Drones, Officer Investigations Up For Vote in Senate

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Changes in law enforcement surveillance and internal investigations are on the docket at the Legislature.

The Minnesota Senate was set to take up a package of crime and law policy Thursday. Chief among those changes is a ban for law enforcement on warrantless drone use except in certain emergency situations. It would be the first set of state ground rules for the unmanned aerial vehicles.

Another measure would require outside investigations of officer-involved deaths.

Advocates have fought for years for a change in the bill to restore felons' voting rights when they're released from prison. Current law says they can't vote until they're off parole.