SCR 4-TASK FORCE ON UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS  4:02:37 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY called the committee back to order and announced the consideration of Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 4. 4:02:59 PM SENATOR SHELLEY HUGHES, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SCR 4, disclosed that her constituents have voiced concern about privacy and asked for legislation to ban unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). She noted that during her research on UAVs, she has come to realize that UAVs could be useful tools if the operator had good intentions. She divulged that she has been the co-chair for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force since 2013. She opined that the task force has done a lot of good work with a team of volunteers that are not compensate for their work and pay for their own expenses. She asserted that the task force has helped educate the public about UAV safety and privacy guidelines while promoting the aviation industry to the many cost savings and life savings uses for UAVs. She conceded that the issue of privacy is a subject that the task force continues to struggle with. She said the task force is notified of privacy instances and has had discussions with law enforcement about the issue. She noted that the task force has come up with different ideas but has run up against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules. She revealed that the FAA controls, "The air right above the blade of grass in your backyard." She said the task force continues to look at the issue of privacy and has ideas to explore, but the task force is going to term-out June 30. She set forth that the task force has determined a need to stay in existence until the state gets through the UAV transition time due to its evolving technology. She summarized that SCR 4 re-ups the task force's term. 4:06:58 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that Senator Hughes said, "The space above your yard or your grass doesn't belong to us, it belongs to them." He asked what would happen if a drone flying just above the ground is taken down on the land that you own. SENATOR HUGHES clarified that the FAA has jurisdiction over your land. She revealed that the most frequent question asked by her constituents is whether a federal violation would occur if a homeowner shoots down a drone that flies over their house. She confirmed that shooting down a drone would be a violation of federal law. She said knowing the FAA's rules regarding drones is a reason why education is important. 4:08:51 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked what the rules are if a drone is being thoroughly disruptive. SENATOR HUGHES noted that other testifiers will provide input. She suggested that a person waive the drone away because the craft has cameras that can see when a person does not want them there. SENATOR GIESSEL noted that UAVs were used to count sea lions in the Aleutians. She disclosed that sealions are very sensitive animals to any kind of disruption. She asked how successful the animal counts have been with UAVs for sealions and other creatures. SENATOR HUGHES disclosed that the University of Alaska-Fairbanks was involved in the sealion count and they were getting more accurate counts because the UAVs work better than manned aircraft. CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that SCR 4 has a zero-fiscal note. CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony on SCR 4. He addressed Senator Hughes' statement that the FAA controls the space above a landowner's property and asked what the harassment laws are for a UAV. 4:11:45 PM STEVE COLLIGAN, member, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force, Wasilla, Alaska, explained that the FAA controls the airspace, nationwide. He pointed out that a UAV is classified by the FAA as an aircraft just like a full-sized aircraft. He explained that harassment or perceived level of privacy does not depend on whether an aircraft or even a smartphone is used, it is the act itself and not the device that is used. He concurred with Senator Hughes that the FAA has determined UAVs to be aircraft and shooting them down has repercussions. He noted that Anchorage is considering a UAV ordinance to limit at 50 feet above somebody's property, but the ordinance would conflict with some of the FAA's airspace rules. He opined that the reality is public safety and people need some devices to be able to protect the public if somebody is behaving poorly; again, that does not matter whether the device is a drone or some other device. He pointed out that there are Peeping Tom laws on the books that cover voyeurism. He opined that what has been great about the task force has been the review of privacy and public safety. He said the task force has worked with the state attorney general to review the state's existing laws. He disclosed that the task force has addressed the idea of a law that defines loitering over somebody's property that allows public safety to address with a UAV operator whether the individual is misbehaving. 4:15:24 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted that manned aircraft have visible numbers for identification and asked Mr. Colligan to address UAV identification that allows people to report illegal activity or form of harassment. MR. COLLIGAN answered that UAVs over 250 grams must have a visible registration number, but conceded that the aircraft's size may be an issue. He noted that electronic means exist where identification numbers may be broadcast by the UAV. 4:17:28 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony on SCR 4. 4:17:41 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY moved Amendment 1 for SCR 4: 30-LS0360\A.1 Mischel 3/9/17 AMENDMENT 1 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR DUNLEAVY TO: SCR 4 Page 3, line 29: Delete "public and industry" 4:17:45 PM SENATOR GIESSEL objected for purposes of discussion. 4:17:55 PM BUDDY WHITT, Staff, Senator Shelley Hughes, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, addressed Amendment 1 for SCR 4 and specified that on page 3, lines 29-31, "public and industry" would be deleted to make all members of the task force exempt from compensation or per diem. He noted that the amendment results in a fiscal note that would otherwise be indeterminate. 4:19:01 PM SENATOR GIESSEL removed her objection. 4:19:04 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that seeing no other objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 4:19:22 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SCR 4, 30-LS0360\A [as amended], from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:19:29 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that seeing no objection, CSSCR 4(STA) moved from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.