HF1396

The bill proposes an amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 626.19, subdivision 3, expanding the authorized use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by law enforcement. It lists ten specific circumstances where law enforcement agencies may deploy UAVs, including:

1. Emergency situations where there is a risk of death or bodily harm.
2. Public events with heightened safety risks.
3. Countering terrorist threats based on credible intelligence.
4. Disaster response, including operational planning, rescue, and recovery.
5. Threat assessments for specific anticipated events.
6. Criminal investigations in public areas where reasonable suspicion exists.
7. Crash reconstruction for serious or fatal road collisions.
8. Officer training and public relations with written consent from a private occupant.
9. Requests from government entities for non-law enforcement purposes, provided a written request states the reason and proposed period of use.
10. Search and rescue operations for missing persons.

The bill expands the current allowable UAV uses for law enforcement, enhancing their ability to use drones in investigations, public safety, and emergency response.