Bill Text: HI HR114 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Resolution 114 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Business, Economic Development And Tourism, In Conjunction With The University Of Hawaii, To Convene A Working Group To Develop Recommendations Regarding The Safe, Legal, And Beneficial Use Of Drones In Hawaii.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-13 - Referred to EDB/HED, FIN, referral sheet 39 [HR114 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HR114-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	114
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the department of business, economic development and tourism, in conjunction with the University of hawaii, to convene a working group to develop recommendations regarding the safe, legal, and beneficial use of drones in hawaii.

WHEREAS, the technology and capability of unmanned aerial vehicles, more popularly known as "drones", has expanded rapidly over the last several years; and

WHEREAS, along with advances in drone technology and capability, mass manufacturing of high quality drones has led to lower costs and thus, easier access to drone technology, resulting in the rise in the use of drones by the civilian population; and

WHEREAS, drones have many potentially useful and life-saving applications, both commercial and non-commercial, including 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; and

WHEREAS, while drones have numerous useful benefits and applications that have already been demonstrated across the country and around the world, the increased use of drones and rapid development of drone technology has resulted in numerous legal, privacy, and nuisance concerns being raised; and

WHEREAS, illegal, incorrect, uninformed, and malicious use of drones has occurred in jurisdictions throughout the United States, including Hawaii, prompting law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies to seek common-sense regulations to address any adverse effects of the burgeoning use of drones across the country; and

WHEREAS, while numerous bills and other pieces of legislation have been introduced during recent sessions of the Legislature of the State of Hawaii seeking to address issues regarding the use of drones, including any adverse impacts drones may have on the general public, legislation regarding drone use or comprehensive regulation has failed to pass the Legislature for a variety of reasons; and

WHEREAS, the increase in drone use throughout the country has necessitated efforts to regulate drone use on a national level, including through Presidential initiative and actions of federal agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, by establishing best practices and standards and creating educational and certification frameworks regarding drone use that are sensitive to the needs of, and feedback from, drone users; and

WHEREAS, in 2012, the United States Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration to establish unmanned aerial systems research programs at six national test sites for the development of unmanned aerial systems operating standards and regulations; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii, in partnership with Alaska and Oregon, submitted a tri-state proposal to establish the Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range Complex and was designated by the Federal Aviation Administration as one of the six national test site operators; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's participation as a member of the Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range Complex has allowed the State to develop strong relationships at both national and regional levels with agencies at the forefront of national efforts to develop operating standards and regulations for drone use; and

WHEREAS, as a result of its participation as a member of the Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range Complex, Hawaii is in an unique position to impact the development of operational standards and regulations regarding drone use nationwide and to explore the best option to regulate the use of drones within the State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, in conjunction with the University of Hawaii, is requested to convene a Hawaii Drone Working Group to review issues regarding drone use, and the development of laws, regulations, and operational standards regarding drone use, on both regional and national levels; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, after reviewing issues regarding drone use and the development of laws, regulations, and operational standards, the Hawaii Drone Working Group is requested to make recommendations as to how to best regulate the use and operation of drones in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Drone Working Group consist of the following members:

(1) The Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Director of the Applied Research Laboratory of the University of Hawaii, or the Director's designee who shall serve as the Chair of the Working Group;

(2) The Chairs of the House Committees on Public Safety; Higher Education; Judiciary; and Economic Development and Business;

(3) The Chairs of the Senate Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs; Judiciary; Higher Education; and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology;

(4) One member representing the Federal Aviation Administration;

(5) The Adjutant General, or the Adjutant General's designee;

(6) The Director of Transportation, or the Director's designee;

(7) The Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, or the Director's designee;

(8) The President of the University of Hawaii, or the President's designee;

(9) The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources or the Chairperson's designee;

(10) The Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture or the Chairperson's designee;

(11) The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee;

(12) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

(13) Three members appointed by the Hawaii State Association of Counties, including:

(A) One member representing fire and emergency medical services personnel;

(B) One member representing a county police department; and

provided that at least one person appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall be from a county with a population of less than five hundred thousand;

(14) One member representing the Hawaii business community, to be appointed by the Governor;

(15) Two members representing the aerospace or aviation industries, to be appointed by the Governor;

(16) One member, representing a privacy advocacy group, to be appointed by the Governor;

(17) One member, representing the commercial unmanned aerial systems industry, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(18) One member, representing the motion picture, film, and television industry, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(19) Any other members deemed appropriate and invited by the Chair of the Working Group;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Drone Working Group is requested to submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any necessary legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2019, and a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Drone Working Group shall cease to exist on June 30, 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Adjutant General, Director of Transportation, Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, President of the University of Hawaii, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Attorney General,

Director of Health, Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Director of the Applied Research Laboratory of the University of Hawaii, and President of the Hawaii State Association of Counties.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Requesting the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to convene a Hawaii Drone Working Group to review issues regarding drone use and the development of laws, regulations, and operational standards regarding drone use on both regional and national levels.