STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1639

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 989

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 989, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the misdemeanor offense of trespass with an unmanned aircraft system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Association of Apartment Owners of Honolulu Tower and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the proliferation of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly called drones, has led to privacy and public safety concerns for individuals, especially when the drones are flown over their property. Your Committee further finds that existing state laws do not adequately address these situations and that some states have enacted laws that prohibit trespassing on private property with a drone. Your Committee believes that Hawaii should similarly address property owners' concerns through the enactment of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 989, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 989, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair