Alabama 2023 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Bill SB311 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	SB311INTRODUCED
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3	3	X99U7E-1
4	4	By Senator Allen
5	5	RFD: Transportation and Energy
6	6	First Read: 11-May-23
7	7	2023 Regular Session
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13	13	6 X99U7E-1 05/09/2023 CMH (L)cr 2023-1998
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15	15	SYNOPSIS:
16	16	This bill would authorize motor vehicles to be
17	17	operated on the public roads of this state that are
18	18	equipped with an automated driving system, which is
19	19	defined as hardware and software that performs the
20	20	entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis.
21	21	A BILL
22	22	TO BE ENTITLED
23	23	AN ACT
24	24	Relating to motor vehicles; to provide for the
25	25	authorization and use of motor vehicles equipped with an
26	26	automated driving system.
27	27	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
28	28	Section 1. For purposes of this act, the following
29	29	terms have the following meanings:
30	30	(1) AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM or ADS. The hardware and
31	31	software that are collectively capable of performing the
32	32	entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis regardless of
33	33	whether it is limited to a specific operational design domain.
34	34	(2) ADS-EQUIPPED VEHICLE. A vehicle equipped with an
35	35	automated driving system.
36	36	(3) CONVENTIONAL HUMAN DRIVER. An individual, licensed
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66	66	or otherwise permitted by law to operate a vehicle, who
67	67	manually exercises in-vehicle braking, accelerating, steering,
68	68	and transmission gear selection input devices in order to
69	69	operate a vehicle.
70	70	(4) DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK or DDT. All of the real-time
71	71	operational and tactical functions required to operate a
72	72	vehicle in on-road traffic, excluding the strategic functions
73	73	such as trip scheduling and selection of destinations and
74	74	waypoints.
75	75	(5) MINIMAL RISK CONDITION. A reasonably safe state to
76	76	which an ADS brings an ADS-equipped vehicle upon experiencing
77	77	a performance-relevant failure of the vehicle or the vehicle's
78	78	ADS that renders the ADS unable to perform the entire DDT.
79	79	(6) OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN or ODD. Operating
80	80	conditions under which a given ADS or feature thereof is
81	81	specifically designed to function, including, but not limited
82	82	to, environmental, geographical, and time-of-day restrictions,
83	83	and the requisite presence or absence of certain traffic or
84	84	roadway characteristics
85	85	Section 2. (a) An individual may operate an
86	86	ADS-equipped vehicle with the ADS engaged on the public roads
87	87	of this state only under the following conditions:
88	88	(1) The ADS-equipped vehicle is capable of complying
89	89	with both of the following:
90	90	a. All applicable traffic and motor vehicle safety laws
91	91	and rules of this state which govern the performance of the
92	92	dynamic driving task, unless an exemption has been granted
93	93	pursuant to subsection (b).
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123	123	b. All applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
124	124	Standards, except to the extent an exemption has been granted
125	125	under applicable federal law.
126	126	(2) The ADS-equipped vehicle shall be registered and
127	127	titled in accordance with the laws of this state.
128	128	(b) An ADS-equipped vehicle may be operated on the
129	129	public roads of this state without a conventional human driver
130	130	physically present in the vehicle if the vehicle is capable of
131	131	achieving a minimal risk condition.
132	132	Section 3. An ADS-equipped vehicle may operate on
133	133	public roads in this state only if a person submits proof to
134	134	the Department of Revenue of financial responsibility
135	135	satisfactory to the department that the ADS-equipped vehicle
136	136	meets all of the requirements of the Mandatory Liability
137	137	Insurance Act, Chapter 7A of Title 32, Code of Alabama 1975.
138	138	Section 4. If a traffic accident occurs that involves
139	139	an ADS-equipped vehicle that is being operated without a
140	140	conventional human driver, the requirements of Chapter 10 of
141	141	Title 32, Code of Alabama 1975, do not apply to the
142	142	ADS-equipped vehicle, provided all of the following occur:
143	143	(1) The owner of the ADS-equipped vehicle, or an
144	144	individual acting on behalf of the owner, promptly contacts
145	145	the applicable law enforcement agency to report the crash.
146	146	(2) If the ADS-equipped vehicle has the capability of
147	147	promptly alerting a law enforcement agency or emergency
148	148	services, the vehicle alerts a law enforcement agency or
149	149	emergency services to the traffic accident.
150	150	(3) The ADS-equipped vehicle remains at the scene or in
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180	180	the immediate vicinity of the crash until law enforcement
181	181	arrives.
182	182	(4) The ADS-equipped vehicle's registration and
183	183	insurance information is provided to the parties affected by
184	184	the traffic accident.
185	185	Section 5. A conventional human driver of an
186	186	ADS-equipped vehicle is required to have a valid driver
187	187	license for the class of vehicle being operated.
188	188	Section 6. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this act
189	189	and notwithstanding any other provision of law, ADS-equipped
190	190	vehicles and automated driving systems are governed
191	191	exclusively by this act.
192	192	(b) No state or local entity may impose requirements,
193	193	including performance standards, specific to the operation of
194	194	ADS-equipped vehicles or automated driving systems, except as
195	195	specifically authorized by this act.
196	196	(c) No municipality or other local or state entity may
197	197	impose a tax on, or impose requirements on ADS-equipped
198	198	vehicles or automated driving systems, where the tax or other
199	199	requirement relates specifically to the operation of
200	200	ADS-equipped vehicles.
201	201	Section 7. When engaged, the automated driving system
202	202	shall be deemed the driver or operator of the ADS-equipped
203	203	vehicle for the purpose of assessing compliance with
204	204	applicable traffic or motor vehicle laws and shall be deemed
205	205	to satisfy all physical acts required by a driver or operator
206	206	of a vehicle via electronic means.
207	207	Section 8. (a) Liability for a traffic accident
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237	237	involving an ADS-equipped vehicle shall be determined in
238	238	accordance with applicable state law, federal law, or common
239	239	law.
240	240	(b) The original manufacturer of a vehicle converted by
241	241	a third party into an ADS-equipped vehicle may not be held
242	242	liable in, and shall have a defense to and be dismissed from,
243	243	any legal action brought against the original manufacturer by
244	244	any individual injured due to an alleged vehicle defect caused
245	245	by the conversion of the vehicle, or by equipment installed by
246	246	the converter, unless the alleged defect was present in the
247	247	vehicle as originally manufactured.
248	248	Section 9. An ADS-equipped vehicle that is designed to
249	249	be operated exclusively by an automated driving system for all
250	250	trips shall not be subject to motor vehicle equipment laws or
251	251	rules of this state that relate to or support motor vehicle
252	252	operation by a conventional human driver but are not relevant
253	253	to an automated driving system.
254	254	Section 10. This act shall become effective on the
255	255	first day of the third month following its passage and
256	256	approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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