BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1662
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
1662 (Chau) - As Amended March 3, 2016
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|Policy |Privacy and Consumer |Vote:|11 - 0 |
|Committee: |Protection | | |
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| |Transportation | |15 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill:
AB 1662
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1)Requires the operator of any unmanned aircraft system (UAS)
involved in an accident resulting in injury to an individual
or damage to property to remain at the scene and provide their
name and address along with valid identification to the victim
and the police.
2)Makes a violation of the above a misdemeanor, punishable by up
to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Potential minor nonreimbursable costs to cities and counties for
enforcement, offset to some extent by fine revenues.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, there is a need for clear
rules to protect public safety as the use of drones increases,
as they have the potential to cause personal injury and
property damage if systems fail or operators use them
irresponsibly. The author states that drones are just as
capable as cars are of causing personal injury and property
damage when they fall out of the sky or hover too close to
people.
2)Related Legislation. AB 1680 (Rodriguez), pending in the
Assembly, makes it a misdemeanor to operate a UAS in a way
that interferes with first responders.
AB 2724 (Gatto), pending in Assembly Privacy and Consumer
Protection, requires UAS makers to include with the UAS a copy
of FAA safety regulations, and if the UAS is required to be
AB 1662
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registered with the FAA, a notice of the registration
requirement.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081