---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 40130"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "40130"
heading: "FAA authority to conduct criminal history record checks"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/40130"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart i — general"
  - "Chapter 401 — General Provisions"
---

# §40130. FAA authority to conduct criminal history record checks

- (a) **Criminal History Background Checks.—**
  - (1) **Access to information.—** The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, for certification purposes of the Administration only, is authorized—
    - (A) to conduct, in accordance with the established request process, a criminal history background check of an [airman](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-8) in the criminal repositories of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and States by submitting positive identification of the [airman](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-8) to a fingerprint-based repository in compliance with section 217 of the National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact Act of 1998 ([34 U.S.C. 40316](/usc/34/40316.md)); and
    - (B) to receive relevant criminal history record information regarding the [airman](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-8) checked.
  - (2) **Release of information.—** In accessing a repository referred to in [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the Administrator shall be subject to the conditions and procedures established by the Department of Justice or the State, as appropriate, for other governmental agencies conducting background checks for noncriminal justice purposes.
  - (3) **Limitation.—** The Administrator may not use the authority under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) to conduct criminal investigations.
  - (4) **Reimbursement.—** The Administrator may collect reimbursement to process the fingerprint-based checks under this subsection, to be used for expenses incurred, including Federal Bureau of Investigation fees, in providing these services.
- (b) **Designated Employees.—** The Administrator shall designate, by order, [employees](/usc/49/49103.md?p=2) of the Administration who may carry out the authority described in [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 112–95, title VIII, § 802(a), Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 118; amended Pub. L. 118–63, title XI, § 1101(h), May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1413.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2024—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 118–63 substituted “(34 U.S.C. 40316)” for “(42 U.S.C. 14616)”.