PRINTER'S NO. 925

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

No.

787

Session of

2021

INTRODUCED BY AUMENT, STEFANO, PITTMAN, MENSCH, MUTH,

BARTOLOTTA, REGAN, ARGALL, ROBINSON AND YUDICHAK,

JUNE 21, 2021

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 61 of Title 74 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:

Sec.

6171. Scope of subchapter.

6172. Definitions.

6173. Unmanned Aircraft Innovation Program.

Program.

§ 6172. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Department." The Department of Transportation of the

Commonwealth.

"Educational institution." A university, college, technical

training school, local educational agency and similar entities,

located in this Commonwealth.

"Project." A proposed unmanned aircraft project, in a

category under section 6176(a) (relating to grants), for which

an applicant is seeking a grant.

"Unmanned aircraft." As defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3505

(relating to unlawful use of unmanned aircraft).

§ 6173. Unmanned Aircraft Innovation Program.

(a) Establishment.--The Unmanned Aircraft Innovation Program

is established as a grant program in the department. The

department shall administer the program in accordance with this

subchapter.

(2) Encourage development of the unmanned aircraft

industry in this Commonwealth, including the manufacturing of

unmanned aircraft and associated technology, and the conduct

of unmanned aircraft operations.

(3) Educate the Commonwealth's workforce in the field of

unmanned aircraft.

(4) Enable the Commonwealth's industries to fully

utilize the potential benefits of unmanned aircraft in their

business.

(5) Encourage public safety through public education and

(b) Sources of funding.--Funding for the program may be

provided through any of the following:

(1) Money appropriated for purposes of the program.

(2) Federal money appropriated or authorized for

purposes of the program.

(3) Money received from another governmental agency.

(4) A gift or other contribution from a public or

private source.

(5) Return on money dedicated for the program.

(c) Management.- -The department shall administer the fund in

grant. Within 30 days of receiving the notification, the State

Treasurer shall issue the grant to the qualifying applicant.

§ 6175. Program standards.

(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish program

standards and shall transmit notice of the standards to the

Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania

Bulletin.

(b) Contents.--Program standards established under

subsection (a) shall be consistent with this subchapter and

shall do the following:

consistent with the following:

(i) An applicant shall be provided reasonable notice

and an opportunity to supplement the applicant's

application if the application is determined to be

incomplete.

(ii) The application process timetable may not

exceed six months.

(5) Establish a timetable within which the department

shall review and award or disapprove a complete grant

application, which may not be longer than six months from the

shall be evaluated by the department, including the

following:

(i) The anticipated benefits of the project

considering potential to encourage significant or ongoing

economic activity in this Commonwealth.

(ii) The estimated cost of the project.

(iii) The local, regional and Statewide impact of

the project.

(iv) The results of similar types of projects that

have already been completed.

§ 6176. Grants.

(a) Purpose.--A grant awarded under this subchapter may be

used for any of the following:

(1) Reimbursement of up to 75% of expenses for training

or licensing an employee to operate an unmanned aircraft if:

(i) the employee's primary place of employment is

located in this Commonwealth; or

(ii) the entity providing the training maintains its

principal place of business in this Commonwealth.

(2) Reimbursement of up to 75% of expenses directly

maintains its principal place of business in this

Commonwealth.

(3) Reimbursement of up to 75% of expenses directly

related to the development or testing of the use of unmanned

aircraft, unmanned aircraft sensors or technology or unmanned

aircraft data analysis, if:

(i) the development or testing will occur in this

Commonwealth; or

(ii) the entity developing or testing the unmanned

aircraft maintains its principal place of business in

paragraph may be provided in advance of the establishment of

the program.

(6) Reimbursement of up to 75% of expenses incurred for

actions designed to benefit and advance the unmanned aircraft

industry operating or located in this Commonwealth.

(7) Matching funds for Federal programs offering grant

funding for programs related to the purposes under section

6173(b) (relating to Unmanned Aircraft Innovation Program).

(b) Limitations.--

(1) A grant shall be awarded to the extent funding is

In-kind sup port may not be counted toward an applicant's

matching contribution. This paragraph shall not apply to a

grant awarded to an educational institution.

(4) The department may approve a grant in less than the

requested amount and may impose restrictions or special

conditions on the issuance of the grant.

(5) Not more than 50% of grant funding available in a

single year may be awarded to applicants in a city of the

first class or second class.

(c) Disposition.--

The department may promulgate rules and regulations to

administer and enforce this subchapter.