CS for SB 1178 Summary

• Creates section 330.60 of Florida Statutes, titled the "Florida Privacy Act," establishing drone privacy protections effective October 1, 2015.

• Prohibits using a drone to capture images of individuals or private property with intent to conduct surveillance, except for 22 enumerated lawful uses including military operations, utility maintenance, law enforcement, real estate marketing, and commercial services authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration.

• Forbids possession, disclosure, display, distribution, or use of images illegally captured by drone; images captured in violation cannot be used as evidence in criminal, juvenile, civil, or administrative proceedings.

• Allows illegally or incidentally captured images to be used only as evidence in prosecutions for violations of this section.

• Directs the Department of Transportation to report to the Governor and Legislature by January 1, 2016, on public safety impacts of commercial unmanned aerial systems and recommend appropriate liability insurance requirements for operators.