Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act

This bill reauthorizes and reforms federal authorities to detect and mitigate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones) to protect certain facilities, events, and airports, while adding new transparency, safety, and accountability requirements. It expands who can use counter-UAS technology and creates new programs and reporting obligations.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines key terms used in the bill, including "covered airport" (large and medium hub airports and major cargo airports), "covered entity" (owner of a covered site or organizer of a covered event), "covered event" (large public gatherings with flight restrictions or related training), and "covered site" (critical infrastructure, oil refineries, chemical facilities, amusement parks, and state prisons).

Sec. 3, Protection of certain facilities and assets: Amends existing Homeland Security Act authority to allow seizure or confiscation of drones, requires FAA coordination to ensure no adverse impact on aviation safety, mandates research and testing of counter-UAS equipment, and requires a list of approved technologies.

Sec. 4, FAA counter-UAS activities: Gives the FAA Administrator authority to detect, track, seize, disable, or destroy drones that pose a credible threat to the national airspace system or for testing purposes. It exempts these actions from certain criminal laws and requires privacy protections.

Sec. 5, Additional limited authority for detection: Allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to authorize covered entities to acquire and operate approved counter-UAS detection systems at covered sites or events, subject to an application process including threat justification, a deployment plan, law enforcement involvement, and training.

Sec. 6, Counter-UAS mitigation law enforcement pilot program: Establishes a pilot program for state and local law enforcement to acquire and operate approved counter-UAS mitigation systems at covered sites or events, subject to appropriations and an application process similar to section 5.

Sec. 7, Counter-UAS system planning at airports: Requires the FAA to develop a plan for deploying counter-UAS systems at covered airports within one year, covering roles, procedures, performance requirements, funding, training, and data sharing.

Sec. 8, UAS detection and mitigation enforcement authority: Prohibits anyone from carelessly or recklessly operating counter-UAS technology that harms airport or airspace operations, with civil penalties for violations. Federal government personnel are exempt from this prohibition.

Sec. 9, Reporting on counter-UAS activities: Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue an annual public report on counter-UAS activities, including violations, detection and mitigation data, impacts on First Amendment activities, and privacy protections.

Sec. 10, Drone safety statement modernization: Requires manufacturers of small drones to provide a safety statement to first-time operators and obtain an electronic acknowledgment. The FAA must develop and maintain the statement's requirements and issue an example statement within 120 days.

Sec. 11, Applicability: Exempts certain determinations and guidance under sections 5 and 6 of this Act and related existing law from standard federal rulemaking procedures.