HB527 Alabama 2022 Session

Existing law prohibits criminal surveillance, which is committed when a person intentionally engages in surveillance while trespassing in a private place

This bill would further provide for that crime by prohibiting the use of an unmanned aircraft system to take photographs, video, or audio of another, without that individual's consent, in a manner that would invade that individual's reasonable expectation of privacy

This bill would also prohibit an individual who is subject to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, or who has certain prior convictions related to theft, to operate or possess an unmanned aircraft system equipped in a manner to take photographs, video, or audio of another, and would provide criminal penalties for a violation

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended by Amendment 890, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

To amend Sections 13A-11-30 and 13A-11-32, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to offenses against privacy; to provide further for the crime of criminal surveillance; to prohibit certain individuals from using or possessing an unmanned aircraft system under certain conditions; to provide criminal penalties for a violation; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended by Amendment 890, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.