House shoots down drones to monitor fishing, hunting

March 16–NASHVILLE — After a round of joking and some serious discussion, state House members last week gave final legislative approval to a bill that would outlaw the use of drones to watch people who are “lawfully” hunting or fishing.

“I would absolutely love for a drone to come by me while I’m hunting,” declared Rep. David Alexander, R-Winchester. “They say you have to boil them a lot (for eating).”

“What is the daily bag limit on drones?,” asked Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, at another point in the House floor discussion of SB1777.

“It’s unlimited. They’re a nuisance,” replied the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma.

More seriously, Rep. Tony Shipley, R-Kingsport, asked Matheny what would be the legal situation if a drone being used by a landowner was shot by Alexander while he was hunting on adjoining property.

Matheny said that “would be a case between you and he,” with a court decision probably pending on intent of the parties — whether the drone owner was “seeking to disrupt legal activity” and whether the shooter intended just to destroy property.

Dean asked if a landowner could send a drone out to check hunters on his own property, perhaps without permission. Matheny said that would be legally permissible.

The bill passed the House 87-0. It had earlier won 31-0 and now goes to the governor for his signature.

Imagination Library books saved: The House has approved a bill intended to stop destruction of Imagination Library books sent free to families with small children when the books cannot be delivered to the address printed on the mailing label.

As initially reported by the Kingsport Times-News, the U.S. Postal Service previously would hold books that could not be delivered and allow the reading organization to reclaim them. But that policy changed about a year ago and now destroys undeliverable books. A USPS spokesman told the newspaper “we cannot offer a free service to one organization when other organizations and businesses are paying for the same services.”

The legislation approved unanimously by the House (HB2348) declares that “no person shall intentionally destroy books intended to be delivered to children enrolled in Tennessee’s Imagination Library program.” It also says that undeliverable books should be given to prekindergarten, kindergarten or elementary schools.

The Senate companion bill is scheduled for a committee vote Tuesday.

PBA may charge disabled drivers to park: The House has given final legislative approval to a bill, sought by Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, that will allow the Public Building Authority to charge parking fees to handicapped drivers.

Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, was peppered with questions when the bill (SB2259) came up on the House floor. Haynes initially said he thought the measure would apply only to the City County Building in Knoxville, but after checking further told colleagues that 30 counties have public building authorities and the measure would apply in those counties as well.

He stressed that the bill is “permissive” in that it only authorizes parking fees for the disabled as a local option and does not require them. In his hometown, Haynes said, Knox County Disability Coordinator Stephanie Cook has said “everybody should be treated equally” on parking fees, including the handicapped. Currently, he said, about 140 of the 500 parking spots at the City County Building go to people parking free as disabled.

The bill was approved 73-18 by the House. It had previously cleared the Senate 32-0 and now goes to the governor for his signature.