BILL NUMBER: S620

SPONSOR: BOYLE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the course of hunting

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To prohibit the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for hunting or taking of
wildlife.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

The bill defines the term "unmanned aerial vehicle" and prohibits the
hunting or taking of wildlife with the aid of an unmanned aerial vehi-
cle.

 
JUSTIFICATION:
              

UAV hunting would allow hunters to use remote-controlled, camera-quipped
aircraft to locate wildlife in order to shoot and kill them. Alaska
enacted a ban after wildlife officials learned that a moose was killed
by a hunter using a UAV. Colorado and Montana have outlawed this prac-
tice. In addition, Idaho and Wisconsin have included prohibitions into
existing regulations. New Mexico, Vermont and Wyoming have pending rule-
making petitions before their wildlife Commissions to ban this practice.

There is only anecdotal evidence of UAV's being used for hunting, but
the national groups Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Humane Soci-
ety of the United States both say they believe that enacting bans now
are important to avoid problems later. Current federal aviation regu-
lations do not allow for the commercial use of UAV's or drones, but
national guidelines are under development. Federal regulators estimate
that as many as 7,500 small commercial drones could be flying within
five years.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

Died in Environmental Education 2016.
01/04/17 REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
01/03/18 REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The bill would take effect immediately.