(Sacramento, CA) — Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier) introduced AB 2043 which will establish the Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force to be convened by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
Assemblymember Calderon states, “the purpose of the Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force is to enhance California’s capabilities to detect, identify, track, or monitor unmanned aircraft systems and to support local and tribal governments in combatting the unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems that pose a threat to the safety and security of individuals, communities, and critical infrastructure.”
Recently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $250 million to the 11 states hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and to the National Capital Region through the new Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Grant Program. According to Cal OES, California was awarded $34.5 million and subrecipients will include county and local police departments in Los Angeles County, Santa Clara County, Orange County, and the City and County of San Francisco, as well as the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
“In recent years, criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors with malicious intentions have intensified their use of drones. We need to have a statewide strategy to counter this evolving threat and to keep the World Cup and Olympic Games safe,” states Assemblymember Calderon. “This task force allows the state of California to collaborate with local public safety officials and operators of critical, lifeline infrastructure to be prepared to counter the threats of drone attacks,” states Assemblymember Calderon.
The Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Task Force is consistent with the new authorities granted in the SAFER SKIES Act (S.3481), which will allow properly trained and certified state and local law enforcement agencies to counter drone attacks.
The primary objective of the Task Force is to develop a statewide strategy to deter and counter unmanned aircraft attacks by ensuring public safety entities have the resources, training, and operational capacity to detect, track, identify, and—where authorized—mitigate threats.
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Contact: Mike Dayton
Mike.Dayton@asm.ca.gov
(916) 319-2056
