SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The ICR documentation will be available at https://www.reginfo.gov upon its submission to OMB. Therefore, in preparation for OMB review and approval of the following information collection, TSA is soliciting comments to—

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed information requirement is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Information Collection Requirement

OMB Number 1652-0032; Security Officer Medical Questionnaire. TSA collects relevant medical information from TSO candidates who have successfully completed certain prior steps in the hiring process. This information is used to assess whether the TSO candidates meet the medical qualification standards the agency has established pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 44935.

On June 8, 2026, OMB approved TSA's request for an emergency revision of this information collection, allowing for the move from a paper-based Security Officer Medical Questionnaire (SOMQ) to an online version of the SOMQ and to introduce a paper-based TSO Medical Clearance Form. See ICR Reference Number: 202606-1652-003. The revision was necessary to address urgent hiring requirements for front-line, mission critical TSO positions. TSA is seeking renewal of this information collection for the maximum 3-year approval period.

The online SOMQ, like the prior paper SOMQ, enables TSA to collect the information necessary to assist in making determinations regarding candidates' medical and physical abilities to successfully perform the job. The scope of this determination provides a candidate's current and past medical history, including visual and aural acuity, physical coordination, and motor skills to be able to: (a) distinguish on screening equipment monitors the appropriate imaging standard; (b) distinguish each color displayed on every type of screening equipment and explain what each color signifies; (c) hear and respond to the spoken voice and to audible alarms in an active checkpoint environment; (d) perform physical searches by efficiently and thoroughly manipulating and handling baggage containers, and other objects; (e) perform pat-downs or hand-held metal detector searches of individuals with sufficient dexterity and capacity to thoroughly conduct the procedures over an individual's entire body; and (f) demonstrate a daily fitness for duty without impairment due to illegal drugs, sleep deprivation, medication, or alcohol.

The TSO Medical Clearance Form also helps TSA ascertain the candidates' medical and physical abilities to successfully perform the job. The TSO Medical Clearance Form is completed by a licensed physician or other licensed health practitioner to indicate whether the candidate is able to perform a list of the duties of a TSO. The candidate's licensed physician or other licensed health practitioner also uses the TSO Medical Clearance Form to provide the results of the medical examination, including vital signs, visual acuity, peripheral vision, color vision and hearing.

TSA estimates an average annual number of respondents completing the online SOMQ and TSO Medical Clearance Form is approximately 18,000 respondents. The total annual hour burden of this collection is 43,200 hours (9,000 SOMQ + 34,200 TSO Medical Clearance Form). TSA estimates the average time to complete the SOMQ online tool is 9,000 hours. In addition, TSA estimates the annual burden hour to undergo the medical examination required to evaluate a candidate using the TSO Medical Clearance form is 34,200 hours, which includes the exam, printing and submitting the form, round-trip travel time and time spent in the waiting room.

91 FR 46448