USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

SEC. 350. USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.(a) Educational and Research Purposes.—For the purposes of section 44809 of title 49, United States Code, as added by this Act, a “recreational purpose” as distinguished in subsection (a)(1) of such section shall include an unmanned aircraft system operated by an institution of higher education for educational or research purposes.132 STAT. 3301(b) Updates.—In updating an operational parameter under subsection (d)(1) of such section for unmanned aircraft systems operated by an institution of higher education for educational or research purposes, the Administrator shall consider—(1) use of small unmanned aircraft systems and operations at an accredited institution of higher education, for educational or research purposes, as a component of the institution’s curricula or research;(2) the development of streamlined, risk-based operational approval for unmanned aircraft systems operated by institutions of higher education; and(3) the airspace and aircraft operators that may be affected by such operations at the institution of higher education.(c) Deadline for Establishment of Procedures and Standards.—Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may establish regulations, procedures, and standards, as necessary, to facilitate the safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems operated by institutions of higher education for educational or research purposes.(d) Definitions.—In this section:(1) Institution of higher education.—The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given to that term by section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).(2) Educational or research purposes.—The term “education or research purposes”, with respect to the operation of an unmanned aircraft system by an institution of higher education, includes—(A) instruction of students at the institution;(B) academic or research related uses of unmanned aircraft systems that have been approved by the institution, including Federal research;(C) activities undertaken by the institution as part of research projects, including research projects sponsored by the Federal Government; and(D) other academic activities approved by the institution.(e) Statutory Construction.—(1) Enforcement.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Administrator to pursue an enforcement action against a person operating any unmanned aircraft who endangers the safety of the national airspace system.(2) Regulations and standards.—Nothing in this section prohibits the Administrator from promulgating any rules or standards consistent with maintaining the safety and security of the national airspace system.