HB5132 Summary

• Adds one year of imprisonment to sentences for bringing contraband into a State penal institution using an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), in addition to any other applicable penalties.

• Creates new Class A misdemeanor offense for knowingly and intentionally operating a drone below navigable airspace overlying a State penal institution, with exceptions for authorized employees and those with prior permission from the institution.

• Creates new Class 4 felony offense for knowingly and intentionally capturing images or data of a State penal institution using a drone, with exceptions for authorized employees and those with prior permission from the institution.

• Defines "State penal institution" as a facility or institution of the Department of Corrections and "unmanned aerial vehicle" as an unmanned aircraft or drone with associated control elements.

• Updates existing contraband statutes (31A-1.1 and 31A-1.2) to include similar one-year sentence enhancements when contraband is brought into penal institutions using drones by employees.