Bill > HR637

This bill, the Preserving American Privacy Act of 2013, establishes a legal framework for the use of public unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, by governmental entities. It defines "covered information" as data that can identify an individual or information about their property not in plain view, and requires governmental entities to minimize the collection and disclosure of such information when operating a UAS. Before operating a UAS, a governmental entity must submit a "data collection statement" to the Attorney General detailing the purpose of its use, its capability to collect covered information, data retention policies, and oversight procedures. This information will be publicly accessible. The bill prohibits the use of covered information collected by UAS as evidence unless its collection or disclosure complies with the Act, and generally restricts law enforcement use of UAS for collecting covered information unless it's pursuant to a warrant, a court order based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, for border patrol within 25 miles of a U.S. land border, with individual consent, or in specific emergency situations. It also makes it unlawful to operate a private UAS to capture highly offensive images or recordings of individuals in situations where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and prohibits the weaponization of any UAS. The bill also includes provisions for administrative discipline for violations and mandates annual reporting on UAS operations and data collection to Congress.