State UAS Regulations Update
The introduction of AB239 as an “anti-UAV-bill” is already of concern to developers, manufacturers, and commercial users of UAV technology from New York to Silicon Valley. Despite providing letters of opposition to members of the Committee on Judiciary, it is highly likely that AB 239 will be voted favorably out of the Assembly Committee on Judiciary this week and make its way to the floor in the coming weeks. Proposed and unwarranted limitations on the early adopters of this technology, namely public safety, have already created concern with investors and providers of the technology. These concerns have prompted companies to follow Amazon to Canada for testing and development and AB 239 will have an adverse effect on the economic interests of Nevada.
AUVSI will be conducting conference calls with the AUVSI Nevada Chapter, the International Associations Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) to plan and discuss a strategy to defeat this measure on the Senate side. Additionally, we will be engaging our constituents in Nevada in a grassroots campaign to defeat this measure.
In Virginia, HB2125 and SB1301 were signed into law by Governor McAuliffe on 27 March. HB2125 replaces the moratorium on the use of unmanned aircraft systems by state and local law enforcement and regulatory entities, except in defined emergency situations or in training exercises related to such situations, that will expire on July 1, 2015, with an absolute prohibition on the use of unmanned aircraft systems by law enforcement and regulatory entities unless a search warrant has been obtained prior to such use. SB1301 makes it a misdemeanor to operate, manufacture, sale, or distribute a UAS as a weapon or to deliver a weapon. The bill requires any governmental agency or organization to gain the approval of the General Assembly or local governing body before procuring a UAS. The bill requires a warrant for governmental use of such an aircraft.
