STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3300

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 143

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 143 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM AND APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE SAFE, LEGAL, AND BENEFICIAL USE OF DRONES IN HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Applied Research Laboratory at the University of Hawaii to convene a working group to provide advice on the development and risks of drone usage and to inform policy decisions regarding drones.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; University of Hawai‘i System; Aerospace States Association; and two individuals.

Your Committees find that unmanned aircraft systems have significant benefits in a variety of industries, such as public safety, health, conservation, education, and entertainment. Your Committees believe that unmanned aircraft systems usage has the potential to expand growth for businesses, encourage youth to participate in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, and provide access to inaccessible or unchartered areas, among other practical applications. Your Committees find that more research should be done to better understand the benefits and risks of using unmanned aircraft systems throughout the State and believe that a working group of qualified individuals will enlighten the State on more beneficial and safe uses of unmanned aircraft systems around the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing any reference to "drones" with "unmanned aircraft systems", as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration;

(2) Including a representative from Hawaii UAV Service, LLC, to be invited to participate in the working group;

(3) Amending its title to reflect its amended purpose; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 143, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 143, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology and Higher Education,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair