Background check bill no longer a threat for California pilots
The voice of reason finally prevailed. Members of the California Senate Public Safety Committee rejected Senate Bill 798, which would have required all pilots operating an aircraft in California to have a criminal background check.
AOPA had met with several state officials to discuss the implications of the bill, yet some legislators had proposed to take the measure a step further to mirror the new flight training background check law in New York that AOPA is working to have repealed. AOPA explained to California lawmakers that the bill imposed an unfair burden on pilots and was preempted by federal law.
"The committee listened to our arguments and understood that the proposed bill would do nothing to increase security and instead devastate aviation in the state - and California has the largest pilot population of any state," said Greg Pecoraro, AOPA vice president of regional affairs. "We were prepared to fight this all the way, as we are in New York, but we're pleased that the legislators listened to the voice of reason."
April 27, 2007
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