HB471 Alabama 2016 Session

This bill would create the Alabama Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act to prohibit the use of an unmanned aircraft system to fly over certain designated manufacturing and commercial facilities without permission of the owner of the facility, to harass persons who are hunting and fishing, or to use the system to aid in hunting or fishing, would provide criminal penalties for violations, and would authorize injunctive relief

This bill would provide criminal penalties for using an unmanned aircraft system to disrupt the operation of a manned flight or motor vehicles on roadways, would prohibit the sale, transport, manufacture, or possession of a system equipped with a weapon, or to interfere with law enforcement officers or certain emergency medical professionals

This bill also would prohibit governmental agencies from using unmanned aircraft systems to gather evidence or other information, except under certain conditions, and would authorize the initiation of a civil action by persons injured by violations

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to unmanned aircraft systems; to prohibit the use of an unmanned aircraft system to fly over certain designated facilities; to prohibit the use of an unmanned aircraft system to harass a person hunting or fishing or to aid in hunting or fishing; to provide criminal penalties; to authorize injunctive relief under certain conditions for violations; to provide for an award of damages for violations; to prohibit governmental agencies from using unmanned aircraft systems to gather evidence or other information; to provide exceptions; to authorize the initiation of a civil action by persons injured by violations; to provide rulemaking authority; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.