Bill > HB1029

This bill creates the crime of "unlawful aiming of a laser at an aircraft," which is defined as intentionally projecting a laser, or a device that simulates a laser, at an aircraft or its flight path within Louisiana's jurisdiction, with penalties ranging from one to five years imprisonment and a $2,000 fine for a first offense, and two to ten years imprisonment and a $4,000 fine for subsequent offenses; however, this prohibition does not apply to authorized individuals conducting research and development or flight tests, members of the U.S. Department of Defense or Homeland Security, police officers acting in their official duties, or individuals using a laser for emergency signaling. Additionally, the bill establishes the crime of "unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system," which involves intentionally using a drone (an unmanned, powered aircraft that doesn't carry a human operator) to surveil, gather information about, or record a "targeted facility"—defined as petroleum refineries, chemical manufacturing facilities, and nuclear power plants—without the owner's written consent, with penalties of up to a $500 fine or six months imprisonment for a first offense, and increased penalties for repeat offenses, though exceptions exist for using drones on one's own property, for government contracts, or for authorized film productions, and this section is subject to federal law and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.