H.R. 709 — National Training Center for Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act

This section establishes two new sections in Subtitle A of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) concerning counter-unmanned aircraft system (counter-UAS) training. (As background, counter-UAS systems detect, identify, and mitigate unauthorized drones that may pose security threats to persons, facilities, or assets.) New section 210H authorizes the Attorney General, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary acting through the Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, to (1) provide training on measures referenced in section 210G(b)(1) (i.e., counter-UAS detection, identification, assessment, disruption, limitation, or seizure) and (2) establish or designate one or more training facilities. New section 210I requires the DHS Secretary and Attorney General, in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator, to establish standards for initial and recurrent training programs or certifications for counter-UAS detection and mitigation system operators. To implement these standards, they must at a minimum (1) consider impacts on aviation safety, civil aviation operations, aircraft airworthiness, and civilian airspace use, with appropriate mitigation actions as determined by the FAA Administrator; and (2) set interagency coordination requirements prior to deployment and frequencies for training or certification renewal.