Bill Text: HI SB661 | 2015 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Site; Chief Operating Officer; Advisory Board; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-07-06 - Act 208, 07/02/2015 (Gov. Msg. No. 1309). [SB661 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2015-SB661-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	661
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS TEST SITES.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is a national need to safely integrate unmanned aerial systems into the national air space.  The integration of unmanned aerial systems flights into the national air space will generate commercial potential of this technology, estimated to be worth more than $13,600,000,000 during the first three years of integration and more than $82,000,000,000 between 2015 and 2025, and create approximately 103,776 new jobs by 2025.

     The legislature further finds that Hawaii offers many unique qualities to support unmanned aerial systems operations including:  expansive over-water areas unencumbered by other aviation uses; proximity to the United States Pacific Command, which is projected to be a significant user of future unmanned aerial systems; opportunities for joint operations with Kauai's Pacific missile range facility; and opportunities for long-range point-to-point tests with partner ranges in Alaska and Oregon.  Hawaii's proposed test ranges link to military and restricted areas used for current unmanned aerial systems operations.  These sites include the Pohakuloa training area on the island of Hawaii, Bradshaw and Wheeler Army airfields, and Kauai's Pacific missile range facility.  Test points within the ranges will be used to support shore-and ship-based development, testing and certification of new unmanned aerial systems, training and crew certification of operational unmanned aerial systems, and development of expanded and joint capabilities involving existing communications systems and operations tactics using unmanned aerial systems.  The proposed Hawaii ranges have provided an important focus for the development of scientific applications of unmanned aerial systems, including numerous test flights.

     The legislature additionally finds existing and potential civilian uses of unmanned aerial systems are wide-ranging, including emergency search and rescue operations; wildfire detection and management; fisheries management; agricultural monitoring; reef health surveys; hazardous spills monitoring; dam and reservoir overflow detection; tsunami damage surveys and assessment; algal bloom detection and mapping; air quality monitoring; motor vehicle traffic management; lava flow monitoring; aerial photography for mapping; disaster management and damage assessment; power line monitoring; flood and pollution control; land use surveys; watershed management; wildlife tracking; geographical, geological, and archaeological surveys; atmospheric monitoring for commercial airline turbulence avoidance; and light detection and ranging mapping of coastal topography to detect beach erosion.  In developing these applications, innovative research, business, and education opportunities will emerge, including the development of miniaturized, high performance remote sensing instruments; unmanned aerial systems tracking systems, including command and control hardware and software; training courses and certification programs for unmanned aerial systems operators; and education programs for potential users of unmanned aerial systems technologies.

     The legislature also finds that in 2012, the United States Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration to establish unmanned aerial systems research programs at six national test sites for the development of unmanned aerial systems operating standards and regulations.  Hawaii, in partnership with Alaska and Oregon, submitted a tri-state proposal to establish the Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range Complex and was designated by the Federal Aviation Administration as one of the six national test site operators, providing the tri-state team six months to organize and implement the Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range Complex.  The University of Alaska has established a board of directors to support performance of the management team and is establishing a Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range Complex management team, to include a chief operating officer from all three states.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site chief operating officer position to serve on the Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range Complex management team, establish a Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site advisory board that will formulate an implementation plan and oversee test site development in the State, and appropriate funds for personnel and procurement costs associated with establishing the Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part V to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§201-    Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site advisory board; established.  (a)  There is established a Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site advisory board, as a subcommittee of the Hawaii aerospace advisory committee, to oversee the planning and operation of the Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site.

     (b)  The board shall be composed of seven members as follows:

     (1)  The adjutant general, or the adjutant general's designee;

     (2)  The director of transportation, or the director's designee;

     (3)  The director of business, economic development, and tourism, or the director's designee;

     (4)  The president of the University of Hawaii, or the president's designee;

     (5)  One member representing the Hawaii business community, to be appointed by the governor pursuant to section 26-34; and

     (6)  Two members representing the aerospace or aviation industries, to be appointed by the governor pursuant to section 26-34.

     Each board member shall serve for a term of four years; provided that the initial terms shall be staggered, as determined by the governor.

     (c)  Members of the board shall not receive compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties under this section.

     §201‑    Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site chief operating officer.  The department shall hire a chief operating officer who shall manage the operations of Hawaii's unmanned aerial systems test site.  The chief operating officer shall:

     (1)  Monitor, oversee, and recommend operations of unmanned aerial systems test site activities;

     (2)  Facilitate opportunities for public and private use of unmanned aerial systems test site facilities;

     (3)  Assist unmanned aerial systems test ranges;

     (4)  Leverage aerospace and related technological capabilities in the State's academic, public, and private sectors to support testing and evaluation at Hawaii's unmanned aerial systems test ranges;

     (5)  Promote innovative education and workforce development programs to enhance public awareness of the benefits and opportunities that unmanned aerial systems technologies and applications can bring to the State;

     (6)  Monitor national and global trends in unmanned aerial systems development and testing, and recommend policies and programs to advance unmanned aerial systems testing in Hawaii;

     (7)  Establish and maintain a public website with updated information on the program and provide information on the Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site initiative;

     (8)  Contract for services and implement agreements, subject to chapter 103D, as may be necessary to conduct operations at Hawaii's unmanned aerial systems test ranges;

     (9)  Serve as Hawaii's representative on the Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range Complex management team; and

    (10)  Submit an annual report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, which shall include the status of work, expenditures, and trends regarding Hawaii's unmanned aerial systems test site.

     The chief operating officer may employ one administrative assistant for Hawaii's unmanned aerial systems test site operations and activities."

     SECTION 3.  Section 84-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The following persons shall file annually with the state ethics commission a disclosure of financial interests:

     (1)  The governor, the lieutenant governor, the members of the legislature, and delegates to the constitutional convention; provided that delegates to the constitutional convention shall only be required to file initial disclosures;

     (2)  The directors and their deputies, the division chiefs, the executive directors and the executive secretaries and their deputies, the purchasing agents and the fiscal officers, regardless of the titles by which the foregoing persons are designated, of every state agency and department;

     (3)  The permanent employees of the legislature and its service agencies, other than persons employed in clerical, secretarial, or similar positions;

     (4)  The administrative director of the State, and the assistants in the office of the governor and the lieutenant governor, other than persons employed in clerical, secretarial, or similar positions;

     (5)  The hearings officers of every state agency and department;

     (6)  The president, the vice presidents, assistant vice presidents, the chancellors, and the provosts of the University of Hawaii and its community colleges;

     (7)  The superintendent, the deputy superintendent, the assistant superintendents, the complex area superintendents, the state librarian, and the deputy state librarian of the department of education;

     (8)  The administrative director and the deputy director of the courts;

     (9)  The members of every state board or commission whose original terms of office are for periods exceeding one year and whose functions are not solely advisory;

    (10)  Candidates for state elective offices, including candidates for election to the constitutional convention, provided that candidates shall only be required to file initial disclosures; [and]

    (11)  The administrator and assistant administrator of the office of Hawaiian affairs[.]; and

    (12)  The Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site chief operating officer."

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 for the purpose of staffing and operating Hawaii's unmanned aerial systems test site activities.

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

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

 

Report Title:

Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Site; Chief Operating Officer; Advisory Board; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the department of business, economic development, and tourism to hire a Hawaii unmanned aerial systems test site chief operating officer to, among other things, serve on the Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Range Complex management team.  Establishes an advisory board to oversee and manage unmanned aerial systems test site operations.  Appropriates funds to staff and operate Hawaii's unmanned aerial systems test site activities.  (CD1)

 

 

 

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