STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3224

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1869

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1869, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the felony offenses of misuse of unmanned aircraft in the first, second, and third degrees.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee comments on this measure from Hawaiian Electric.

Your Committee finds that the civilian use of drones has become increasingly popular among the general public. Your Committee further finds that this use has increased the risk of drones being utilized to harm people and property. This measure will adjust to the increasing availability and use of drones by the public, discourage the misuse of drones that is detrimental to others, and ensure that state and county prosecutors are equipped to properly charge these types of offenses.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing the term "unmanned" with "uncrewed";

(2) Adding language to require that uncrewed aircraft be directly operated by a human operator at all times; and

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

Your Committee notes that Hawaiian Electric offered comments on House Draft 1. Should subsequent Committees choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that they consider adding a public utility to individuals exempted from this measure. Additionally, your Committee respectfully requests that they consider further specifying the terms "intentionally" and "knowingly" to avoid a potential overly broad application.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1869, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1869, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair