SB4234 Summary

• Amends the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act to define "special event" as a nonroutine activity open to the public that brings together a large number of people.

• Permits law enforcement agencies to use drones at special events to monitor crowd size, density, and movement; assess public safety staffing; or monitor participant safety.

• Allows law enforcement to use drones to respond to 911-dispatched calls for service when the primary purpose is to locate or assist victims, identify offenders, and guide emergency response.

• Exempts drone use over publicly owned property or private property with owner permission from surveillance restrictions when used for training, public relations, infrastructure inspections, or similar non-law enforcement purposes.

• Makes drone information subject to Freedom of Information Act disclosure and exception provisions, and requires law enforcement to destroy drone data within 30 days unless it contains evidence of criminal activity, relates to ongoing investigations, is required by records retention schedules, or will be used exclusively for training.