STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1518

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1478

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1478, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for advocating, promoting, developing, testing, and evaluating unmanned aerial system technologies through the Applied Research Laboratory at the University of Hawaii.

 

     More specifically, this measure appropriates 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 towards expedited implementation of unmanned aerial system technologies statewide.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; University of Hawaii; and nine individuals.

 

     Your Committee 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 into the business structure.  Your Committee believes 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.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by adding an appropriation of an unspecified amount for fiscal year 2018-2019.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1478, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1478, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair