The Senate Judiciary Committee has reported a bill to the full Senate that would regulate unmanned aircraft systems, otherwise known as drones.
The bill, SB 9, would place restrictions on the use of drones, as well as provide criminal offenses and penalties for certain conduct while using a drone.
Most members were concerned with FAA safety regulations and constitutional considerations with the bill, including what distance would constitute an invasion of privacy, whether or not captured images could be published, etc.
The committee substitute of the bill was amended by Senators Ryan Weld (R-Brooke), Mike Romano (D-Harrison) and Robert Karnes (R-Upshur) to include some technical corrections, added restrictions, and considerations regarding the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Legal counsel to the committee Tom Smith said the purpose of the bill is to “fill in the blanks” of federal legislation regarding drones.
Members of the committee also considered a committee substitute containing SBs 105-113, as well as SB 41 and SB 236.
