An Act to Prohibit
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2157
Committee Amendment CA_B_H892 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "f) " to H.P. 1446, L.D. 2157, "An Act to Prohibit
the Unauthorized Use of Drones on or over the Premises of Correctional Facilities and
Jails"
Amend the bill in section 1 m §761 by striking out all of subsections 1 and 2 (page 1,
lines 4 to 10 in L,D.) and inserting the following:
'1. A person is guilty of unauthorized use of a drone on or over the premises of a
correctional facility or j ail if fhe person:
A. Intentionally or knowinelv flies a drone over the uremises of a correctional facilitv
or jail at or below a height of 400 feet above the ground, lands a drone on the premises
or flies a drone from the uremises. Violation of this paraeraph is a Class D crime; or
B, Violates uaraeraoh A and at the time of the offense has one or more prior
convictions for violatme oaraeraph A or one or more prior convictions for ensapine in
conduct substantially similar to that prohibited in oaraeraph A in another jurisdiction.
Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when detenrdnine a sentence.
Violation of this paraa-aph is a Class C crime.'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §761 by striking out all of subsection 5 (page 1, lines 21
and 22 in L.D.).
Amend the bill in section 1 in §761 by renumbering the subsections to read
consecutively,
Amend the bill by relettermg or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, does the following.
1. It removes a provision from the bill regarding the use of a drone to convey or attempt
to convey prison contraband in correctional facilities or jails,
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^
COMMFTTEE AMENDMENT " U " to H.P. 1446, L.D. 2157
2. It removes a provision from the bill that establishes a Class C crime for unauthorized
use of a drone on or over the premises of a correctional facility or jail.
3. It creates a mens rea requirement that a person must intentionally or knowingly
operate a drone on or over the premises of a correctional facility or jail to be found guilty
of fhe unauthorized use of a drone. A violation of this provision is a Class D crime,
4.It adds a provision that if a person has previously been convicted for unauthorized
use of a drone on or over the premises of a correctional facility or jail or has been convicted
for substantially similar conduct in another jurisdiction, and the person subsequently uses
a drone on or over the premises of a correctional facility or jail without authorization, the
person is guilty of a Class C crime.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Page2-132LR2663(03)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved:03/12/26
L.R.L.
LD 2157 LR 2663(03)
An Act to Prohibit the Unauthorized Use of Drones on or over the Premises of Correctional Facilities
and Jails
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^)H
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
The bill creates a Class C crime for unauthorized use of a drone on or over the premises of a correctional facility or
jail, It is not known how many additional people may be incarcerated for this crime. The current average cost of
incarcerating one individual for a single year is $55,203. No funding has been included in the bill.
The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require
additional funding at this time, The collection of additional fines will increase General Fund or other dedicated
revenue by minor amounts.
LR2663(03) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1