Sacramento Snapshot: Legislators debate if CLEAR should operate its own security lanes in airports

All’s fair in love and war … and airport security lines?

Legislators are debating a bill that — depending on what side of the issue you’re on — would either increase fairness and aid travelers’ experiences at airport security lines or prohibit travel verification company CLEAR from expanding in California airports.

The bill, as it has been amended, would place a moratorium on CLEAR expanding in California’s airports until it starts to use a separate, dedicated security line.

For $189 a year, CLEAR subscribers can bypass oftentimes lengthy TSA security lines. Members scan their boarding pass at a white kiosk, which also confirms the traveler’s identity with a scan of the eyes or fingerprints, and a CLEAR “ambassador” then escorts the travelers to the front of the TSA line.

The idea is fairness, said Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, who authored the bill.

“This is not a great service, the way it works right now, where people who pay are intersecting and causing friction with the people who don’t pay (CLEAR),” said Newman.

The original bill sought to require CLEAR — or other third-party vendors — to operate their own dedicated security line by 2030 or the service would cease operating in California. It was supported by the Association of Flight Attendants but major airlines — including Delta, United, Alaska, Jetblue and Southwest — were opposed, as was CLEAR.

“A lot can happen in five years, including what will happen in terms of security technology,” Newman said. “The goal was to provide that motivation.”

Neman’s bill passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee last week in an 8-4 vote after it was amended to prohibit CLEAR from expanding if it doesn’t have its own lane.

“We appreciate the opportunity to engage in a robust discussion led by (Transportation Committee) Chairman Dave Cortese and appreciate his leadership throughout this process,” a CLEAR spokesperson said in an email.

“After reviewing the updated bill, we’re confident CLEAR will be able to continue operations with our existing airport partners in California,” the spokesperson said.

Sens. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, and Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, were among the yes votes. Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, voted no, and Sen. Janet Nguyen, R-Huntington Beach, did not vote, although she told Politico she understood “the frustration stated in Sen. Newman’s bill.”

Newman said the intention was never to “terminate” CLEAR’s service in California. Instead, he said, his bill sought “to have CLEAR and other third-party screening services operate separate lines for subscribers, eliminating the friction and frustration created by the current system.”

CLEAR operates at more than 55 airports in the U.S., according to its website, including nine in California, such as LAX, Ontario International and Long Beach airports. It does not service John Wayne Airport or Hollywood Burbank.

In other news

• A bill prohibiting a pedestrian or driver from blocking a highway in a way that interferes with an emergency vehicle’s ability to pass — including during a protest — got initial approval last week. From Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, R-Rancho Santa Margarita, the bill would enact fines up to $1,000, depending on the number of convictions within three years, for those who are convicted of the infraction.

The bill’s analysis highlights various protests of differing political persuasions over the past few years, from the demonstration protesting the Israel-Hamas war that shut down the Bay Bridge in November to the white nationalist rally that blocked traffic in Charlottesville, Virginia, and led to the death of a counter-protester in 2017.

In a split vote, the bill passed out of the Assembly Transporation Committee last week and heads to Appropriations.

• Dubbed an anti-nepotism bill, legislation from Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, that prohibits state and local officials from voting on public contracts that would benefit their children, siblings, parents or certain other family members is working its way through the legislature. The bill is a result of reports that OC Supervisor Andrew Do voted for subcontracts with a mental health program without publicly disclosing that his daughter was part of the organization’s leadership.

The bill got unanimous approval from the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee last week, following its success in the Local Government Committee.

“It is simply outrageous that public officials are able to award lucrative government contracts to their own family members without violation of the law,” Min said in a statement.

• Legislation meant to give the Balboa Island Ferry an additional 15 years to comply with the California Air Resources Board’s new regulations to cut harmful emissions failed in committee last week.

The CARB’s 2022 regulations targeted ferries, sportfishing vessels, tugs and whale-watch charters, and operators of the daily Balboa Island Ferry have detailed struggles with finding the necessary funding to convert its three vessels to electric engines from diesel.

Assemblymember Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, had proposed legislation to give the ferry an additional 15 years to comply with the regulations, but it failed to pass out of the Transportation Committee. It was granted what’s called reconsideration, however, a legislative process that means another vote could be taken.

In a statement, Dixon said she will be “working on the issue further and plan to come back next year and try again to help save businesses and cities in California from onerous regulations that are killing budgets.”

Source: Orange County Register