S. 663 — DEFENSE Act

This section authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to deputize trained state or local law enforcement officers to exercise Department of Homeland Security counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities under Section 210G(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (i.e., to detect, identify, monitor, or track drones) solely to protect (1) sites subject to flight restrictions for major sports events under section 521 of division F of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 (49 U.S.C. 40103 note); (2) locations of eligible large public gatherings under 49 U.S.C. 44812(c); or (3) public gatherings protected by a temporary flight restriction at the discretion of the Federal Aviation Administration Administrator under 49 U.S.C. 40103(b). Deputization requires completion of specified training, with oversight by the Secretary or Attorney General in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, and limits equipment to technologies on a list maintained by the Department of Homeland Security in coordination with the Department of Justice, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Communications Commission, and National Telecommunications and Information Administration.