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Bill > HB912

TX HB912

TX HB912
Relating to images captured by unmanned aircraft and other images and recordings; providing penalties.

summary

Introduced
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
06/14/2013

Introduced Session

83rd Legislature Regular Session

Bill Summary

Relating to images captured by unmanned aircraft and other images and recordings; providing penalties.

AI Summary

This bill, known as the Texas Privacy Act, establishes rules and penalties for the use of unmanned aircraft (drones) to capture images, defining "image" broadly to include various forms of sensory capture. While generally prohibiting the use of drones to capture images of individuals or private property with the intent to conduct surveillance, it outlines numerous exceptions, such as for research by institutions of higher education, military operations, utility maintenance, law enforcement investigations (under specific circumstances like pursuit of serious offenses or documenting crime scenes), mapping by satellites, and capturing images in public places from a low height without amplification. The bill creates offenses for illegally capturing images with a drone and for possessing, disclosing, displaying, distributing, or using such illegally captured images, with penalties ranging from a Class C misdemeanor for illegal capture to a Class B misdemeanor for subsequent use or distribution. It also allows for civil action by property owners or tenants against violators, with potential penalties of $5,000 for illegal capture and $10,000 for illegal use or distribution, plus actual damages if malice is involved, and requires law enforcement agencies to report their drone usage.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

Sponsors (105)

Lon Burnam (D)*,  Craig Estes (R)*,  Pat Fallon (R)*,  Lance Gooden (R)*,  Debbie Riddle (R)*,  Jonathan Stickland (R)*,  Alma Allen (D),  Roberto Alonzo (D),  Rafael Anchía (D),  Trent Ashby (R),  Jimmie Aycock (R),  Cecil Bell (R),  Dwayne Bohac (R),  Dennis Bonnen (R),  Greg Bonnen (R),  Daniel Branch (R),  Cindy Burkett (R),  Angie Button (R),  Bill Callegari (R),  Giovanni Capriglione (R),  Stefani Carter (R),  Travis Clardy (R),  Garnet Coleman (D),  Nicole Collier (D),  Philip Cortez (D),  Tom Craddick (R),  Brandon Creighton (R),  Myra Crownover (R),  Drew Darby (R),  John Davis (R),  Sarah Davis (R),  Harold Dutton (D),  Craig Eiland (D),  Gary Elkins (R),  Marsha Farney (R),  Dan Flynn (R),  John Frullo (R),  Helen Giddings (D),  Mary González (D),  Bobby Guerra (D),  Ryan Guillen (R),  Roland Gutierrez (D),  Patricia Harless (R),  Linda Harper-Brown (R),  Ana Hernandez (D),  Donna Howard (D),  Dan Huberty (R),  Bryan Hughes (R),  Eric Johnson (D),  Kyle Kacal (R),  Jim Keffer (R),  Ken King (R),  Phil King (R),  Susan King (R),  Stephanie Klick (R),  Lois Kolkhorst (R),  Matt Krause (R),  John Kuempel (R),  Lyle Larson (R),  George Lavender (R),  Jeff Leach (R),  Oscar Longoria (D),  Eddie Lucio (D),  Marisa Marquez (D),  Mando Martinez (D),  Ruth McClendon (D),  Borris Miles (D),  Rick Miller (R),  Joe Moody (D),  Geanie Morrison (R),  Sergio Muñoz (D),  Jim Murphy (R),  Elliott Naishtat (D),  Poncho Nevárez (D),  Rob Orr (R),  Chris Paddie (R),  Tan Parker (R),  Jim Pitts (R),  Four Price (R),  John Raney (R),  Bennett Ratliff (R),  Richard Raymond (D),  Ron Reynolds (D),  Eddie Rodriguez (D),  Justin Rodriguez (D),  Toni Rose (D),  Scott Sanford (R),  Ralph Sheffield (R),  Ron Simmons (R),  David Simpson (R),  John Smithee (R),  Phil Stephenson (R),  Mark Strama (D),  Van Taylor (R),  Ed Thompson (R),  Senfronia Thompson (D),  Steve Toth (R),  Scott Turner (R),  Michael Villarreal (D),  Hubert Vo (D),  Armando Walle (D),  James White (R),  Paul Workman (R),  Bill Zedler (R),  John Zerwas (R), 

Last Action

Effective on 9/1/13 (on 06/14/2013)

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