HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1478

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that many Hawaii businesses may be enhanced, expanded, and made more resilient and prepared for the future by the incorporation of unmanned aerial systems, sometimes referred to as "drones", into the business structure, where appropriate and beneficial.  From the film industry to journalism to entertainment and tourism, from agriculture to the environment, from public safety to public health, and including education and workforce development, entrepreneurial efforts across the country are leading the way toward incorporation of unmanned aerial system technologies.  Businesses and tourists will expect to find an equivalent unmanned aerial system capitalization here in Hawaii as well. Finding the right fit for this innovative unmanned aerial system technology into Hawaii's business framework is the essential next step toward realizing the full potential of unmanned aerial system technologies statewide.

     The legislature further finds that state and county policies and procedures need to prepare for, embrace, and encourage incorporation of unmanned aerial systems in the full range of Hawaii's business framework.  At the same time, initial first-person unmanned aerial system experiences must be provided to the State's business, public health and safety, operational, and education communities to further kindle innovation.  In addition to a common appreciation and training, a method of incorporation to technically, safely, and legally capitalize on this important segment of Hawaii's future economy, must be developed across the State's business framework.  As in any development and implementation of innovative technology, operating principles and rules, safety requirements, and certification of unmanned aerial system functionality suitable to the State are also needed.

     Furthermore, the State has been nationally engaged in the future of unmanned aerial systems by becoming a partner in, and funding, the Pan Pacific UAS Test Range Complex.  This innovative program, funded through the department of business, economic development, and tourism, with the University of Hawaii's applied research laboratory as executor, puts Hawaii in a leadership position towards developing, testing, and implementing future applications of unmanned aerial system technologies in support of unmanned aerial system business use and certification.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to:

     (1)  Generate multiple unmanned aerial system products, from operation manuals to integration events, to generate corporate and public awareness of the value of unmanned aerial systems to the State;

     (2)  Promote community involvement similar to that engaged through the resilience and disaster preparation fairs; and

     (3)  Create pathways toward expedited implementation of unmanned aerial system technologies statewide.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for advocating, promoting, developing, testing, and evaluating unmanned aerial system technologies through the applied research laboratory at the University of Hawaii.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030.


 


 

Report Title:

Unmanned Aerial Systems; Development, Testing, and Evaluation; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to advocate, promote, develop, test, and evaluate unmanned aerial system technologies.  Effective 7/1/2030.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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