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Assembly Bill A615A

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to prohibiting civilian drone use within 500 ft of a correctional facility

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Bill Amendments

2025-A615 - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S694
Current Committee:
Assembly Correction
Law Section:
Correction Law
Laws Affected:
Add §608, Cor L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2015-2016: A8625, S6222
2017-2018: A6930, S2125
2019-2020: A1600, S1380
2021-2022: A5073, S2660
2023-2024: A5203, S4481

2025-A615 - Summary

Relates to prohibiting civilian drone use within 500 feet of a correctional facility except when in use under the Federal Aviation Administration's authorization.

2025-A615 - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    615
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. SHIMSKY -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Correction
 
 AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to  civilian  drone  use
   near a correctional facility
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new  section  608
 to read as follows:
   §  608.  DRONE  USE AROUND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. 1. NO PERSON, IN A
 PRIVATE CAPACITY, SHALL OPERATE A DRONE WITHIN ONE THOUSAND  FEET  OF  A
 CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN THIS STATE.
   2. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
   "DRONE" MEANS A POWERED OR UNPOWERED AERIAL VEHICLE OR A BALLOON FLOAT
 OR OTHER DEVICE THAT:
   (A) DOES NOT CARRY A HUMAN OPERATOR;
   (B) USES AERODYNAMIC FORCES OR GASES TO PROVIDE LIFT;
   (C) CAN FLY AUTONOMOUSLY OR BE PILOTED REMOTELY;
   (D) CAN BE EXPENDABLE OR RECOVERABLE;
   (E) CAPTURES IMAGES OF OBJECTS OR PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AND IN THE AIR;
   (F) INTERCEPTS COMMUNICATIONS ON THE GROUND AND IN THE AIR; AND/OR
   (G) CAN CARRY A LETHAL OR NON-LETHAL PAYLOAD.
   3.  A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL RESULT IN A CIVIL PENALTY OF ONE
 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE AND A MISDEMEANOR FOR EACH SUBSE-
 QUENT OFFENSE.
   4. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE OPERATION OF  A  DRONE  BY  ANY
 PERSON OR ENTITY THAT THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAS AUTHORIZED
 TO OPERATE A DRONE FOR A COMMERCIAL PURPOSE, WHERE THE DRONE IS OPERATED
 IN A MANNER THAT COMPLIES WITH THAT AUTHORIZATION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00243-01-5

2025-A615A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S694
Current Committee:
Assembly Correction
Law Section:
Correction Law
Laws Affected:
Add §608, Cor L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2015-2016: A8625, S6222
2017-2018: A6930, S2125
2019-2020: A1600, S1380
2021-2022: A5073, S2660
2023-2024: A5203, S4481

2025-A615A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to prohibiting civilian drone use within 500 feet of a correctional facility except when in use under the Federal Aviation Administration's authorization.

2025-A615A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  615--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. SHIMSKY -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Correction  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the correction law, in relation to civilian drone use
   near a correctional facility
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The correction law is amended by adding a new section 608
 to read as follows:
   § 608. DRONE USE AROUND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. 1. NO  PERSON,  IN  A
 PRIVATE  CAPACITY,  SHALL  OPERATE A DRONE WITHIN FIVE HUNDRED FEET OF A
 CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN THIS STATE.
   2. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
   "DRONE" MEANS A POWERED OR UNPOWERED AERIAL VEHICLE OR A BALLOON FLOAT
 OR OTHER DEVICE THAT:
   (A) DOES NOT CARRY A HUMAN OPERATOR;
   (B) USES AERODYNAMIC FORCES OR GASES TO PROVIDE LIFT;
   (C) CAN FLY AUTONOMOUSLY OR BE PILOTED REMOTELY;
   (D) CAN BE EXPENDABLE OR RECOVERABLE;
   (E) CAPTURES IMAGES OF OBJECTS OR PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AND IN THE AIR;
   (F) INTERCEPTS COMMUNICATIONS ON THE GROUND AND IN THE AIR; AND/OR
   (G) CAN CARRY A LETHAL OR NON-LETHAL PAYLOAD.
   3. A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL RESULT IN A CIVIL PENALTY OF FIVE
 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE AND FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE.
   4. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE OPERATION OF  A  DRONE  BY  ANY
 PERSON OR ENTITY THAT THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAS AUTHORIZED
 TO OPERATE A DRONE FOR A COMMERCIAL PURPOSE, WHERE THE DRONE IS OPERATED
 IN A MANNER THAT COMPLIES WITH THAT AUTHORIZATION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00243-02-5

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