84R8675 JRR-D
By: Murphy H.B. No. 1481
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibiting the operation of an unmanned aircraft over
certain facilities; creating a criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 423, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 423.0045 to read as follows:
Sec. 423.0045. OFFENSE: OPERATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OVER
TARGETED FACILITY. (a) In this section, "targeted facility"
means:
(1) a petroleum or alumina refinery;
(2) an electric generation facility, natural gas
generation facility, or nuclear electric power generation
facility;
(3) an oil or gas pipeline; or
(4) a chemical or rubber manufacturing facility.
(b) A person commits an offense if:
(1) the person intentionally or knowingly operates an
unmanned aircraft over a targeted facility; and
(2) the unmanned aircraft is not higher than 400 feet
above ground level.
(c) It is lawful under this section to operate an unmanned
aircraft over a targeted facility if the unmanned aircraft is
operated by:
(1) the federal government, the state, or a
governmental entity;
(2) a person under contract with or otherwise acting
under the direction or on behalf of the federal government, the
state, or a governmental entity;
(3) a law enforcement agency;
(4) a person under contract with or otherwise acting
under the direction or on behalf of a law enforcement agency;
(5) an owner or operator of the targeted facility;
(6) a person under contract with or otherwise acting
under the direction or on behalf of an owner or operator of the
targeted facility; or
(7) a person who has the prior written consent of the
owner or operator of the targeted facility.
(d) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor,
except that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has
previously been convicted under this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.