BILL NUMBER: AB 2148	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 12, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 16, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Holden

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2016

   An act to add Section 714.5 to the Fish and Game Code, and to add
Article 4 (commencing with Section 5085) to Chapter 1.2 of Division 5
of the Public Resources Code, relating to unmanned aircraft systems.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2148, as amended, Holden. Unmanned aircraft systems:
regulation.
   Existing federal law, the Federal Aviation Administration
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, provides for the integration of
civil and public unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as
drones, into the national airspace system. Existing law establishes
both the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Parks
and Recreation in the Natural Resources Agency.  A violation of
any rule or regulation made or adopted by the Department of Fish and
Wildlife pursuant to the Fish and Game Code is a misdemeanor. A
violation of the rules and regulations established by the Department
of Parks and Recreation to protect the state park system is
punishable as either a misdemeanor or an infraction. 
   This bill would  require   require, on or
before January 1, 2018,  the Department of Fish and Wildlife and
the Department of Parks and Recreation to develop 
guidelines   regulations  for the use of unmanned
aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, over the public lands
managed by each department.  In developing the regulations, the
bill would require these state departments to consider, among other
things, protecting wildlife from unnecessary harassment or
disturbance and protecting the natural, cultural, and historic values
of state lands. Because violations of these regulations could be
crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 

   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.  
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program:  no   yes  .


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 714.5 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:
   714.5.   The   (a)     On
or before January 1, 2018, the    Department of Fish
and Wildlife shall develop  guidelines  
regulations  for the use of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly
known as drones, over the public lands managed by the department.

   (b) In developing regulations pursuant to subdivision (a), the
department shall consider all of the following:  
   (1) Protecting wildlife from unnecessary harassment or
disturbance.  
   (2) Protecting sensitive species, including those listed as
threatened or endangered, or that have other protected status. 

   (3) Protecting wildlife at times of the year where incidents may
have disproportionate effects, including, but not limited to, during
nesting, breeding, gestation, and migration seasons.  
   (4) Protecting the natural, cultural, and historic values of state
lands.  
   (5) Permitting the appropriate use of unmanned aircraft systems
for conservation and scientific research purposes.  
   (c) In developing the regulations, the department shall consider
de minimis access by adjacent landowners for agricultural purposes.

  SEC. 2.  Article 4 (commencing with Section 5085) is added to
Chapter 1.2 of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

      Article 4.  Unmanned Aircraft Systems


   5085.   The   (a)     On or
before January 1, 2018, the    Department of Parks and
Recreation shall develop  guidelines  
regulations  for the use of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly
known as drones, over the public lands managed by the department.

   (b) In developing regulations pursuant to subdivision (a), the
department shall consider all of the following:  
   (1) Protecting wildlife from unnecessary harassment or
disturbance.  
   (2) Protecting sensitive species, including those listed as
threatened or endangered, or that have other protected status. 

   (3) Protecting wildlife at times of the year where incidents may
have disproportionate effects, including, but not limited to, during
nesting, breeding, gestation, and migration seasons.  
   (4) Protecting the natural, cultural, and historic values of state
lands.  
   (5) Permitting the appropriate use of unmanned aircraft systems
for conservation and scientific research purposes.  
   (c) In developing the regulations, the department shall consider
de minimis access by adjacent landowners for agricultural purposes.

   SEC. 3.    No reimbursement is required by this act
pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local
agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a
new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or
changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of
Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a
crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the
California Constitution.