ENGR. S. B. NO. 773 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 773 By: Rosino of the Senate and Miller of the House An Act relating to aerospace and aeronautics; amending 3 O.S. 2021, Section 374, which relates to the Oklahoma Advanced Mobil ity Pilot Program; modifying scope of certain program; allowing certain department to select pilot programs; amending 3 O.S. 2021, Section 421, which relates to unmanned aircraft systems development; expanding scope o f certain commission; updating statutory language; creating the Oklahoma Advanced Air Mobility Revolving Fund; providing for codification; and pr oviding an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 3 O.S. 2 021, Section 374, is amended to read as follows: Section 374. A. There is hereby created within the Oklahoma Department of Transportation the Oklahoma Advanced Mobility Pilot Program. Contingent upon the availabili ty of funds, the Program will identify and select communities in this s tate to serve as pilot programs for the adoption of advanced mobility technologies The program shall focus on developing and improving on transportation technologies, including but not limited to advanced ground transportation, autonomous ground vehicles, advanced air mobility ENGR. S. B. NO. 773 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 vehicles, and autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. The program will also look to enha nce the interaction between modes of transport ation to ensure the state is best prepared for the interconnected trans portation technologies of the future. B. The Program will focus on both advanced ground transportation, such as autono mous ground vehicles, as wel l as advanced air mobility vehicles su ch as electric vertical take -off or landing (eVTOL) vehicles. C. The Department of Transportation shall identify and select government entities in this state that are eligible to serve as pilot programs for the adoption of advanced mobility technologies. Eligible communities entities will be cities, counties and tribal governments. Priority will be given to communities and tribal governments entities that have been selected to participate in transportation-related pilot programs by the United States Department of Transportation afte r January 1, 2017. D. C. The Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation shall create the Advanced Mobility Program Advisory Council comprised of nine (9) members selected by the Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation to represent a diverse set of stakeholders invo lved with the adoption of advanced mobility technologies. The Council shall provide policy, regulatory, and any other necessary recommendations to the ENGR. S. B. NO. 773 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation on policy and regulatory issues related to the adoption of advanced mobility technologies. E. D. Subject to the availability of funds, the Program shall make two matching grant awards each year to the selected pilot programs to support pilot program activities. The awards shall be up to Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($50 0,000.00) each and will be shall require a direct one-to-one match for nonstate funds invested or received by the pilot including funds from the pilot entity. F. E. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation shall h ave the power to make any contract, execut e any document or perform any act in order to carry out this act. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 3 O.S. 2021, Section 421, is amended to read as follows: Section 421. A. The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission is hereby established as the clearinghou se for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) in the State of Oklahoma this state and shall be designated as the agency of thi s state for the promotion, enhancement and development of UAS and AAM as well as any associated infrastru cture necessary to ensure the safe integration and use of this new technology within the state. The purpose of this clearinghouse is to create a partn ership between those entities that currently operate UAS, those that desire to use this technology in the future and other entities that can support the research and development of UAS to ensure that the State of Oklahoma state can ENGR. S. B. NO. 773 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 more effectively respond to the needs of this critical se ctor of the aviation and aerospace industry. In the operation of this clearinghouse, the Commission sha ll cooperate, assist and coordinate with the federal government, agencies of this sta te, tribal entities, municipalitie s and other persons in the develo pment of unmanned aircraft systems throughout the state to ensure the acceptance of this technology and the successful integration of UAS into the National Airspace Syst em. Contingent upon the availability of funds, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission may use established program processes or may contract with other qualified entities to carry out the duties and responsibilities of this act the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Development Act of 2021. B. The primary goal of the UAS clearinghouse within the Commission is to establish a c entral point within state government to develop the strategy for how the State of Oklahoma state can become a leader in the UAS and AAM industry. It will focus the collective resources, knowledge, i nformation and assets within state government to ensure c oordinated efforts amongst all parties. The clearinghouse will: 1. Conduct research on what other states and localities are doing insofar as their UAS rules and regulations so that it can provide recommendations to ensure Oklahoma the state is in the best position within the industry; ENGR. S. B. NO. 773 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Organize and coordinate the application for any UAS or AAM test site, integration opportunity, pilot pr ogram or grant funding on behalf of the State of Oklahoma state; 3. Maintain a registry of UAS being operated by state agencies, except those UAS that are part of a university-affiliated research program; and 4. Maintain a registry of educational in stitutions that offer training programs for users of UAS. SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as S ection 403 of Title 3, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission to be designated the “Oklahoma Advanced Air Mobility Revolvi ng Fund”. The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and sha ll consist of all monies received by the Oklahoma Tax Commission which are specifically required by law to be deposited in the fund, any public or private donati ons, contributions and gifts received for the benefit of the fund, and any amounts appropriated by the Legislature. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expend ed by the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commissi on for the purpose of investing in advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems and associated infrastructure. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon ENGR. S. B. NO. 773 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claim s filed as prescribed by law with the D irector of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment. SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. Passed the Senate the 22nd day of February, 2023. Presiding Officer of the Senate Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2023. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives