or
(B) to a State agency under section 899D,
under appropriate arrangements to ensure the
protection of the information.
(i) Registration Procedures and Check of Terrorist
Screening Database.--
(1) Registration procedures.--
(A) Generally.--The Secretary shall
establish procedures to efficiently receive
applications for registration numbers under
this subtitle, conduct the checks required
under paragraph (2), and promptly issue or deny
a registration number.
(B) Initial six-month registration
period.--The Secretary shall take steps to
maximize the number of registration
applications that are submitted and processed
during the six-month period described in
section 899F(e).
(2) Check of terrorist screening database.--
(A) Check required.--The Secretary shall
conduct a check of appropriate identifying
information of any person seeking to register
with the Department under subsection (c) or (d)
against identifying information that appears in
the terrorist screening database of the
Department.
(B) Authority to deny registration
number.--If the identifying information of a
person seeking to register with the Department
under subsection (c) or (d) appears in the
terrorist screening database of the Department,
the Secretary may deny issuance of a
registration number under this subtitle.
(3) Expedited review of applications.--
(A) In general.--Following the six-month
period described in section 899F(e), the
Secretary shall, to the extent practicable,
issue or deny registration numbers under this
subtitle not later than 72 hours after the time
the Secretary receives a complete registration
application, unless the Secretary determines,
in the interest of national security, that
additional time is necessary to review an
application.