Bill > HB255

This bill allows the University of Alaska to establish training programs for operating unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, and sets regulations for law enforcement agencies using these systems. Specifically, law enforcement agencies must obtain necessary federal authorization, ensure drones are operated by trained and certified personnel under supervision, and get approval for each flight for a public purpose, while also maintaining detailed flight records and involving the community in policy development. Drones can be used by law enforcement to gather evidence in criminal investigations with a warrant or under specific exceptions, or for non-criminal purposes that do not violate privacy and follow established procedures. Images captured by drones can only be retained by law enforcement if they are part of an investigation, for training, or required by law, and any images not retained are considered confidential, not public records. Additionally, municipalities are prohibited from enacting ordinances that allow the release of drone-captured images in a way that contradicts these retention rules.