Rep. Charles Dent (R-Pa.) has introduced a bill that would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to negotiate with general aviation interests before promulgating security rules such as the controversial Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP).
The “General Aviation Security Enhancement Act of 2009” prevents the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary from issuing a rule, an interim final rule or a new rulemaking involving the “Large Aircraft Security Program, Other Aircraft Operator Security Program, and Airport Operator Security Program (TSA-2008-0021)” unless the secretary first establishes a negotiated rulemaking committee and receives a written report from that advisory committee.
The only exception is if the DHS secretary determines there is a credible and urgent threat and that an emergency exists that necessitates the immediate issuance of such a rule to save lives or protect property.
H.R.3093 is similar to an amendment attached to the “TSA Authorization Act of 2009” (H.R.2200), which passed the House on June 4 with provisions directing the TSA to include GA stakeholders in the process of creating any security regulations that affect the industry. Dent’s bill would address the LASP specifically.