Small Unmanned Aircraft Pilot Research For Public Safety.pdf

This amendment, offered by Mr. Nehls of Texas, adds a new section (6ll) to Title VI of H.R. 3935, focusing on small unmanned aircraft (UAS) for public safety research.

Key Provisions:

1. Prohibition on Armed UAS: Reaffirms the prohibition on using unmanned aircraft armed with dangerous weapons by law enforcement agencies, as per the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.

2. Pilot Research Program:
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator must initiate a 12-month program to study the potential use of non-lethal de-escalation UAS by law enforcement.
- The research will cover equipment validation, training protocols, and operational/safety guidelines for UAS operators and overseeing agencies.

3. Partnerships: The FAA Administrator is directed to enter into agreements with relevant federal and state agencies for the program, considering existing test ranges or law enforcement training facilities as potential locations.

4. Reporting: A report on the pilot research program's outcomes, including a process for seeking approval to operate non-lethal de-escalation UAS, must be submitted to Congress within two years.

5. Rulemaking: The FAA will initiate rulemaking to establish a process for approving non-lethal de-escalation UAS operations within six months of receiving the program report.

6. Manufacturing Requirement: Non-lethal de-escalation UAS used in the program must be manufactured in the United States, as defined by the Federal Trade Commission.

7. Definitions:
- "Non-lethal de-escalation UAS": Equipped with non-lethal weapons or devices for scenarios posing significant risk to human life, and used when a suspected criminal could escalate the situation.
- "Non-lethal weapon": As defined by DOD Directive 300.03E (2018).