§ 54-60-28 — Uncrewed aircraft systems program - Report to legislative management

1. The department may operate and administer an uncrewed aircraft systems test site,
contingent upon receiving official designation by the federal aviation administration.
The department may cooperate and contract with the university of North Dakota, the
North Dakota aeronautics commission, the adjutant general, and other public or
private entities as determined by the commissioner in the operation and administration
of the test site. The department may charge fees sufficient to operate the test site. The
department shall, to the extent possible, use competitive bidding in the operation and
administration of the test site. The commissioner may charter a public corporation to
operate the test site. The corporation must possess all of the powers of a business
corporation consistent with this chapter. The department shall report to the legislative
management semiannually on the status of the program.
2. In administering the uncrewed aircraft systems program, the uncrewed aircraft
systems test site established in subsection 1 may:
a. Enter contracts and agreements with public, private, and nonprofit organizations
for projects, activities, and research topics, and for the operation and
management of a public-private partnership under chapter 48-02.1;
b. Enter partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures, or other contractual
arrangements with private businesses for the purpose of business or industrial
development; and
c. Adopt policies governing ownership or transfer of ownership rights and
distribution of income that may be derived from an invention or discovery
resulting from research or employment in the uncrewed aircraft systems test site.