DATE=04/12/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=N-Y/ AIRPORT SECURITY (L-O)

NUMBER=2-288657

BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: New York Governor George Pataki has unveiled a sweeping legislative package to tighten security at the three major airports in the metropolitan New York area. Correspondent Barbara Schoetzau reports from New York.

TEXT: In the wake of the September 11th attacks, Congress passed legislation requiring baggage handlers and screeners, airport security guards and people who work on aircraft to undergo criminal background checks.

The new legislation proposed by Governor Pataki expands those checks to include all airport workers at Kennedy, La Guardia and Newark airports who have access to areas beyond security checkpoints, including workers in restaurants and shops. At Kennedy International Airport, for example, about one-thousand employees who work beyond the checkpoints are not covered by current regulations.

The measure also calls for fingerprinting scanners for airport employees to replace plastic identification badges.

Mr. Pataki introduced the package at Kennedy International Airport.

/// PATAKI ACT ///

We will know who these employees are and the flying public can have confidence that they are people worthy of the trust of being in those secure areas.

/// END ACT ///

The airport security package also includes counter-terrorism training for local and state police and increased security around airports by use of high tech radar systems. It is estimated that the package will cost more than 100-million dollars. The Port Authority, which operates the airports, will pay for the measures. The Port Authority is run by the states of New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Governor James McGreevey supports the improvements as do a sampling of travelers at Kennedy Airport.

/// VOX POP ///

Fingerprints will be a better idea. For security reasons maybe plastic badges would not be such a good idea. But with fingerprints, there are no mistakes with that.

How can you not do a background check? It is like hiring anybody and saying "hey, just come on aboard. They could be anything, a killer, anybody.

/// END ACT ///

New York and New Jersey state legislatures are expected to approve the measure quickly.

Aviation exports say New York area airports will be in the vanguard of airport security when the measures take effect. (Signed)

NEB/NYC/BJS/SAB