Title: Drones

Summary: Redefining the term "critical infrastructure facility"; authorizing the use of a drone if a law enforcement agency possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular circumstances, swift action is needed to facilitate the collection of evidence at a crime scene or traffic crash scene; authorizing the use of a drone by a local or state agency when used in the assessment of damage, flood state, wildfire, or land management, or the monitoring and collection of scientific or marketing data, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to drones; amending s. 330.41, F.S.; redefining the term  critical infrastructure facility ; amending s. 934.50, F.S.; authorizing the use of a drone if a law enforcement agency possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular circumstances, swift action is needed to facilitate the collection of evidence at a crime scene or traffic crash scene; authorizing the use of a drone by a local or state agency when used in the assessment of damage, flood state, wildfire, or land management, or the monitoring and collection of scientific or marketing data; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 330.41, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 330.41 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act.  (2) DEFINITIONS. As used in this act, the term: (a) Critical infrastructure facility  means any of the following, if completely enclosed by a fence or other physical barrier that is obviously designed to exclude intruders, or if clearly marked with a sign or signs which indicate that entry is forbidden and which are posted on the property in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders: 1. An electrical power generation or transmission facility, substation, switching station, or electrical control center. 2. A chemical or rubber manufacturing or storage facility. 3. A mining facility. 4. A natural gas or compressed gas compressor station, storage facility, or natural gas or compressed gas pipeline. 5. A liquid natural gas or propane gas terminal or storage facility with a capacity of 4,000 gallons or more. 6. Any portion of an aboveground oil or gas pipeline. 7. A wireless communications facility, including the tower, antennae, support structures, and all associated ground-based equipment. 8.   A state correctional institution as defined in s. 944.02 or a private correctional facility authorized under chapter 957. 9.   A secure detention center or facility, a nonsecure residential facility, a high-risk residential facility, or a maximum-risk residential facility as defined in s. 985.03. 10.   A county detention facility as defined in s. 951.23. Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section 934.50, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (k) is added to that subsection, to read: 934.50 Searches and seizure using a drone.  (4) EXCEPTIONS. This section does not prohibit the use of a drone: (c) If the law enforcement agency possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular circumstances, swift action is needed to prevent imminent danger to life or serious damage to property;, to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect or the destruction of evidence;to facilitate the collection of evidence at a crime scene or traffic crash scene;,or to achieve purposes including, but not limited to, facilitating the search for a missing person. ( k)   By a local or state agency when used in the assessment of damage, flood state, wildfire, or land management, or the monitoring and collection of scientific or marketing data. Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2018.