SF 2043

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/14/2017 09:50am

A bill for an act
relating to aeronautics; providing for registration of unmanned aircraft; 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 Any unmanned aircraft system that weighs less
than 55 pounds, including payload and anything affixed to the aircraft, must be registered
in the state for an annual fee of $25. This subdivision does not apply to unmanned aircraft
systems that are owned and operated solely for recreational purposes.
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 be deleted text end new text begin is new text end destroyed or permanently removed from the state deleted text begin shall be deleted text end new text begin is new text end entitled to
a refund for the unused portion of the tax paid upon the new text begin destroyed or removed new text end aircraft deleted text begin so
destroyed or removed from the state, such deleted text end new text begin . The new text end refund deleted text begin to deleted text end new text begin must new 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.