Connecticut § 29-1hh - Unmanned aircraft and accessories grant program.

§ 29-1hh. Unmanned aircraft and accessories grant program.

Sec. 29-1hh. Unmanned aircraft and accessories grant program. (a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Accessories” means devices associated with an unmanned aircraft, including, but not limited to, cameras with night vision, thermal or infrared capabilities and other devices that are necessary for the operation of the unmanned aircraft to fulfill its public safety mission;

(2) “Municipality” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-148; and

(3) “Unmanned aircraft” means a powered aircraft that (A) uses aerodynamic forces to provide vertical lift, (B) is operated remotely by a pilot in command or is capable of autonomous flight, (C) does not carry a human operator, and (D) can be expendable or recoverable.

(b) (1) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, within available resources, administer a program to provide grants to municipalities to purchase unmanned aircraft, accessories or both. If state or federal law prohibits the purchase of a specific unmanned aircraft based on the country of the unmanned aircraft's manufacture, a municipality may not use a grant issued pursuant to this section to purchase such unmanned aircraft.

(2) Any such grant shall be for up to thirty-three per cent of the cost of such purchase of such unmanned aircraft or accessories.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2025, the department shall develop technical standards for unmanned aircraft and accessories eligible for grants, develop eligibility criteria to be used in selecting among applicants for such grants, develop application forms and deadlines and post in a conspicuous location on the department's Internet web site a description of the grant program that includes, but is not limited to, such standards, criteria, forms and deadlines.

(d) Not later than January 1, 2026, and each year thereafter in which grants are issued, the department shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security. Such report shall include information for the preceding calendar year on the number of applications for grants that were received, the number of grants that were awarded and a list of the municipalities that received grants.

(P.A. 24-151, S. 61.)

History: P.A. 24-151 effective July 1, 2024.

Secs. 29-1ii to 29-1xx. Reserved for future use.