Amendment No. am_136_0851

H. B. No. 434

As Introduced

__________________________ moved to amend as follows:

In line 1 of the title, after "Code" insert "and to amend Section 755.20 of H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly"

In line 4 of the title, after "requirements" insert ", to expand the Drones for First Responders Program,"

After line 132, insert:

"Section 3. That Section 755.20 of H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 755.20. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "First responder" means a law enforcement agency, fire department, or emergency medical services organization.

(2) "Unmanned aerial vehicle system" has the same meaning as in section 4561.50 of the Revised Code.

(B) The Director of Transportation shall establish a Drones for First Responders pilot program to be administered by the Department of Transportation.

(C) The program shall be designed to focus on the following goals:

(1) Acquiring unmanned aerial vehicle system assets for first responders within municipal corporations, counties, and townships;

(2) Providing training on the operation of unmanned aerial vehicle systems to the operators of those systems;

(3) Obtaining approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for beyond visual line of sight operations for purposes of the pilot program and the operation of unmanned aerial vehicle systems within the program;

(4) Integrating existing Ohio unmanned aerial vehicle system infrastructure for purposes of conducting beyond visual line of sight operations within the program;

(5) Collecting metrics for cost-benefit analyses related to advanced unmanned aerial vehicle system operations;

(6) Developing a comprehensive approach for community acceptance and integration of unmanned aerial vehicle system operations;

(7) Standardizing an approval process with the Federal Aviation Administration for unmanned aerial vehicle system operators across the state.

(D)(1) The Director shall establish a process to award money available under the program to the legislative authority of municipal corporations, boards of county commissioners, and boards of township trustees that are willing to participate in the program and meet any guidelines established by the Director for meeting the program's goals. The money awarded shall be allocated towards the purchase of unmanned aerial vehicle systems for first responders within the municipal corporations, counties, and townships for training support, for assisting in navigating federal processes and approvals, and for supporting the integration of statewide operations.

(2) Any unmanned aerial vehicle system purchased through the program shall comply with the federal laws and regulations for such systems, including those in the national security interests of the United States. As such, no system, including any components, services, or maintenance of that system, shall originate from a country or other entity that has been deemed a national security risk by the United States Secretary of State in accordance with 22 U.S.C. 2780 and 50 U.S.C. 4813. Additionally, any system shall comply with the "Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002," 6 U.S.C. 441, et seq., and any applicable conditions of national defense spending.

(E) The Director shall establish any procedures and requirements necessary to administer this section, including award processes, and any conditions for the expenditure of funding awarded under the program.

(F)(1) Not later than two years after the effective date of this sectionSeptember 30, 2025, the Director shall submit a report regarding the program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate, and the chairs of any committee of the House of Representatives and Senate related to transportation issues.

(2) The report shall detail how funds were expended through the program, the success of the program in meeting its goals, the cost-benefit analysis created through the program, and any recommendations for additional integration of unmanned aerial vehicle system operations by first responders.

Section 4. That existing Section 755.20 of H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly is hereby repealed."

In line 133, delete "3" and insert "5"

The motion was __________ agreed to.

SYNOPSIS

Drones for First Responders Program

Sections 3 and 4

Expands the Drones for First Responders Program, enacted through H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly (the main operating budget), to apply to first responders in counties and townships.