 
          Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security 
          Administration) shall issue regulations to carry out this 
          subsection.
              ``(5) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                      ``(A) Airport.--The term `airport' means an airport 
                  and any appurtenant building or area that is related to 
                  the operation of the airport, including a building or 
                  area on the site of the airport designed to--
                              ``(i) receive passengers or cargo before or 
                          after a flight; or
                              ``(ii) facilitate arrival at or departure 
                          from the airport, including--
                                      ``(I) a road or section of road 
                                  used primarily for arrival at or 
                                  departure from the airport;
                                      ``(II) an airport parking area; and
                                      ``(III) a public transportation 
                                  stop.
                      ``(B) Airport operator.--The term `airport 
                  operator' means the operator of a covered airport.
                      ``(C) Assistant secretary.--The term `Assistant 
                  Secretary' means the Assistant Secretary of Homeland 
                  Security (Transportation Security Administration).
                      ``(D) Covered airport.--The term `covered airport' 
                  means an airport that in the preceding fiscal year 
                  received an amount allocated or apportioned under 
                  chapter 471.
                      ``(E) Firearm.--The term `firearm' has the meaning 
                  given the term in section 921(a)(3) of title 18.
                      ``(F) Public transportation.--The term `public 
                  transportation' means a conveyance that provides 
                  regular and continuing general or special 
                  transportation to the public.''.
      (b) Criminal Penalty for Possession.--
              (1) In general.--Chapter 44 of title 18, United States 
          Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
          section:
  ``Sec. 932. Possession of firearms at airports
      ``(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), an 
  individual who knowingly possesses a firearm at a covered airport shall 
  be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
      ``(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual 
  described in section 44903(m)(3) of title 49.
      ``(c) Definition of Covered Airport.--In this section, the term 
  `covered airport' has the meaning given the term in section 
  44903(m)(5)(D) of title 49.''.
              (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
          shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date on 
          which the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security 
          (Transportation Security Administration) has issued regulations 
          pursuant to section 44903(m)(4) of title 49, United States Code 
          (as added by subsection (a)).
              (3) Conforming amendment.--The table of sections for 
          chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
          adding at the end the following new item:
  
  ``932. Possession of firearms at airports.''.
target: Airport Security Act of 2010 - Directs the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration [TSA]) to establish a program to prohibit all but specified authorized individuals from possessing a firearm at a covered airport, including any individual who enters the airport, or exits public transportation at it, for air travel, meeting another individual, picking up cargo, or employment.
  
  Directs the Assistant Secretary to require airport operators to: (1) display conspicuous notices summarizing the program at each airport entrance; and (2) require law enforcement personnel to monitor the airport to prevent violations and escort air travelers who are authorized to carry a firearm.
  
  Prescribes criminal penalties for nonauthorized individuals who knowingly possess a firearm at a covered airport.
feat_title: To prohibit certain individuals from possessing a firearm in an airport, and for other purposes.