Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

HF 858

1st Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/07/2017 01:06pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 02/06/2017
1st Engrossment Posted on 03/07/2017

Current Version - 1st Engrossment

Line numbers 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5
1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10
1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15
1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4
2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14
3.15 3.16

A bill for an act
relating to aeronautics; providing for registration of unmanned aircraft; providing
for a registration tax refund; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 360.013,
by adding subdivisions; 360.55, by adding a subdivision; 360.62.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 360.013, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 62. new text end

new text begin Unmanned aircraft. new text end

new text begin "Unmanned aircraft" means an aircraft, as defined in
subdivision 37, that is operated without the possibility of human intervention from within
or on the aircraft.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 360.013, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:


new text begin Subd. 63. new text end

new text begin Unmanned aircraft system. new text end

new text begin "Unmanned aircraft system" means an unmanned
aircraft and all of its associated elements, including components and communication links,
that are required to control and operate the aircraft.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 360.55, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:


new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Unmanned aircraft systems. new text end

new text begin (a) Any unmanned aircraft system in which the
unmanned aircraft weighs less than 55 pounds at takeoff, including payload and anything
affixed to the aircraft, either:
new text end

new text begin (1) must be registered in the state for an annual fee of $25; or
new text end

new text begin (2) is not subject to registration or an annual fee if the unmanned aircraft system is owned
and operated solely for recreational purposes.
new text end

new text begin (b) An unmanned aircraft system that meets the requirements under paragraph (a) is
exempt from aircraft registration tax under sections 360.511 to 360.67.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 360.62, is amended to read:


360.62 TAX REFUND.

Except as provided herein the tax upon any aircraft which has been paid for any year,
shall be refunded only for errors made in computing the tax or fees or for the error on the
part of an owner who may in error have registered an aircraft that was not before, nor at the
time of such registration, nor at any time thereafter during the tax period, subject to such
tax in this state; provided that after more than 24 months after such tax was paid no refund
shall be made for any tax paid on any aircraft. Refunds as provided by sections 360.511 to
360.67 shall be made in the manner provided by Laws 1947, chapter 416. The former owner
of a transferred aircraft by an assignment in writing endorsed upon the former owner's
registration certificate and delivered to the commissioner within the time provided herein
may sell and assign to the new owner thereof the right to have the tax paid by the former
owner accredited to such new owner who duly registers such aircraft. Any owner whose
aircraft deleted text begin shall bedeleted text end new text begin isnew text end destroyed or permanently removed from the state deleted text begin shall bedeleted text end new text begin isnew text end entitled to
a refund for the unused portion of the tax paid upon thenew text begin destroyed or removednew text end aircraft deleted text begin so
destroyed or removed from the state, such
deleted text end new text begin . Thenew text end refund deleted text begin todeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end be computed pro rata by the
month, and to be equal to the monthly tax rate multiplied by the number of full calendar
months remaining in the fiscal year, or multiplied by the number of full calendar months
remaining in that period between January 1, 1966, to and including June 30, 1967, whichever
period is applicable.new text begin An unmanned aircraft system that is destroyed or permanently removed
from the state is not entitled to a tax refund under this section.
new text end

In order to secure such refund, the aircraft owner shall submit a signed statement that
such aircraft has either been sold out of state or destroyed, the date of such sale or destruction,
and such other information as the commissioner may require. Any false statement willfully
and knowingly made in regard thereto shall be deemed a perjury and punished accordingly.
No refund shall be made if application is not made within 12 months after the date the
aircraft was sold out of state or destroyed.

Sec. 5. new text begin UNMANNED AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION TAX REFUND;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of transportation shall refund the tax paid for the most recent
registration period on an unmanned aircraft system under Minnesota Statutes, sections
360.531 to 360.67, to a person who:
new text end

new text begin (1) registers and pays the specified fee for the unmanned aircraft system under Minnesota
Statutes, section 360.55, subdivision 9, for the same registration period or an overlapping
registration period; or
new text end

new text begin (2) is exempt from payment of the tax under Minnesota Statutes, sections 360.531 to
360.67, and the fee under Minnesota Statutes, section 360.55, subdivision 9, as provided
under this act.
new text end

new text begin (b) An amount necessary for any refunds under paragraph (a) is appropriated in fiscal
year 2018 from the state airports fund to the commissioner of transportation for the purposes
of providing refunds.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin This act is effective July 1, 2017.
new text end