BILL NUMBER: AB 2724	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 24, 2016
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2016
	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, 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 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 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, 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 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 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.


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 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
and a link to the Federal Aviation Administration registration
Internet Web site.
   (b) 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 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 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), 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.