Bill Text: TX HB4018 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the operation of automated motor vehicles on highways in this state for research and testing purposes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-31 - Referred to Transportation [HB4018 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB4018-Introduced.html
85R7927 BEE-F | ||
By: Rodriguez of Travis | H.B. No. 4018 |
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relating to the operation of automated motor vehicles on highways | ||
in this state for research and testing purposes. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 503, Transportation Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 503.072 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 503.072. LICENSE PLATES FOR AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLES. | ||
(a) In this section, "automated motor vehicle" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 545.428. | ||
(b) The department shall establish a program to provide | ||
license plates with an automated motor vehicle designation. | ||
(c) A license plate provided under Subsection (b) may be | ||
used only on an automated motor vehicle in compliance with Section | ||
545.428. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 541.001(1), Transportation Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(1) "Operator" means, as used in reference to a | ||
vehicle, a person who drives or has physical control of a vehicle, | ||
except as provided by Section 545.428(b). | ||
SECTION 3. Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 545.428 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 545.428. OPERATION OF AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLES FOR | ||
TESTING AND RESEARCH. (a) In this section: | ||
(1) "Automated motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle on | ||
which an automated technology has been installed, either by a | ||
manufacturer of automated technology or an upfitter, that enables | ||
the motor vehicle to be operated without any control or monitoring | ||
by a human operator. The term does not include a motor vehicle | ||
enabled with one or more active safety systems or operator | ||
assistance systems, including a system installed on a vehicle to | ||
provide electronic blind spot assistance, crash avoidance, | ||
emergency braking, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, | ||
lane-keeping assistance, lane departure warning, or traffic jam and | ||
queuing assistance, unless one or more of those systems alone or in | ||
combination with other systems enables the vehicle to operate | ||
without any control or monitoring by an operator. | ||
(2) "Automated technology" means technology installed | ||
on a motor vehicle that has the capability to assist, make decisions | ||
for, or replace a human operator. | ||
(3) "Automatic mode" means the mode of operating an | ||
automated motor vehicle when automated technology is engaged to | ||
enable the motor vehicle to operate without any control or | ||
monitoring by an operator. | ||
(4) "Manufacturer of automated technology" means a | ||
manufacturer or subcomponent system producer that develops or | ||
produces automated technology. | ||
(5) "Upfitter" means a person that modifies a motor | ||
vehicle after it was manufactured by installing automated | ||
technology in that motor vehicle to convert it to an automated motor | ||
vehicle. The term includes a subcomponent system producer that | ||
develops or produces automated driving technology. | ||
(b) An operator of an automated motor vehicle is the person | ||
who causes an automated motor vehicle to move under its own power in | ||
automatic mode, including by engaging the automated technology, | ||
regardless of whether the person is physically present in the | ||
automated motor vehicle at that time. | ||
(c) A person may not operate an automated motor vehicle on a | ||
highway in this state in automatic mode unless: | ||
(1) the automated motor vehicle is operated for the | ||
purpose of research or testing of: | ||
(A) the automated motor vehicle; or | ||
(B) automated technology that is installed on the | ||
motor vehicle; | ||
(2) the manufacturer of the vehicle or of automated | ||
technology that is installed on the vehicle: | ||
(A) is recognized by the secretary of state; and | ||
(B) submits proof satisfactory to the secretary | ||
of state that the vehicle is insured in accordance with the laws of | ||
this state; | ||
(3) the vehicle displays license plates provided under | ||
Section 503.072; | ||
(4) the person operating the vehicle: | ||
(A) is licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the | ||
United States; and | ||
(B) is an employee or contractor of or otherwise | ||
designated or authorized by: | ||
(i) the manufacturer of the vehicle; or | ||
(ii) the manufacturer of automated | ||
technology installed on the vehicle; and | ||
(5) a person is present in the vehicle while it is | ||
being operated who: | ||
(A) is licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the | ||
United States; and | ||
(B) has the ability to monitor the vehicle's | ||
performance and, if necessary, immediately take control of the | ||
vehicle's movements. | ||
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a person may use a | ||
wireless communication device, as defined in Section 545.425, to | ||
operate an automated motor vehicle in automatic mode under this | ||
chapter. | ||
(e) A manufacturer of automated technology is not liable in | ||
a civil action for damages that result from a modification made | ||
without the consent of the manufacturer of automated technology by | ||
another person to the automated technology or to a motor vehicle on | ||
which the technology is installed. | ||
(f) The secretary of state shall adopt procedures for the | ||
recognition of: | ||
(1) manufacturers of automated technology; and | ||
(2) upfitters. | ||
SECTION 4. (a) In this section of this Act: | ||
(1) "Automated motor vehicle" and "automated | ||
technology" have the meanings assigned by Section 545.428, | ||
Transportation Code, as added by this Act. | ||
(2) "Department" means the Texas Department of Motor | ||
Vehicles. | ||
(b) The department shall: | ||
(1) conduct a study of the testing of automated motor | ||
vehicles and automated technology installed on automated motor | ||
vehicles on highways in this state in consultation with: | ||
(A) the Texas Department of Transportation; and | ||
(B) the Department of Public Safety of the State | ||
of Texas; and | ||
(2) recommend any legislative or regulatory action | ||
necessary for the continued safe testing of automated motor | ||
vehicles and automated technology installed on automated motor | ||
vehicles on highways in this state. | ||
(c) Not later than September 1, 2018, the department shall | ||
submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any | ||
proposed legislation, to each standing committee of the senate and | ||
house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over matters | ||
related to transportation and over matters related to business and | ||
commerce. | ||
(d) This section of this Act expires January 1, 2019. | ||
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |