HB498 Alabama 2017 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, with exceptions, and to harass persons; would provide criminal penalties for violations; and would authorize injunctive relief

This bill would revise various existing crimes to include the use of an unmanned aircraft system to commit a crime

This bill would prohibit the sale, transport, manufacture, or possession of a system equipped with a weapon

This bill would also 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

This bill would provide the Department of Transportation with rulemaking authority

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

To amend Sections 13A-6-24, 13A-6-90.1, 13A-7-22, 13A-10-2, 13A-10-38, 13A-11-32, and 23-1-388, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the operation of an unmanned aircraft system; to prohibit the use of an unmanned aircraft system to fly over certain designated facilities and to provide for criminal penalties, injunctive relief under certain conditions, and damages for violations; to prohibit governmental agencies from using unmanned aircraft systems to gather evidence or other information, with exceptions; to revise existing crimes to include the commission of the crime by an unmanned aircraft system; 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.