New Jersey S 702: Imposes oversight, cost analysis, and fee requirements for State contracts; includes State contract performance in conscientious employee protection act; limits to three years all State contracts; requires certain disclosures on State contracts.

Bill Text

S702 

SENATE, No. 702 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator JOHN J. BURZICHELLI

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

SYNOPSIS

���� Prohibits operation of drone over school under 
certain circumstances.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning unmanned aircraft systems and amending 
P.L.2017, c.315. 

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 2 of P.L.2017, 
c.315 (C.2C:40-28) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.��� a. A person commits a 
disorderly persons offense if he knowingly or intentionally operates as defined 
in section 1 of P.L.2017, c.315 (C.2C:40-27) an unmanned aircraft system as 
defined in section 1 of P.L.2017, c.315 (C.2C:40-27) in a manner that endangers 
the life or property of another.� In making this determination, the court shall 
consider the standards for safe operation of small unmanned aircraft systems 
prescribed by federal law or regulation.

���� b.��� (1) A person commits a 
crime of the fourth degree if [he] the person 
knowingly or intentionally creates or maintains a condition which endangers the 
safety or security of a correctional facility by operating an unmanned aircraft 
system on the premises of or in close proximity to that facility without 
license or privilege to do so.

���� (2)�� A person commits a crime 
of the third degree if he knowingly operates an unmanned aircraft system to 
conduct surveillance of, or gather information about, a correctional facility 
without license or privilege to do so.

���� For purposes of this 
subsection, "correctional facility" means a jail, prison, lockup, 
penitentiary, reformatory, training school, or other similar facility within 
the State of New Jersey.

���� c.���� A person commits a 
crime of the fourth degree if [he] the person 
knowingly or intentionally operates an unmanned aircraft system in a manner 
that interferes with a first responder who is actively engaged in response or 
actively engaged in air, water, vehicular, ground, or specialized transport.

���� For purposes of this 
subsection "first responder" means a law enforcement officer, paid or 
volunteer firefighter, paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first 
aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association, or any other individual 
who, in the course of his employment, is dispatched to the scene of a motor 
vehicle accident or other emergency situation for the purpose of providing 
medical care or other assistance.

���� d.��� A person commits a 
disorderly persons offense if [he] the person 
knowingly operates an unmanned aircraft system or uses an unmanned aircraft 
system to take or assist in the taking of wildlife.

���� e.���� A person commits a 
disorderly persons offense if [he] the person 
operates an unmanned aircraft system while under the influence of intoxicating 
liquor, a narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug or with a blood 
alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more by weight of alcohol in the defendant's 
blood.

���� f.���� It shall be a violation 
of any restraining order issued by the court pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1999, 
c.47 (C.2C:12-10.2), section 3 or 4 of P.L.2015, c.147 (C.2C:14-15 or 
C.2C:14-16), section 12 of P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-28), section 4 of P.L.1999, 
c.334 (C.2C:35-5.7), or any other court order restraining contact with a person 
or location, for a person subject to that order to knowingly operate an 
unmanned aircraft system to fly within a distance of a person or location that 
would violate that restraining order.

���� g.��� Notwithstanding the 
provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-8 or any other law to the contrary, a conviction under 
this section shall not merge with a conviction of harassment pursuant to 
N.J.S.2C:33-4, stalking pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1992, c.209 (C.2C:12-10), 
invasion of privacy pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2003, c.206 (C.2C:14-9), 
obstructing administration of law or other governmental function pursuant to 
N.J.S.2C:29-1, introducing contraband pursuant to N.J.S.2C:29-6, contempt of a 
domestic violence order pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:29-9 which 
constitutes a crime or disorderly persons offense, or any other criminal 
offense, even if any other conviction involves the use of an unmanned aircraft 
system, nor shall the other conviction merge with a conviction under this 
section.

���� h.��� (1) A person commits 
a disorderly persons offense if the person knowingly operates an unmanned 
aircraft system below 250 feet over the building or grounds of any school for 
the purpose of conducting surveillance or gathering information without the 
prior written authorization of the superintendent or chief school 
administrator. 

���� (2)�� A person commits a 
disorderly persons offense if the person knowingly operates an unmanned 
aircra