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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibiting the operation of an unmanned aircraft over |
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certain facilities; creating a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 423, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 423.0045 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 423.0045. OFFENSE: OPERATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OVER |
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TARGETED FACILITY. (a) In this section, "targeted facility" |
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means: |
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(1) a petroleum or alumina refinery; |
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(2) an electric generation facility, natural gas |
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generation facility, or nuclear electric power generation |
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facility; |
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(3) an oil or gas pipeline; or |
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(4) a chemical or rubber manufacturing facility. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if: |
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(1) the person intentionally or knowingly operates an |
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unmanned aircraft over a targeted facility; and |
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(2) the unmanned aircraft is not higher than 400 feet |
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above ground level. |
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(c) It is lawful under this section to operate an unmanned |
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aircraft over a targeted facility if the unmanned aircraft is |
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operated by: |
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(1) the federal government, the state, or a |
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governmental entity; |
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(2) a person under contract with or otherwise acting |
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under the direction or on behalf of the federal government, the |
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state, or a governmental entity; |
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(3) a law enforcement agency; |
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(4) a person under contract with or otherwise acting |
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under the direction or on behalf of a law enforcement agency; |
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(5) an owner or operator of the targeted facility; |
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(6) a person under contract with or otherwise acting |
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under the direction or on behalf of an owner or operator of the |
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targeted facility; or |
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(7) a person who has the prior written consent of the |
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owner or operator of the targeted facility. |
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(d) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, |
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except that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has |
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previously been convicted under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |