Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) Drone Registra-tion/Omnibus Negligence-Prevention Enactment (DRONE Act) of 2016 has passed the state Assembly and will be considered by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The bill’s passage comes at a time of crisis, Gatto said. Drones have continued to interfere with firefighting efforts, delaying water drops and causing fires to grow, including three separate incidents this week at the Rey Fire in Santa Barbara County.

Earlier this year, a Lufthansa Airbus A380 reported a near-miss  when a drone flew by the aircraft at 5,000 feet as it approached Los Angeles International Airport. On Aug. 30, the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) announced that 600,000 drones will be operational in the United States in 2016.

Gatto said he is concerned about the safety risks drones pose to commercial and private aircraft.

The act mandates that drones be equipped with GPS and automatic shut-off technology that will activate if the aircraft approaches airports or designated fire zones. The technology already exists, Gatto said, and is critical to protecting commercial passenger flights.

The act also requires drone insurance policies, starting in 2020, to ensure that if a drone hurts someone or damages property the victim can be compensated. The requirement is similar to auto-insurance requirements under existing law. Lastly, the act requires all drone packaging to include safety disclosures and FAA registration requirements.

“The DRONE Act seeks to protect our skies and our land. It further ensures that negligent drone operators be held financially responsible, whenever injuries, interference or property damage occurs,” Gatto added. “This is a practical measure that will increase public safety without harming the growth of the industry.”

For information, visit www.asm.ca.gov/gatto.