HB2655.DOC

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the emergence and development of unmanned aerial systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles that are commonly referred to as "drones", provide numerous benefits for the people of Hawaii on many fronts. Unmanned aerial systems provide the State and the public with next-generation tools and technologies in aerial reconnaissance and surveying. These tools can be used for a multitude of beneficial purposes, including new economic opportunities in technology, new tools to help law enforcement and emergency personnel with their critical duties, and additional means for state agencies and private sector entities to carry out functions at a lower cost and with less danger to their employees.

The legislature further finds that at the national level, standards controlling unmanned aerial system design, operation, and regulation are beginning to emerge cohesively through the efforts of industry, professional engineering societies, the United States Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Hawaii is fortunate to have direct contact with those efforts and the information obtained therefrom is very useful in helping the legislature to understand these issues and formulate potential action. Within this context, the legislature finds that the State has applied to serve as a "Lead Applicant" in the Federal Aviation Administration's "Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program", through which the Federal Aviation Administration seeks to apply this emergent technology locally across the spectrum of Hawaii's economy, infrastructure, and society.

The legislature recognizes that because of the rapidly changing landscape of federal regulation and technology, the establishment of a permanent unmanned aerial systems task force is essential to ensure that the State can quickly react to any changes in federal law or technology. Specifically, the legislature intends, by the establishment of this permanent task force, to ensure that vital stakeholders and the public can respond to the various changes in regulation and technology as they occur, rather than endlessly study unmanned aerial system issues. A permanent task force on unmanned aerial systems would also allow Hawaii to coordinate with the permanent task forces or working groups of other states to better harmonize state laws and create a united front to the federal government when suggesting amendments to federal law.

By adopting a permanent task force as other states have done, Hawaii can not only remain on the forefront of unmanned aerial systems regulation and promotion, but can also respond to a potential repeal of federal regulations in this area.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a permanent task force on unmanned aerial systems.

SECTION 2. Chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part

PERMANENT TASK FORCE ON UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS

§27- Permanent task force on unmanned aerial systems; establishment. (a) There is established the permanent task force on unmanned aerial systems within the office of the lieutenant governor for administrative purposes only. The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) The unmanned aerial systems program director of the applied research laboratory of the University of Hawaii, who shall serve as chair;

(2) The director of transportation or the director's designee;

(3) The director of business, economic development, and tourism or the director's designee;

(4) The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or the chairperson's designee;

(5) The chairperson of the board of agriculture or the chairperson's designee;

(6) The attorney general or the attorney general's designee;

(7) 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;

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

(9) One member, representing the commercial unmanned aerial systems industry, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(10) One member, representing the motion picture, film, and television industry, to be appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Task force members shall be appointed within ninety days of the effective date of this Act. The task force shall hold its initial meeting within thirty days of the date on which all members have been appointed.

(c) The task force shall study and make recommendations for the regulation of the operation and use of unmanned aerial systems, commonly referred to as drones, within the State. As part of the study, the task force shall consider:

(1) Use of unmanned aerial systems by public agencies, commercial entities, and private persons;

(2) Landowner and privacy rights;

(3) Existing federal laws and regulations regarding unmanned aerial systems;

(4) Laws enacted by other states regarding the use and operation of unmanned aerial systems;

(5) General rules, regulations, and safe practices for the operation of unmanned aerial systems;

(6) Permitting systems for unmanned aerial vehicle use; and

(7) Any other issue deemed necessary by the task force.

(d) Members of the task force shall serve without compensation.

(e) No member of the task force shall be made subject to chapter 84 solely because of that member's participation as a member of the task force.

(f) Whenever practical, the task force shall work in collaboration with task forces or working groups on unmanned aerial systems and unmanned aerial vehicles of other states.

(g) Whenever practical, the task force shall work in collaboration with federal entities on unmanned aerial system policies and recommendations.

§27- Reports. The permanent task force on unmanned aerial systems shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, beginning with the regular session of 2019. The report shall also include any information or data resulting from the task force's collaborative efforts with federal entities and other states."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2655
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII