H 3265 General Bill, By McKnight
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 23-1-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY NOT OPERATE AN
 UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH FIREARMS INTENDED TO INFLICT DEADLY
 FORCE UPON INDIVIDUALS OR PROPERTY, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROVISION DOES NOT
 APPLY TO THE OPERATION OF A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH FIREARMS INTENDED TO
 DETONATE AND DISPOSE OF EXPLOSIVES, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

   12/15/16  House  Prefiled
   12/15/16  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/10/17  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 135)
   01/10/17  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 135)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 23-1-250 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MAY NOT OPERATE AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH FIREARMS INTENDED TO INFLICT DEADLY FORCE UPON INDIVIDUALS OR PROPERTY, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS PROVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE OPERATION OF A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH FIREARMS INTENDED TO DETONATE AND DISPOSE OF EXPLOSIVES, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 23-1-250.    (A)    As used in this section, 'unmanned aerial vehicle' means any contrivance used or designed for navigation of or flight in air that is power-driven and operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the contrivance.

(B)    A law enforcement agency shall not operate an unmanned aerial vehicle that is equipped with firearms intended to inflict deadly force upon individuals or property. This section does not apply to a law enforcement agency that operates an unmanned aerial vehicle that is equipped with firearms intended to detonate and dispose of explosives.

(C)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction must be imprisoned not more than five years."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.