02/21/2012 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION

             HB 270-WARNING OF AIRPORT EXAMS/SCANS                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:48:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR P. WLSON  announced that the final order  of business would                                                               
be,  HOUSE BILL  NO. 270,  "An  Act requiring  the Department  of                                                               
Transportation and Public Facilities  to require airports to post                                                               
warning  signs  outside  of   security  screening  areas  warning                                                               
passengers that they  are subject to searches of  their bodies by                                                               
physical   touching  and   by   electronic   devices  that   emit                                                               
radiation."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:48:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SHARON CISSNA,  Alaska State  Legislature, stated                                                               
that HB 270 is an important  bill in terms of screening processes                                                               
at Alaska's airports.  In December  2011, Alaska used a system of                                                               
procedures  without using  a scanner,  which included  performing                                                               
invasive examinations to ensure public  safety on flights.  Prior                                                               
to  the physical  screening procedures,  the airports  used metal                                                               
detectors,  which  were less  effective  in  detecting items  not                                                               
allowed on  airplanes.   She related  her understanding  that the                                                               
new scanner  does not view  the body as  a naked body,  since the                                                               
device shows  a symbol and  the location of something  that needs                                                               
further investigation.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:50:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA said an item  identified by the new scanner                                                               
could be a  bomb; however, given the aging population  it is more                                                               
likely to be  a medical implant, a missing body  part as a result                                                               
of war,  cancer, or even  something natural.  She  explained that                                                               
once  the new  scanner identifies  a problem,  the Transportation                                                               
Security  Administration (TSA)  agent  will use  a more  invasive                                                               
procedure.   She reported that  beginning in February  2011 until                                                               
the end  of the  legislative session she  received over  1,000 e-                                                               
mails  and letters  from people  all over  the country,  of which                                                               
approximately 300 were from Alaskans.   She said that people also                                                               
stop her  on the street  and come into  her office to  tell their                                                               
stories.  She  offered her belief that the type  of reaction they                                                               
have exhibited  is typical of  someone who has  been traumatized.                                                               
She related that children or  elderly parents have been subjected                                                               
to the procedures.  She  acknowledged that the measures have been                                                               
put in place as a reaction to 9/11.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:53:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA  pointed out  that she  has served  for ten                                                               
years on the  Special Committee of Military  and Veterans Affairs                                                               
so she shares security concerns,  but she also is concerned about                                                               
the  loss of  independence people  feel when  subjected to  these                                                               
invasive devices.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:53:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR P. WILSON turned the gavel over to Vice Chair Pruitt.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:54:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA explained that  this bill would require the                                                               
Department  of Transportation  &  Public  Facilities (DOT&PF)  to                                                               
post  an informational  sign  in each  Alaska  airport where  TSA                                                               
screening takes place.  The  sign's wording would warn passengers                                                               
of  the potentially  dangerous screening  procedures before  they                                                               
enter the  TSA controlled screening  area.  She pointed  out that                                                               
the notices would  be at larger airports flying to  Lower 48, not                                                               
at  smaller airports  since  the type  of  screening required  is                                                               
linked to size of airport.   She started to explain a TSA opt-out                                                               
form, but  realized the form did  not apply.  She  explained that                                                               
each airport will  be required to post a sign  at least 11 inches                                                               
by 14 inches outside the  security area to identify the screening                                                               
procedures  so  each  passenger  is  forewarned  about  the  body                                                               
scanning device.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA  explained that  some people  have reported                                                               
they did  not realize the  manner in  which the TSA  people would                                                               
talk  to them.    This  posting would  help  since  it will  give                                                               
consumers a  warning to  be aware  that by  walking into  the TSA                                                               
area they are consenting to abide by the screening.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CISSNA  said  the  state has  a  huge  number  of                                                               
airports  owned by  the DOT&PF.   She  identified the  Juneau and                                                               
Ketchikan airports as municipal airports.   The bill would notify                                                               
the governmental agency  that owns the airports  and leases about                                                               
the  requirement to  post  the small  sign.   She  asked to  have                                                               
additional  time to  check with  the leased  land proprietors  to                                                               
ascertain  whether the  requirement for  signage would  mesh with                                                               
their  procedures.   She  reiterated  that  this bill  will  help                                                               
prepare people and give them informed consent.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:00:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ thanked  her for her courage  on this issue.                                                               
She asked  for clarification  on radiation  issues.   She related                                                               
her  understanding that  the devices  have greater  radiation and                                                               
asked  how  the new  scanner  compares  to the  more  traditional                                                               
screening devices.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CISSNA  answered that  she  did  not know.    She                                                               
expressed concern  over the absence  of third-party  oversight on                                                               
any   of  the   Transportation   Security  Administration   (TSA)                                                               
measures.  The Congress gave  TSA the right to write regulations.                                                               
She  explained  there  is  not  any way  to  determine  that  the                                                               
equipment  is safe.    She recalled  viewing  forms and  numerous                                                               
cautions from the manufacturers that  if the scanner equipment is                                                               
not properly  installed, calibrated,  and regularly  checked that                                                               
it  will not  be safe.   She  stressed that  the state  should be                                                               
extremely careful to ensure public health and safety.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:03:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE  asked whether  the devices  emit radiation,                                                               
the quantity, or if it is electromagnetic.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA  said she  did not know.   She  related her                                                               
understanding that the  scanners use a type of  radiation that is                                                               
a slower traveling radiation, which is of concern.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
[HB 270 was held over.]