ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 106

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 5, 1996

By Assemblymen WISNIEWSKI and DeCROCE

A Concurrent Resolution urging the Congress of the United States and the Federal Aviation Administration to review current airport security procedures and develop new uniform guidelines for airport security.

Whereas, Currently responsibility for airport security is fragmented between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airline carriers; and

Whereas, The FAA is responsible for overseeing all security-related matters at this country's airports; and

Whereas, Airline carriers are responsible for developing and implementing security procedures and protocols such as passenger and baggage screening, employment standards for screening personnel, controlling access to airplanes, ensuring integrity of cargo and baggage, and performing security inspections of aircraft; and

Whereas, Local police, and airport owners and operators also have their own areas of responsibilities for airport security, thereby increasing the fragmentation of responsibilities and a lack of uniform security procedures; and

Whereas, The FAA should require criminal background checks and fingerprint records for all airport and airline employees who have access to secure areas; and

Whereas, Congress should enact legislation to provide airports and airlines with the necessary authority to conduct such background checks where airports and airlines do not currently have the authority to do so; and

Whereas, Since airport employees are critical to the effort of ensuring safer air travel, there should be uniform training requirements for all baggage handlers and security officers employed at airports, regardless of who employs them; and

Whereas, Aggressive, proactive testing of existing security systems and proactive security measures must be implemented at all airports to guard against lapses and complacency that could lead to tragedy; and

Whereas, It is appropriate and in the public interest for the State of New Jersey to urge the Congress of the United States and the Federal Aviation Administration to review current security procedures at airports and develop new uniform guidelines for airport security; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

    1.    The Legislature of the State of New Jersey urges the Congress of the United States to review current security procedures at airports and develop new uniform guidelines for airport security that include a unified security structure with clearly defined responsibilities and periodic, proactive assessments of the implementation of airport security measures.

    2.    Duly authenticated copies of this concurrent resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the President of the Senate, and attested to by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the presiding officers of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, the chairs of the appropriate standing committees of Congress, each member of Congress elected thereto from New Jersey, and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

STATEMENT

    This concurrent resolution urges the Congress of the United States and the Federal Aviation Administration to review current security procedures at airports and develop new uniform guidelines for airport security. The guidelines should include a unified security structure with clearly defined responsibilities and periodic, proactive assessments of the implementation of airport security measures in order to guard against future tragedies.

Urges Congress and Federal Aviation Administration to review current airport security procedures and develop new uniform guidelines.