BILL NUMBER: AB 2724	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 19, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 2, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 1, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 17, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gatto

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to add Part 7 (commencing with Section 9570) to Division 4
of the Civil Code, relating to unmanned aircraft.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2724, as amended, Gatto. Unmanned aircraft.
   Existing federal law, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012
(FMRA 2012), provides for the integration of civil and public
unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, into the
national airspace system. Existing federal law imposes various
operational safety requirements and aircraft certification
requirements on aircraft, including unmanned aircraft. Existing
federal law also generally requires an aircraft to be registered with
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and except as provided,
prohibits a person from operating a United States registered aircraft
unless that aircraft displays specified nationality and registration
marks or from placing on any aircraft a design, mark, or symbol that
modifies or confuses those nationality and registration marks.
Existing federal law establishes an online and paper-based
registration process for specified types of unmanned aircraft
systems.
   This bill would require a person who manufactures an unmanned
aircraft for sale in this state to include with the unmanned aircraft
a  copy of  link to the  FAA  Internet
Web site containing  safety regulations  or best practices
 applicable to unmanned aircraft and, if the unmanned aircraft
is required to be registered with the FAA, a notification of that
 requirement.   requirement and a link 
 to the FAA registration Internet Web site.  The bill would
require an unmanned aircraft equipped with global positioning
satellite mapping capabilities to also be equipped with geofencing
technological capabilities that prohibit the unmanned aircraft from
flying within any area prohibited by local, state, or federal
 law.   law, as specified.  The bill would
require the owner of an unmanned aircraft to procure adequate
protection against liability imposed by law on owners of unmanned
aircraft, including the payment of damages for personal bodily
injuries and death, and for property damage, resulting from the
operation of the unmanned aircraft. The bill would require the
Department of  Transportation   Insurance, in
consultation with the Department of Transportation,  to set the
amount of liability protection that is adequate. The bill would make
the provision requiring adequate protection against liability
operative on January 1, 2020. The bill would exempt from its
provisions an unmanned aircraft operated pursuant to a current
 commercial operator exemption   exemption, or
Certificates of Waiver or Authorization  issued pursuant to FMRA
2012 or other commercial operator authorization granted by the FAA.
The bill would provide that if any provision or its application is
held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or
applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision
or application.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Part 7 (commencing with Section 9570) is added to
Division 4 of the Civil Code, to read:

      PART 7.  Unmanned Aircraft


   9570.  This part shall be known and may be cited as the Drone
Registration Omnibus Negligence Prevention Enactment (DRONE) Act.
   9575.  As used in this part, "unmanned aircraft" means an aircraft
that is operated without the possibility of direct human
intervention from within or on the aircraft.
   9580.  (a) A person who manufactures an unmanned aircraft for sale
in this state shall include with the unmanned aircraft both of the
following:
   (1) A  copy of   link to the  Federal
Aviation Administration  Internet Web site containing 
safety regulations  or best practices  applicable to
unmanned aircraft.
   (2) If the unmanned aircraft is required to be registered with the
Federal Aviation Administration, a notification of that 
requirement.   requirement and a link to the Federal
Aviation Administration registration Internet Web site. 
   (b)  An   Unless preempted by federal law, an
 unmanned aircraft equipped with global positioning satellite
mapping capabilities shall also be equipped with geofencing
technological capabilities that prohibit the unmanned aircraft from
flying within any area prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
   9585.  (a) The owner of an unmanned aircraft shall procure
adequate protection against liability imposed by law on owners of
unmanned aircraft, including the payment of damages for personal
bodily injuries and death, and for property damage, resulting from
the operation of the unmanned aircraft.
   (b) The Department of  Transportation  
Insurance, in consultation with the Department of Transportation,
 shall set the amount of liability protection that is adequate.
   (c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.
   9590.  This part does not apply to an unmanned aircraft operated
pursuant to a current  commercial operator exemption
  exemption, Certificates of Waiver   or
Authorization  issued pursuant to Section 333  or 334 
of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95
(Feb. 12, 2014) 126 Stat. 11,  75-76)   75-76),
 or other commercial operator authorization granted by the
Federal Aviation Administration.
   9595.  The provisions of this part are severable. If any provision
of this part or its application is held invalid, that invalidity
shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given
effect without the invalid provision or application.