Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-1kk: Small unmanned aircraft systems. Prohibitions re purchase and operation. Waiver.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Covered foreign entity” means (A) any person who is included in (i) the Consolidated Screening List maintained by the United States Department of Commerce, United States Department of State and United States Department of Treasury, or (ii) the Entity List, Supplement 4 to 15 CFR Part 744, as amended from time to time, (B) the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation and any governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, (C) any person domiciled in the People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation, (D) any person under the control or influence of the People's Republic of China or the Russian Federation, and (E) any affiliate or subsidiary of any foreign government or person described in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision;

(2) “Department head” has the same meaning as provided in section 4-5;

(3) “Exigent circumstances” means significantly changed circumstances that were unforeseeable and pose an imminent threat to public health or safety;

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

(5) “Person” means any individual, association, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, government, governmental subdivision, agency, instrumentality or other legal entity;

(6) “Small unmanned aircraft system” (A) means any unmanned powered aircraft that (i) is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft, and (ii) weighs less than fifty-five pounds including anything attached to or carried by the aircraft, and (B) includes (i) all elements that (I) are associated with the aircraft described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, and (II) are required for the operator to operate the aircraft described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision safely and efficiently in the national airspace system, and (ii) any communication links and components that control the aircraft described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision; and

(7) “State agency” means any agency with a department head.

(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection and subsection (d) of this section:

(A) Beginning October 1, 2025, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall not purchase any small unmanned aircraft system assembled or manufactured by a covered foreign entity; and

(B) Beginning October 1, 2027, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall not operate any small unmanned aircraft system assembled or manufactured by a covered foreign entity.

(2) The provisions of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not be construed to impair any contract entered into before October 1, 2025.

(3) The provisions of subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not be construed to impair any contract entered into before October 1, 2027.

(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection and subsection (d) of this section:

(A) Beginning October 1, 2026, (i) no state agency or municipality shall purchase any small unmanned aircraft system assembled or manufactured by a covered foreign entity, (ii) no person who enters into a contract with any state agency or municipality shall, pursuant to such contract, purchase any small unmanned aircraft system assembled or manufactured by a covered foreign entity, and (iii) no state or federal funds, including, but not limited to, any state or federal funds awarded or paid pursuant to a contract, cooperative agreement or grant, shall be used to purchase any small unmanned aircraft system assembled or manufactured by a covered foreign entity; and

(B) Beginning October 1, 2028, (i) no state agency or municipality shall operate any small unmanned aircraft system assembled or manufactured by a covered foreign entity, (ii) no person who enters into a contract with any state agency or municipality shall, pursuant to such contract, operate any small unmanned aircraft system assembled or manufactured by a covered foreign entity, and (iii) no state or federal funds, including, but not limited to, any state or federal funds awarded or paid pursuant to a contract, cooperative agreement or grant, shall be used to operate any small unmanned aircraft system assembled or manufactured by a covered foreign entity.

(2) The provisions of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not be construed to impair any contract entered into before October 1, 2026.

(3) The provisions of subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not be construed to impair any contract entered into before October 1, 2028.

(d) (1) During the period beginning October 1, 2027, and ending December 31, 2034, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may waive the prohibitions established in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section if (A) the commissioner determines that such waiver is necessary (i) due to exigent circumstances, (ii) to counter another small unmanned aircraft system, or (iii) for the purposes of any criminal investigation, and (B) not later than seven days after the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection uses the small unmanned aircraft system, the commissioner creates a written statement, certified by the commissioner, disclosing (i) the reason set forth in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision that provides the basis for the commissioner's determination that such waiver is necessary, and (ii) facts supporting the commissioner's determination that such waiver is necessary for such reason.

(2) During the period beginning October 1, 2028, and ending December 31, 2034, the department head of the state agency, the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality or the chief of the paid municipal or volunteer fire department may waive the prohibitions established in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section if (A) the department head or chief determines that such waiver is necessary (i) due to exigent circumstances, (ii) to counter another small unmanned aircraft system, or (iii) for the purposes of any criminal investigation, and (B) not later than seven days after the state agency, municipality or contractor uses the small unmanned aircraft system, the department head or chief submits to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection a written statement, certified by the department head or chief, disclosing (i) the reason set forth in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision that provides the basis for such department head's or chief's determination that such waiver is necessary, and (ii) facts supporting the department head's or chief's determination that such waiver is necessary for such reason.

(3) The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall maintain each written statement created by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection or submitted to the department pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. The commissioner shall, upon request, disclose a copy of any such written statement to any member of the General Assembly. Each such written statement shall be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200.