Honorable James White, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB638 by Workman (Relating to the prosecution of the offense of operation of unmanned aircraft over correctional facility or critical infrastructure facility.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to extend existing restrictions on the operation of unmanned aircraft over critical infrastructure to include state, county, or municipal corrections facilities. Exempts from these restrictions operations conducted by or on behalf of a government entity or operations conducted by a commercial operator authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct operations over that airspace. An offense under this bill is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has previously been convicted of the offense.
Local Government Impact
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both. A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.