WEST virginia legislature
2021 regular session
Introduced
House Bill 2726
By Delegate Capito
[Introduced February 24, 2021; Referred to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §17-30-1 and §17-30-2; to amend and reenact §29-2A-3 and §29-2A-12 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §29-2A-12a, all relating to use of airspace; use of space above and below public roads; lease by political subdivisions of space above or below public roads owned or controlled by political subdivisions; procedure to be followed in lease by political subdivisions of space above or below public roads owned or controlled by political subdivisions; powers and duties of the West Virginia State Aeronautics Commission; operation of manned aircraft at low altitude; low or dangerous flight of unmanned aircraft; landing of unmanned aircraft on land or water of another.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
Article 30. Leasing space above and below public roads.
§17-30-1. Lease by political subdivisions of space above or below public roads owned or controlled by political subdivisions.
Any political subdivision holding the easement or fee title to a road, public road, highway, open country highway, urban street, suburban street, state road, or public roads, as those terms are defined in §17-1-1 et seq. of this code, may lease the space above or below that road, public road, highway, open country highway, urban street, suburban street, state road, or public road for private purposes for such period as the governing body determines the space will not be needed for public purposes, and upon other terms and conditions the governing body finds to be in the public interest.
§17-30-2. Procedure to be followed in lease by political subdivisions of space above or below public roads owned or controlled by political subdivisions.
Before leasing the space, the governing body shall determine that the use of the space will not unreasonably interfere with the public use and utility use of the road, public road, highway, open country highway, urban street, suburban street, state road, or public road, and shall notify the property owners abutting the space proposed to be leased under this section and give them an opportunity to be heard informally and at public hearing with respect to the proposed leasing. Lease of space above or below a street or highway for private purposes shall not affect a prior dedication or grant of the area for street or highway purposes.
CHAPTER 29. MISCELLANEOUS BOARDS AND OFFICERS.
ARTICLE 2A. STATE AERONAUTICS COMMISSION.
§29-2A-3. Powers and duties of commission.
(a) The commission may enter into any contracts necessary to the execution of the powers granted to it by this article. It is empowered and directed to encourage, foster, and assist in the development of aeronautics in this state and to encourage the establishment of airports and air navigation facilities. It shall cooperate with and assist the federal government, the municipalities of this state, and other persons in the development of aeronautics and shall act to coordinate the aeronautical activities of these bodies and persons. Municipalities are authorized to cooperate with the commission in the development of aeronautics and aeronautics facilities in this state. The commission is hereby given the power and authority to make such rules, policies, and guidelines as it may deem necessary and advisable for the public safety, governing the designing, laying out, locating, building, equipping and operating of all airports and the conduct of all other phases of aeronautics to effectuate the requirements of this article.
(1) (b) The commission shall keep on file with the
Secretary of State, and at the principal office of the commission, a copy of
its rules and orders having general effect for public inspection. It shall
provide for the publication and general distribution of all its orders, rules,
and other information of public interest. Copies of any such orders, rules, and
other information shall be made available electronically and provided to any
person interested, free of charge, upon request. The publication and
distribution of any such order or rule proposed for legislative approval in
accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code shall be
sufficient notice to the public of the provisions, requirements, and effect
thereof.
(2) (c) Except
where otherwise prohibited, the commission is authorized to permit the West
Virginia Board of Treasury Investments or the West Virginia Investment
Management Board to invest, as provided by this code, any funds received by the
commission pursuant to the provisions of this code.
(d) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to interfere with the airspace rights of private landowners; the ownership of the space above the lands and waters of this state is declared to be vested in the several owners of the surface beneath.
§29-2A-12. Operation of aircraft at low altitude or in careless and reckless manner; penalty.
No person shall operate an
a manned aircraft at an altitude of less than one thousand feet over any
city, town, or village, or public gathering elsewhere, except at a duly
established airport or when necessary to make a safe and proper landing or take
off in an emergency or at a duly established airport.
No person shall operate an aircraft in the air over, or on the ground or water within this state in a careless and reckless manner in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, or without due caution and circumspection and in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property.
A person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or by confinement in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined.
§29-2A-12A. Low or dangerous flight of unmanned aircraft; landing on land or water of another.
(a) Flight of an unmanned aircraft over the lands and waters of this state is lawful unless it is:
(1) At such a low altitude as to interfere with the existing use to which the land or water, or the space over the land or water, is put by the owner;
(2) Conducted as to be imminently dangerous to persons or property lawfully on the land or water; or
(3) In violation of the air commerce regulations promulgated by the United States Department of Transportation.
(b) The landing of an unmanned aircraft, on the lands or waters of another, without his or her consent, is unlawful, except in the case of a forced landing. For damages caused by a forced landing, however, the owner, operator or lessee of the aircraft, or the airman is liable for actual damage caused by the forced landing.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section, nothing in this chapter may be construed to prevent an operator or pilot from operating an aircraft, including an unmanned aircraft, over his or her own property.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow for the lease of air space above public roads and highways owned or controlled by political subdivisions of the state, and the safe operation of unmanned aircraft.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.