By: Geren H.B. No. 3628

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relatin g to the authority of the Department of Public Safety to adopt rules governing the use of unmanned aircraft in the Capitol Complex; creating a criminal offense.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 411.062, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:

(h) The director shall adopt rules governing the use of unmanned aircraft in the Capitol Complex. In adopting rules under this subsection, the director may:

(1) prohibit the use of unmanned aircraft in the Capitol Complex; or

(2) authorize limited use of unmanned aircraft in the Capitol Complex.

SECTION 2. Section 411.065(b), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, except that the offense is a Class B misdemeanor if the person violates a rule adopted under Section 411.062(h).

SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act to Section 411.065, Government Code, applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.