Staff Analysis of the Legislation
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This legislation restricts the use of unmanned aircraft to take pictures for satellite mapping, for maintenance of utilities, pursuant to a search warrant, to pursue a suspect, to investigate certain crime scenes, to search for missing persons, on private property "generally open to the public where the property owner concents to law enforcement public safety responsibilities," to survey disasters when a state of emergency is being considered or is declared, to conduct air quality sampling and monitoring, for fire suppression, etc. This legislation makes it a misdemeanor to use an unmanned aircraft to photograph or video an individual or private proeprty with the intent to conduct suruveillance. Possession of an image captured illegally is a misdemanor. Distribution of such an image is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. Images not permitted ot be captured are not subject to release under the open records law, discovery, subpoena, or other legal means for release. Any county law enforcement agency that uses unmanned aircraft must publish a report every two years about the use of unmanned aircraft. |