Bill Text: HI HB636 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Aerospace Advisory Committee; Temporary Working Group ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-28 - Referred to TRN, FIN, referral sheet 2 [HB636 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2015-HB636-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
636 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that civilian use of unmanned aerial vehicles or unmanned aircraft systems, more popularly known as "drones", is on the rise. Drones have many potentially useful and life-saving applications, both commercial and non-commercial. These uses include emergency search and rescue operations; fighting forest fires; helping farmers apply fertilizer and pesticides in a more targeted manner; invasive species detection and control; watershed management; earthquake and tsunami damage assessment and relief operations; motor vehicle traffic management; lava flow monitoring; aerial photography and videography; land use surveys; and geographical, geological, and archaeological surveys.
Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration, through the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, is determining how to safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system. To this end, the Federal Aviation Administration has established an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, which is developing a comprehensive plan to integrate and establish operational and certification requirements for unmanned aircraft systems. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration has established unmanned aircraft systems research programs at six national test sites that will be used to develop operating standards and regulations for unmanned aircraft systems.
Hawaii, in partnership with Alaska (one of the six national test sites), is beginning its first formal drone test flights under the auspices of the Pan-Pacific Test Range Complex. Due to its location and geographical features, Hawaii is uniquely positioned to have an active role in the testing and development of unmanned aircraft systems operations for military and civilian use.
It is foreseeable that in developing these applications, many research, education, and business opportunities will arise, and so will the need for common-sense regulation, to complement any emerging federal regulation and address public safety and privacy concerns. The legislature further finds that Hawaii's aerospace advisory committee, located within the office of aerospace development of the department of business, economic development, and tourism, would be the ideal party to monitor drone technology and advise the legislature on any potential regulation.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Specify that the purpose of the aerospace advisory committee includes tracking drone development and use;
(2) Require the aerospace advisory committee to appoint a drone regulation temporary working group to study and report to the legislature on recommended legislation; and
(3) Provide funding for administrative costs associated with the above activities.
SECTION 2. Section 201-72.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c) The purpose of the aerospace advisory committee shall be to advise and assist the legislature and state agencies in monitoring, assessing, and promoting aerospace development statewide by:
(1) Tracking state, national, and global trends and priorities in aerospace development, which shall include the development and use of unmanned aircraft systems;
(2) Assisting in identifying and promoting opportunities to expand and diversify aerospace development and aerospace-related industries in this State;
(3) Supporting the office of aerospace development's effort in networking with national and international aerospace agencies, institutions, and organizations to develop public-private partnerships to support the growth of aerospace development and aerospace-related industries in this State;
(4) Recommending innovative scientific, educational, and economic strategies and government and education policies to promote the growth and diversification of the aerospace industry in this State; and
(5) Appointing temporary working groups, as deemed appropriate in the committee's discretion, to assist the office of aerospace development in research and analysis activities required to complete any report to be submitted to the legislature and the governor by the office of aerospace development."
SECTION 3. The aerospace advisory committee, located within the office of aerospace development of the department of business, economic development, and tourism, shall appoint a drone regulation temporary working group no later than September 1, 2015. The working group shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016 on its findings and recommendations as to potential legislation. Potential legislation may include, but is not limited to, implementation of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Aviation Committee's Recommended Guidelines for the use of Unmanned Aircraft; prohibiting firearms aboard unmanned aircraft systems used for commercial purposes; operating an unmanned aircraft system or model aircraft in a manner that causes a nuisance to persons or property; prohibiting warrantless searches conducted with unmanned aircraft systems and subsequent use of data collected; and criminalizing the use of unmanned aircraft systems or model aircraft to conduct surveillance on a specific person without the person's consent.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for administrative costs arising out of the aerospace advisory committee's monitoring of unmanned aircraft systems development and use, and the drone regulation temporary working group's research and recommendations on potential legislation, as well as any associated costs.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Aerospace Advisory Committee; Temporary Working Group
Description:
Specifies that the purpose of the aerospace advisory committee includes tracking drone development and use. Requires the committee to appoint a drone regulation temporary working group to study and report to the legislature on recommended legislation. Makes an appropriation.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
