Existing law governs the usage of unmanned aerial vehicles by the State and its political subdivisions and private citizens. (NRS 493.103-493.118) A public agency other than a law enforcement agency may, for specified public purposes prescribed in regulations adopted by the Department of Public Safety, employ an unmanned aerial vehicle that has been registered with the Department. (NRS 493.118; NAC 493.100) Section 1.9 of this bill requires the Department to adopt regulations to establish: (1) a list of countries, businesses and entities from which a public agency or law enforcement agency shall not purchase or acquire any unmanned aerial vehicle or other equipment or service relating to the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle; and (2) a list of unmanned aerial vehicles and other related equipment or services that a public agency or law enforcement agency shall not operate, purchase or acquire. Sections 1 and 1.3 of this bill prohibit, effective January 1, 2025, a public agency or law enforcement agency from operating, purchasing or acquiring any unmanned aerial vehicle or other equipment or service relating to the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle in violation of the regulations adopted by the Department. Section 1.7 of this bill requires the Department to adopt regulations to: (1) authorize a public agency to conduct scheduled inspections to ensure compliance with building and fire codes and laws, ordinances, regulations and rules adopting or establishing building and fire codes; (2) prohibit a public agency from collecting any photograph, image or recording through the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle during the scheduled inspection; and (3) provide that if a photograph, image or recording or other information is collected through the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle during a scheduled inspection, such photograph, image, recording or other information is not admissible and must not be disclosed in any proceeding other than a proceeding relating to the purpose of the scheduled inspection.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 493.118
Reprint 1: 493.112, 493.115, 493.118
Reprint 2: 493.112, 493.115, 493.118
As Enrolled: 493.112, 493.115, 493.118
BDR: 493.118