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Art. 2B.0253 LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY ON USE OF FORCE BY DRONE

Chapter 2B: Law Enforcement Interactions with Public

(a) In this article:

(1) "Drone" means an unmanned aircraft, watercraft, or ground vehicle or a robotic device that:

(A) is controlled remotely by a human operator; or

(B) operates autonomously through computer software or other programming.

(2) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state authorized by law to employ peace officers.

(b) Each law enforcement agency that uses or intends to use a drone for law enforcement purposes shall:

(1) adopt a written policy regarding the agency's use of force by means of a drone, before the agency first uses a drone, and update the policy as necessary; and

(2) not later than January 1 of each even-numbered year, submit the policy to the commission in the manner prescribed by the commission.

Amendment history: Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 1.001, eff. January 1, 2025.