Directs a study and report on the testing and operation of autonomous vehicles on public highways and directs the commissioner of the department of transportation to take action to support such testing and operation.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1159
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. JACOBS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to direct a study and report on the testing and operation of
autonomous vehicles on public highways
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Autonomous vehicle committee. (a) There is hereby created
2 the autonomous vehicle committee which shall guide the enactment of an
3 autonomous vehicle study to assess the future of autonomous vehicle
4 technology. For purposes of this act, "autonomous vehicle" shall mean a
5 motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle without the
6 active control or monitoring of a human operator.
7 (b) The autonomous vehicle committee shall consist of at least eight
8 members:
9 (1) The executive deputy commissioner of the department of motor vehi-
10 cles, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair;
11 (2) A representative of the autonomous vehicle industry who shall be
12 appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
13 (3) A representative of highway user groups who shall be appointed by
14 the governor;
15 (4) A representative of regional transportation agencies who shall be
16 appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
17 (5) The chair of the assembly transportation committee, or his or her
18 designee;
19 (6) The chair of the senate transportation committee, or his or her
20 designee;
21 (7) A representative of the civic community who shall be appointed by
22 the governor;
23 (8) A representative of transit advocates who shall be appointed by
24 the governor; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05754-01-9
S. 1159 2
1 (9) Any other stakeholders identified by the department of motor vehi-
2 cles.
3 (c) The autonomous vehicle committee shall study how to support the
4 testing and operation of autonomous vehicles on public highways. It
5 shall take all of the following into consideration:
6 (1) The measures necessary to successfully implement autonomous vehi-
7 cles, including any legislative changes.
8 (2) Difficulties and liabilities that could arise by allowing auton-
9 omous vehicles on public highways.
10 (3) How autonomous vehicle technology can promote research and devel-
11 opment in this state.
12 (4) Any other issue the committee deems relevant.
13 § 2. Report. (a) On or before January 1, 2022, the committee shall
14 report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legisla-
15 ture. Such report shall include recommendations and such legislative
16 proposals as shall be deemed necessary.
17 (b) Prior to the completion of such report, the commissioner of the
18 department of transportation and the executive deputy commissioner of
19 the department of motor vehicles are authorized and directed to take
20 such actions as are necessary to support the testing and operation of
21 autonomous vehicles on public highways.
22 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
