SR0217 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0217 LRB098 11540 GRL 43799 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The United States Congress enacted the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act ("the Act"), which requires the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a plan to accelerate the integration of civil unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system by 2015; and

WHEREAS, An unmanned aircraft is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention or control from within or on the aircraft; and

WHEREAS, Unmanned aircraft are commonly referred to as drones; and

WHEREAS, New developments in technology allow the creation of increasingly smaller drones that are undetectable by the naked eye; and

WHEREAS, Following the passage of the Act, the Federal Aviation Administration has begun to issue rules to implement the Act's mandated plan, including rules that allow law enforcement agencies to operate drones; and

WHEREAS, Allowing an increased amount of drones to fly in the national airspace expands aerial surveillance capabilities and has the potential to threaten the protected privacy rights of Illinois citizens; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative for the members of the Senate to thoroughly investigate the ramifications of the use of drones by law enforcement agencies and private parties in the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is created the Drone Task Force, consisting of 17 members appointed as follows:

(1) two members of the Senate, one member appointed by the President of the Senate and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; the member appointed by the President of the Senate shall serve as chair of the Task Force;

(2) three members appointed by the Governor; and

(3) twelve members who are not members of the General Assembly, 6 appointed by the Senate President and 6 appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, representing a range of interests, including law enforcement, trial attorneys, the Illinois State Bar Association, judges, business groups, municipalities, and the general public; and be it further

RESOLVED, That all members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study the various ways in which drones are used, including, but not limited to, the use of drones for surveillance by law enforcement; the use of drones for surveillance by other government entities, including for enforcement of local ordinances and codes; the use of armed drones by law enforcement; the use of armed drones by private citizens or entities; and the use of drones for surveillance by private citizens or entities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall evaluate whether and how to limit the use of drones by law enforcement, other government entities, and private citizens or entities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, on or before January 1, 2014, the Task Force shall report to the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Governor concerning its recommendations, which shall include proposed legislation to implement its recommendations, if needed; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be dissolved upon issuing its report.