UNMANNED AIRCRAFT; INTERFERENCE S.B. 917:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 917 (as introduced 3-21-18)
Sponsor: Senator Peter MacGregor
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act to revise the list of people an individual is prohibited from interfering with through the operation of an unmanned aircraft system.
The Act prohibits an individual from knowingly and intentionally operating an unmanned aircraft system in a manner that interferes with the official duties of any of the following:
-- A police officer.
-- A firefighter.
-- A paramedic.
-- Search and rescue personnel.
The bill would change this list to the following:
-- A law enforcement official, as that term is defined in the Code of Criminal Procedure.
-- A firefighter.
-- Emergency medical services personnel, as that term is defined in the Public Health Code.
-- Search and rescue personnel.
-- A State correctional officer or a local corrections officer, as those terms are defined under the Correctional Officers' Training Act and the Local Corrections Officers Training Act, respectively.
(The Code of Criminal Procedure defines "law enforcement official" as any of the following:
-- A police officer of the State or a political subdivision of the State as defined under the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act.
-- A county sheriff or his or her deputy.
-- A prosecuting attorney.
-- A public safety officer of a college or university.
-- A conservation officer of the Department of Natural Resources.
-- An individual acting under the direction of a law enforcement official described above.
The Public Health Code defines "emergency medical services personnel" as a medical first responder, emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician specialist, paramedic, or emergency medical services instructor-coordinator.
"State correctional officer" is defined by the Correctional Officers' Training Act as any person employed by the Department of Corrections in a correctional facility as a correctional officer or a corrections medical aide, or that person's immediate supervisor.
The Local Corrections Officers Training Act defines "local corrections officer" as any person employed by a county sheriff in a local correctional facility as a corrections officer or that person's supervisor or administrator.)
The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.
MCL 259.321 Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State and an indeterminate fiscal impact on local government. A violation of Section 21, which the bill would amend, is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 90 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. An increase in misdemeanor arrests and prosecutions could increase resource demands on law enforcement, court systems, and jails. Any increased fine revenue would be dedicated to public libraries.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.