49 U.S.C. § 44917 : US Code - Section 44917: Deployment of Federal air marshals

Search 49 U.S.C. § 44917 : US Code - Section 44917: Deployment of Federal air marshals

(a) In General. - The Under Secretary of Transportation for
Security under the authority provided by section 44903(d) -
(1) may provide for deployment of Federal air marshals on every
passenger flight of air carriers in air transportation or
intrastate air transportation;
(2) shall provide for deployment of Federal air marshals on
every such flight determined by the Secretary to present high
security risks;
(3) shall provide for appropriate training, supervision, and
equipment of Federal air marshals;
(4) shall require air carriers providing flights described in
paragraph (1) to provide seating for a Federal air marshal on any
such flight without regard to the availability of seats on the
flight and at no cost to the United States Government or the
marshal;
(5) may require air carriers to provide, on a space-available
basis, to an off-duty Federal air marshal a seat on a flight to
the airport nearest the marshal's home at no cost to the marshal
or the United States Government if the marshal is traveling to
that airport after completing his or her security duties;
(6) may enter into agreements with Federal, State, and local
agencies under which appropriately-trained law enforcement
personnel from such agencies, when traveling on a flight of an
air carrier, will carry a firearm and be prepared to assist
Federal air marshals;
(7) shall establish procedures to ensure that Federal air
marshals are made aware of any armed or unarmed law enforcement
personnel on board an aircraft; and
(8) may appoint -
(A) an individual who is a retired law enforcement officer;
(B) an individual who is a retired member of the Armed
Forces; and
(C) an individual who has been furloughed from an air carrier
crew position in the 1-year period beginning on September 11,
2001,
as a Federal air marshal, regardless of age, if the individual
otherwise meets the background and fitness qualifications
required for Federal air marshals.
(b) Long Distance Flights. - In making the determination under
subsection (a)(2), nonstop, long distance flights, such as those
targeted on September 11, 2001, should be a priority.
(c) Interim Measures. - Until the Under Secretary completes
implementation of subsection (a), the Under Secretary may use,
after consultation with and concurrence of the heads of other
Federal agencies and departments, personnel from those agencies and
departments, on a nonreimbursable basis, to provide air marshal
service.
(d) Training for Foreign Law Enforcement Personnel. -
(1) In general. - The Assistant Secretary for Immigration and
Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security, after
consultation with the Secretary of State, may direct the Federal
Air Marshal Service to provide appropriate air marshal training
to law enforcement personnel of foreign countries.
(2) Watchlist screening. - The Federal Air Marshal Service may
only provide appropriate air marshal training to law enforcement
personnel of foreign countries after comparing the identifying
information and records of law enforcement personnel of foreign
countries against all appropriate records in the consolidated and
integrated terrorist watchlists maintained by the Federal
Government.
(3) Fees. - The Assistant Secretary shall establish reasonable
fees and charges to pay expenses incurred in carrying out this
subsection. Funds collected under this subsection shall be
credited to the account in the Treasury from which the expenses
were incurred and shall be available to the Assistant Secretary
for purposes for which amounts in such account are available.