STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3458

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 Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 143, S.D. 1, 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 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS IN HAWAII,"

begs 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 Hawai‘i to convene a working group to provide advice on the development and risks of unmanned aircraft systems usage and to inform policy decisions regarding unmanned aircraft systems.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Transportation; University of Hawai‘i; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that unmanned aircraft systems have significant benefits in a variety of industries, such as public safety, health, conservation, education, and entertainment. Your Committee further finds 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. However, more research is needed to better understand the benefits and risks of using unmanned aircraft systems throughout the State. This measure therefore establishes a working group of well-qualified individuals who can provide the State with information on technological trends, operational solutions, and emergent national regulatory trends and legal evolution, which will be beneficial to future policy decisions regarding the uses of unmanned aircraft systems in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 143, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair