EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0273*
SENATE BILL 273
E5, E1 4lr0119
(PRE–FILED) CF 4lr0120
By: Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee (By Request – Departmental – Public
Safety and Correctional Services)
Requested: September 12, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State and Local Correctional Facilities – Operation of Unmanned Aircraft 2
– Image Recording and Delivery of Contraband 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from intentionally using an unmanned aircraft to 4
record images of a State or local correctional facility without the authorization of the 5
managing official of the correctional facility or the Secretary of Public Safety and 6
Correctional Services; prohibiting a person from using an unmanned aircraft to 7
deliver contraband to a person detained or confined in a place of confinement; and 8
generally relating to unmanned aircraft and correctional facilities. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – Correctional Services 11
Section 8–804 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
BY adding to 15
Article – Criminal Law 16
Section 9–417.1 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – Correctional Services 22
8–804. 23 2 SENATE BILL 273
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 1
INDICATED. 2
(2) “AIRCRAFT” MEANS A DEVICE THAT IS USED OR INTENDED TO BE 3
USED FOR FLIGHT IN T HE AIR. 4
(3) “UNMANNED AIRCRAFT ” MEANS AN AIRCRAFT TH AT IS OPERATED 5
WITHOUT THE POSSIBIL ITY OF DIRECT HUMAN INTERVENTION FROM WI THIN OR ON 6
THE AIRCRAFT. 7
(B) A PERSON MAY NOT INTENTIONALLY PHOTOG RAPH OR OTHERWISE 8
RECORD IMAGES OF A C ORRECTIONAL FACILITY THROUGH THE USE OF A N 9
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT WI THOUT THE AUTHORIZAT ION OF THE MANAGING OFFICIAL 10
OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR THE SECRETARY. 11
(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A MISDEMEANOR 12
AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONMENT NOT EXC EEDING 3 YEARS OR A 13
FINE NOT EXCEEDING $1,000 OR BOTH. 14
(D) A CORRECTIONAL FACILIT Y SHALL POST SIGNAGE WARNING OF THE 15
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION ON THE EXTERIOR OF T HE PROPERTY IN AN AR EA 16
VISIBLE TO THE GENER AL PUBLIC. 17
Article – Criminal Law 18
9–417.1. 19
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 20
INDICATED. 21
(2) “AIRCRAFT” MEANS A DEVICE THAT IS USED OR INTENDED TO BE 22
USED FOR FLIGHT IN THE AI R. 23
(3) “UNMANNED AIRCRAFT ” MEANS AN AIRCRAFT TH AT IS OPERATED 24
WITHOUT THE POSSIBIL ITY OF DIRECT HUMAN INTERVENTION FROM WI THIN OR ON 25
THE AIRCRAFT. 26
(B) A PERSON MAY NOT DELIV ER ANY CONTRABAND TO A PERSON 27
DETAINED OR CONFINED IN A PLACE OF CONFINEMENT U SING AN UNMANNED 28
AIRCRAFT. 29
(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A MISDEMEANOR 30
AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONM ENT NOT EXCEEDING 3 YEARS OR A 31 SENATE BILL 273 3
FINE NOT EXCEEDING $1,000 OR BOTH. 1
(D) A CORRECTIONAL FACILIT Y SHALL POST SIGNAGE WARNING OF THE 2
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE PROP ERTY IN AN AREA 3
VISIBLE TO THE GENER AL PUBLIC. 4
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 5
October 1, 2024. 6