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HB2774 was heard in Committee about 11:30 last night. The author submitted a committee substitute that is greatly narrowed. If it passes, it will make areas of an airport other than the current "secured" area (i.e. beyond the metal detectors) off-limits. These areas include places where aircraft movement and support activities occur, but only if ingress is permitted only by specific authorization of the airport operator. This would tend to apply only to major airports, as most small airports don't control ingress. Even when small airports are fenced, they typically leave the gate open during normal business hours.

There is also a defense to prosecution for people going to or from an aircraft used for general aviation and not a regularly scheduled carrier.

This bill is the brain-child of the DFW Airport Police Chief. He wanted to add "criminal negligence" to the bill which would have had the effect of making it virtually impossible for a defendant to ever be acquitted, even if they went through the metal detectors and simply didn't know there was a gun in their briefcase or purse. In spite of his testimony to the contrary, I believe this was his true goal and all of the other provisions were a smoke screen. Rep. Geren flatly rejected this attempt to greatly lower the threshold for a conviction.

I believe the final version of the committee substitute also reduces the penalty to a Class A Misdemeanor for CHL's, but I'm not sure as I don't have a copy at this time.

The AOPA testified in favor of the Bill, as substituted. (I'm an AOPA member.)

I do not know if this bill will pass.

Chas.