SB4248 Summary

• Amends the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act to define "emotionally disturbed person" as someone appearing mentally ill or deranged whose conduct a peace officer reasonably believes could result in serious injury, and "special event" as a non-routine community activity where attendees lack reasonable privacy expectations.

• Permits law enforcement drone use at special events to monitor crowd size, density, and movement; assess public safety staffing; or monitor participant safety, with prior authorization required if the event occurs on private property.

• Allows law enforcement drone use to assist emotionally disturbed persons (when not conducting criminal investigations), respond to 911 dispatch calls for service to locate/assist victims or identify offenders, and conduct training, public relations, or infrastructure inspections on publicly or privately owned property with permission.

• Requires law enforcement agencies to destroy drone-gathered information within 30 days unless there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, the information relates to ongoing investigations or pending trials, it's required by Local Records Commission retention schedules, or it will be used exclusively for training.

• Subjects all drone-gathered information to the Freedom of Information Act and adds drone surveillance information as an exemption category under the Freedom of Information Act.