BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 838

By: Zaffirini

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that when e-commerce retail companies use unmanned aircraft, also known as drones, to deliver merchandise, the companies may wish to retain images captured by the drones as proof of delivery. S.B. 838 seeks to clarify that the use of unmanned aircraft to capture images in this circumstance is lawful.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 838 amends the Government Code to include among the circumstances under which it is lawful to capture an image using an unmanned aircraft in Texas the capturing of an image for the purpose of and directly related to delivering consumer goods that were ordered through a website or mobile application by an unmanned aircraft operator who is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct operations within the airspace from which the image is captured.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.