The bill amends sections 4561.01 and 4561.11 of the Revised Code and enacts new sections 4561.60 to 4561.64, establishing regulations for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by law enforcement in Ohio. Key insertions include the definitions of various aviation facilities such as "seaplane bases," "heliports," "vertiports," and "spaceports," which are now explicitly included in the Aeronautics Law. Additionally, the bill outlines the conditions under which law enforcement can use UAVs for surveillance, including the requirement for a search warrant in certain situations, and specifies that surveillance data collected without a warrant is generally inadmissible in criminal proceedings.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits law enforcement from using UAVs armed with lethal weapons and mandates that any surveillance of private individuals by UAVs requires consent from the individual or property owner. It also requires law enforcement agencies to document and retain flight and surveillance data relevant to ongoing investigations. The bill emphasizes transparency by classifying this data as public records, subject to certain exemptions. Existing sections 4561.01 and 4561.11 are repealed, streamlining the legal framework surrounding aviation and UAV use in law enforcement.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4561.01, 4561.11
As Reported By House Committee: 4561.01, 4561.11