Action Alert! #StandWithRand Against Warrantless Drones in Florida HB 119/SB 92

Two “Anti-Drone” bills have been introduced in Florida House (HB 119)  and Senate Committees (CS/SB 92). The bills would prohibit law enforcement from using drones to gather evidence unless it relates to a high risk terrorist attack or a search warrant is issued. These bills need your support and voice behind them! Please contact the members of the House and Senate Committees below. Share with your friends and family and encourage them to do the same.

Update #4: 4/11/13- SB 92  has passed the Senate, read the latest here.

Update #3: 3/8/13- Concerns have been raised by some in the Tampa Bay Liberty Movement regarding the updated version of this legislation. Read the discussion and include your opinion here.

Update #2: 3/8/13- HB 119 passed the Local & Federal Affairs Committee unanimously and is now headed for the Judiciary Committee.

Update #1: 3/6/13- HB 119 passed the Criminal Justice Subcommittee unanimously and is now on the agenda for the Local & Federal Affairs Committee. CS/SB 92 passed the Community Affairs Committee unanimously on 2/6/13 it is now in the Judiciary Committee.

House Bill: HB 119 Searches and Seizures

What the bill will do:  Prohibits law enforcement agency from using drone to gather evidence or other information; provides exception; authorizes aggrieved party to initiate civil action in order to prevent or remedy violation; prohibits use of evidence obtained or collected in violation of act in criminal prosecution.

Quote from the House Bill:(3) PROHIBITED USE OF DRONES.-A law enforcement agency may not use a drone to gather evidence or other information. (4) EXCEPTIONS.-This act does not prohibit the use of a drone to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack by a specific individual or organization if the United States Secretary of Homeland Security determines that credible intelligence indicates that there is such a risk.

What you can do now: The bill has passed all committees (some with substitutes.) The Bill has now been referred to the House Calendar. Contact your House Representative and ask them to support HB 119 when it comes to vote before the House.  Be sure to leave your name & zip code if leaving a voice-mail.

Judiciary Committee

HB 119 passed the Judiciary Committee unanimously on 3/14/2013. Please contact the Representatives and thank them for their support.

Local & Federal Affairs Committee

HB 119 passed the Local & Federal Affairs Committee unanimously on 3/7/2013. Please contact the Representatives and thank them for their support.

Criminal Justice Subcommittee

HB 119 passed the Criminal Justice Subcommittee unanimously on 2/7/13. Please contact the Representatives and thank them for their support.

Senate bill: CS/SB 92: Searches and Seizures

What the bill will do:  The bill will be prohibiting a law enforcement agency from using a drone to gather evidence or other information; authorizing an aggrieved party to initiate a civil action in order to prevent or remedy a violation of the act; prohibiting a law enforcement agency from using in any court of law in this state evidence obtained or collected in violation of the act, etc.

Quote from the Senate Bill: (3) PROBITED USE OF DRONES – “A law enforcement agency may not use a drone to gather evidence or other information.” (4) EXCEPTIONS – (b) “If the law enforcement agency first obtains a search warrant signed by a judge authorizing the use of a drone.” (4) (c) “If the law enforcement agency possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular circumstances, swift action is needed to prevent imminent danger to life or serious damage to property, or to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect or the destruction of evidence.”

Where bill stands now: Bill had 7 yeas and 0 nays on 1/15/2013 in Criminal Justice Committee.  Bill had 9 yeas and 0 nays on 2/6/2013 in Community Affairs Committee. Bill had 9 yeas and 0 nays on 3/12/2013 in Judiciary Committee. The bill is now headed for the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice.

What you can do now: Contact the members on the Appropriations Committee. And ask them to support CS/SB 92, be sure to leave your name & zip code if leaving a voice-mail.

Appropriations Committee

• Senator Joe Negron (Chair)
  • (850) 487-5032
• Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (Vice Chair)
  • (850) 487-5030
  • benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov
• Senator Aaron Bean
  • (850) 487-5004
• Senator Rob Bradley
  • (850) 487-5007
  • bradley.rob.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Judiciary Committee on 3/12/13.
  • Voted Yea in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice on 3/19/13.
• Senator Bill Galvano
  • (850) 487-5008
• Senator Andy Gardiner
  • (850) 487-5013
  • gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Judiciary Committee on 3/12/13.
  • Voted Yea in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice on 3/19/13.
• Senator Denise Grimsley
  • (850) 487-5021
  • grimsley.denise.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice on 3/19/13.
• Senator Alan Hays
  • (850) 487-5011
  • hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice on 3/19/13.
• Senator Dorothy L. Hukill
  • (850) 487-5008
• Senator Arthenia L. Joyner
  • (850) 487-5019
  • joyner.arthenia.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Judiciary Committee on 3/12/13.
  • Voted Yea in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice on 3/19/13.
• Senator Jack Latvala
  • (850) 487-5020
  • latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Judiciary Committee on 3/12/13.
• Senator Tom Lee (Local Senator)
  • (850) 487-5024
  • lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Judiciary Committee on 3/12/13.
• Senator Gwen Margolis
  • (850) 487-5035
• Senator Bill Montford
  • (850) 487-5003
• Senator Garrett Richter
  • (850) 487-5023
  • richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Judiciary Committee on 3/12/13.
• Senator Jeremy Ring
  • (850) 487-5029
  • ring.jeremy.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Judiciary Committee on 3/12/13.
• Senator Christopher L. Smith
  • (850) 487-5031
  • smith.chris.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice on 3/19/13.
• Senator Eleanor Sobel
  • (850) 487-5033
  • SOBEL.ELEANOR.WEB@flsenate.gov
• Senator John Thrasher
  • (850) 487-5006
  • thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov
  • Voted Yea in the Judiciary Committee on 3/12/13.

Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice

SB 92 passed the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice unanimously on 3/19/2013. Please contact the Representatives and thank them for their support.

Judiciary Committee

SB 92 passed the Judiciary Committee unanimously on 3/12/13. Watch the meeting here. Please contact the Representatives and thank them for their support.

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