Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about which public and private entities will be included in the task force membership beyond mentioning the State Threat Assessment Center.

Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force

AB-2043 requires the Office of Emergency Services to establish a task force by January 1, 2027, to develop strategies for protecting mass gatherings and critical infrastructure from unmanned aircraft system attacks.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Office of Emergency Services to establish the Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force within its office by January 1, 2027.
• The task force must develop a statewide strategy to protect mass gatherings, critical infrastructure, and other soft targets from attacks by unmanned aircraft systems (drones).
• Includes representatives of public and private entities in the task force membership, including the State Threat Assessment Center.
• Authorizes the task force to update emergency response plans to include detection systems for drones.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Office of Emergency Services within California’s Governor's office.
• Public and private entities involved in emergency services.
• People attending mass gatherings or using critical infrastructure.

Terms To Know

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Drones that can be controlled remotely without a pilot on board.

Critical Infrastructure

Important systems and assets essential to the functioning of society, such as power plants or water treatment facilities.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much funding will be provided for the task force.
• It is unclear which specific entities beyond the State Threat Assessment Center will be included in the task force membership.
• The effectiveness of the plans developed by the task force remains to be seen.

Official Summary Text

AB 2043, as amended, Calderon.
Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the office of the
Governor and charges it
Governor under the supervision of the Director of Emergency Services. The act charges the office
with responsibility for the state’s emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies. The act specifies that its provisions do not prevent the Governor or the office from formally recognizing committees or boards established by or with segments of the private sector, public agencies, or both, that control facilities, resources, or the provision of services essential to the mitigation of the effects of
an emergency or recovery therefrom.
This bill would require the Office of Emergency Services, on or before January 1, 2027, to
establish, within its office,
establish and lead
the Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force to develop a statewide strategy to protect mass gatherings, critical infrastructure, and other soft targets from attacks by unmanned aircraft systems. The bill would require the
office
Director of Emergency Services
to seek to compose a membership of the task force that includes representatives of
specific
public and private entities,
as specified,
including, among others, the State Threat Assessment Center. The bill would authorize the task force to achieve its specific purpose, primary objective, and goals by developing or updating response plans specific to unmanned aircraft systems that integrate detection systems into existing emergency operation plans or incident command systems, among other things.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF