BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2148
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 11, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2148 (Holden) - As Amended April 25, 2016
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|Policy |Privacy and Consumer |Vote:|10 - 0 |
|Committee: |Protection | | |
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| |Water, Parks and Wildlife | |10 - 3 |
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|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and
the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to develop
guidelines for the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also
AB 2148
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known as drones, over the public lands they manage. The
regulations are to consider the impact of drones on wildlife and
natural resources, allow appropriate use for conservation and
scientific research purposes, and allow de minimis access by
adjacent landowners for agricultural purposes.
FISCAL EFFECT:
No additional cost to DPR, which is currently developing a
regulation consistent with the requirements of this bill. DFW
may incur minor costs (under $50,000) to modify an existing
regulation that generally encompasses use of aircraft over
department lands.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. According to the author, "Current California law
provides little guidance regarding the use of UAS on state owned
and managed open spaces, wildland preserves and parks. A
growing body of evidence suggests drones impact wildlife in ways
that are not readily apparent to humans. A drone was determined
to be the cause of a big horn sheep stampede in Zion National
Park. Studies and articles also suggest that drones cause
distress to bears, sea lions and gulls. To ensure that wildlife
on public lands are safe from inadvertent harm from drones, this
bill directs the agencies responsible for protecting
California's wildlife and bird populations to develop a coherent
set of regulations to protect animals and Californians enjoying
the outdoors in a manner that maintains drone users' basic
rights to use their devices in the outdoors."
AB 2148
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Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081