Alabama 2024 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Bill SB226 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3	3		SB226
4		-	~~L1ICWYW~~-2
	4	+	U1RQGXD-2
5	5		By Senator Allen
6	6		RFD: Transportation and Energy
7	7		First Read: 19-Mar-24
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12		-	5 SB226 ~~Enrolled~~
	12	+	5 SB226 Engrossed
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14	14		First Read: 19-Mar-24
15		-	Enrolled, An Act,
	15	+	A BILL
	16	+	TO BE ENTITLED
	17	+	AN ACT
16	18		Relating to motor vehicles; to provide requirements for
17	19		the authorization and use of motor vehicles equipped with an
18	20		automated driving system.
19	21		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
20	22		Section 1. For purposes of this act, the following
21	23		terms have the following meanings:
22	24		(1) ADS-EQUIPPED VEHICLE. A vehicle equipped with an
23	25		automated driving system.
24	26		(2) AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM or ADS. The hardware and
25	27		software that are collectively capable of performing the
26	28		entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis regardless of
27	29		whether it is limited to a specific operational design domain.
28	30		(3) CONVENTIONAL HUMAN DRIVER. An individual, licensed
29	31		or otherwise permitted by law to operate a vehicle, who
30	32		manually exercises in-vehicle braking, accelerating, steering,
31	33		and transmission gear selection input devices in order to
32	34		operate a vehicle.
33	35		(4) DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK or DDT. All of the real-time
34	36		operational and tactical functions required to operate a
35	37		vehicle in on-road traffic, excluding the strategic functions
36		-	such as trip scheduling and selection of destinations and
37		-	waypoints, including, but not limited to:
38		-	a. Lateral vehicle motion control via steering.
39		-	b. Longitudinal vehicle motion control via acceleration
40		-	and deceleration.
41		-	c. Monitoring the driving environment via object and
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	65	+	28 SB226 Engrossed
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	67	+	vehicle in on-road traffic, excluding the strategic functions
	68	+	such as trip scheduling and selection of destinations and
	69	+	waypoints, including, but not limited to:
	70	+	a. Lateral vehicle motion control via steering.
	71	+	b. Longitudinal vehicle motion control via acceleration
	72	+	and deceleration.
71	73		c. Monitoring the driving environment via object and
72	74		event detection, recognition, classification, and response
73	75		preparation.
74	76		d. Object and event response execution.
75	77		e. Manuever planning.
76	78		f. Enhancing conspicuity via lighting, signaling, and
77	79		gesturing.
78	80		(5) FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE. A motor vehicle equipped
79	81		with an automated driving system designed to function without
80	82		a human driver as a Level 4 or Level 5 automation system under
81	83		the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J3016.
82	84		(6) MINIMAL RISK CONDITION. A stable, stopped condition
83	85		to which a user or an automated driving system may bring a
84	86		vehicle after performing the DDT fallback in order to reduce
85	87		the risk of a crash when a given trip cannot or should not be
86	88		continued.
87	89		(7) ON-DEMAND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NETWORK. A
88	90		transportation service or network that uses a software
89	91		application or other digital means to dispatch or otherwise
90	92		enable the prearrangement of transportation with ADS-equipped
91	93		vehicles for purposes of transporting passengers or goods,
92	94		including for-hire transportation and transportation of
93	95		passengers or goods for compensation.
94		-	(8) OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN or ODD. Operating
95		-	conditions under which a given ADS or feature thereof is
96		-	specifically designed to function, including, but not limited
97		-	to, environmental, geographical, and time-of-day restrictions,
98		-	and the requisite presence or absence of certain traffic or
99		-	roadway characteristics
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	123	+	56 SB226 Engrossed
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	125	+	passengers or goods for compensation.
	126	+	(8) OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN or ODD. Operating
	127	+	conditions under which a given ADS or feature thereof is
	128	+	specifically designed to function, including, but not limited
	129	+	to, environmental, geographical, and time-of-day restrictions,
	130	+	and the requisite presence or absence of certain traffic or
129	131		roadway characteristics
130	132		Section 2. (a) An person may operate an ADS-equipped
131	133		vehicle with the ADS engaged on the public roads of this state
132	134		only under the following conditions:
133	135		(1) The ADS-equipped vehicle is capable of complying
134	136		with the following:
135	137		a. All applicable traffic and motor vehicle safety laws
136	138		and rules of this state which govern the performance of the
137	139		dynamic driving task, unless an exemption has been granted
138	140		pursuant to subsection (b).
139	141		b. All applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
140	142		Standards, except to the extent an exemption has been granted
141	143		under applicable federal law.
142	144		c. All applicable traffic control devices, including,
143	145		but not limited to, speed limit signs, other regulatory signs,
144	146		advisory signs, warning signs, barriers, and construction or
145	147		work zone signs.
146	148		(2) The ADS-equipped vehicle shall be registered and
147	149		titled in accordance with the laws of this state.
148	150		(b) An ADS-equipped vehicle may be operated on the
149	151		public roads of this state without a conventional human driver
150	152		physically present in the vehicle if the vehicle is capable of
151	153		achieving a minimal risk condition.
152		-	Section 3. A fully autonomous vehicle may operate on
153		-	public roads in this state only if a person submits proof to
154		-	the Department of Revenue of financial responsibility that the
155		-	fully autonomous vehicle has single limits liability coverage,
156		-	by contract of insurance or by qualifying as a self-insurer,
157		-	of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
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	181	+	84 SB226 Engrossed
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	183	+	achieving a minimal risk condition.
	184	+	Section 3. A fully autonomous vehicle may operate on
	185	+	public roads in this state only if a person submits proof to
	186	+	the Department of Revenue of financial responsibility that the
	187	+	fully autonomous vehicle has single limits liability coverage,
	188	+	by contract of insurance or by qualifying as a self-insurer,
187	189		of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
188	190		Section 4. If a traffic accident occurs that involves
189	191		an ADS-equipped vehicle that is being operated without a
190	192		conventional human driver, the requirements of Chapter 10 of
191	193		Title 32, Code of Alabama 1975, do not apply to the
192	194		ADS-equipped vehicle, provided all of the following occur:
193	195		(1) The owner of the ADS-equipped vehicle, or a person
194	196		acting on behalf of the owner, promptly contacts the
195	197		applicable law enforcement agency to report the crash.
196	198		(2) If the ADS-equipped vehicle has the capability of
197	199		promptly alerting a law enforcement agency or emergency
198	200		services, the vehicle alerts a law enforcement agency or
199	201		emergency services to the traffic accident.
200	202		(3) The ADS-equipped vehicle remains at the scene or in
201	203		the immediate vicinity of the crash until law enforcement
202	204		arrives.
203	205		(4) In accordance with Chapter 7A of Title 32, Code of
204	206		Alabama 1975, the ADS-equipped vehicle's registration and
205	207		insurance information is provided to the parties affected by
206	208		the traffic accident.
207	209		(5) In the event an ADS-equipped vehicle is not an
208	210		automated commercial motor vehicle under Section 32-9B-1 but
209	211		is being operated by a commercial entity without a
210		-	conventional human driver, the owner of the ADS-equipped
211		-	vehicle shall be deemed the operator of the vehicle and shall
212		-	maintain the ability to respond to damages for liability on
213		-	account of any accidents arising from the use of the
214		-	ADS-equipped vehicle or automated driving system in the
215		-	minimum amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per
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243		-	112 SB226 ~~Enrolled~~
	239	+	112 SB226 Engrossed
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	241	+	is being operated by a commercial entity without a
	242	+	conventional human driver, the owner of the ADS-equipped
	243	+	vehicle shall be deemed the operator of the vehicle and shall
	244	+	maintain the ability to respond to damages for liability on
	245	+	account of any accidents arising from the use of the
	246	+	ADS-equipped vehicle or automated driving system in the
245	247		minimum amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per
246	248		accident for death, bodily injury, and property damage to a
247	249		third party.
248	250		Section 5. A conventional human driver of an
249	251		ADS-equipped vehicle is required to have a valid driver
250	252		license for the class of vehicle being operated.
251	253		Section 6. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this act
252	254		or in Chapter 9B of Title 32, Code of Alabama 1975, and
253		-	notwithstanding any other provision of law, ~~the operation of~~
254		-	~~ADS-equipped~~ vehicles and automated driving systems is
255		-	~~governed~~ exclusively by this act.
	255	+	notwithstanding any other provision of law, ADS-equipped
	256	+	vehicles and automated driving systems are governed
	257	+	exclusively by this act.
256	258		(b) No state or local entity may impose requirements,
257	259		including performance standards, specific to the operation of
258	260		ADS-equipped vehicles, automated driving systems, or automated
259	261		commercial vehicles as defined in Section 32-9B-1, Code of
260	262		Alabama 1975, except as specifically authorized by this act.
261	263		Nothing in this section shall be construed to repeal or in any
262	264		way modify Section 32-9-29, Code of Alabama 1975.
263	265		(c) No municipality or other local or state entity may
264	266		impose a tax on, or impose requirements on ADS-equipped
265	267		vehicles or automated driving systems, where the tax or other
266	268		requirement relates specifically to the operation of
267	269		ADS-equipped vehicles.
268		-	Section 7. For purposes of this act and for assessing
269		-	compliance with applicable traffic or motor vehicle laws,
270		-	including rules of the road, unless the context otherwise
271		-	requires, the automated driving system shall be deemed to be
272		-	the operator of an ADS-equipped vehicle when all of the
273		-	following apply:
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301		-	140 SB226 ~~Enrolled~~
	297	+	140 SB226 Engrossed
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	299	+	ADS-equipped vehicles.
	300	+	Section 7. For purposes of this act and for assessing
	301	+	compliance with applicable traffic or motor vehicle laws,
	302	+	including rules of the road, unless the context otherwise
	303	+	requires, the automated driving system shall be deemed to be
	304	+	the operator of an ADS-equipped vehicle when all of the
303	305		following apply:
304	306		(1) The automated driving system is engaged and solely
305	307		responsible for the driving task.
306	308		(2) The automated driving system is being operated and
307	309		maintained as intended by the manufacturer of the ADS-equipped
308	310		vehicle.
309	311		(3) A request to intervene has not been issued by the
310	312		ADS-equipped vehicle.
311	313		Section 8. (a) Liability for a traffic accident
312	314		involving an ADS-equipped vehicle shall be determined in
313	315		accordance with applicable state law, federal law, or common
314	316		law.
315	317		(b) The original manufacturer of a vehicle converted by
316	318		a third party into an ADS-equipped vehicle may not be held
317	319		liable in, and shall have a defense to and be dismissed from,
318	320		any legal action brought against the original manufacturer by
319	321		any individual injured due to an alleged vehicle defect caused
320	322		by the conversion of the vehicle, or by equipment installed by
321	323		the converter, unless the alleged defect was present in the
322	324		vehicle as originally manufactured.
323	325		Section 9. (a) An ADS-equipped vehicle that is designed
324	326		to be operated exclusively by an automated driving system for
325	327		all trips shall not be subject to motor vehicle equipment laws
326		-	or rules of this state that relate to or support motor vehicle
327		-	operation by a conventional human driver but are not relevant
328		-	to an automated driving system.
329		-	(b) Any ADS-equipped vehicle or automated commercial
330		-	vehicle, as defined in Section 32-9B-1, Code of Alabama 1975,
331		-	may be equipped with ADS marker lamps in accordance with the
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	357	+	all trips shall not be subject to motor vehicle equipment laws
	358	+	or rules of this state that relate to or support motor vehicle
	359	+	operation by a conventional human driver but are not relevant
	360	+	to an automated driving system.
	361	+	(b) Any ADS-equipped vehicle or automated commercial
	362	+	vehicle, as defined in Section 32-9B-1, Code of Alabama 1975,
361	363		may be equipped with ADS marker lamps in accordance with the
362	364		SAE Recommended Practice and Standard guidelines, including
363	365		SAE J3134. For purposes of this section, an ADS marker lamp
364	366		means a device that emits light to indicate when an ADS is
365	367		engaged in the operation of the vehicle.
366	368		Section 10. An on-demand autonomous vehicle network
367	369		shall be permitted to operate pursuant to state laws governing
368	370		the operation of transportation network companies with the
369	371		exception that any provision of this state's laws, including
370	372		Chapter 7C of Title 32, Code of Alabama 1975, which reasonably
371	373		applies only to a conventional human driver would not apply to
372	374		the operation of ADS-equipped vehicles with the ADS engaged on
373	375		an on-demand autonomous vehicle network. A fully autonomous
374	376		vehicle with the automated driving system engaged while logged
375	377		on to an on-demand autonomous vehicle network must meet the
376	378		insurance requirements in Section 4.
377	379		Section 11. Nothing in this act is intended to, nor be
378	380		construed to, require a county to construct, upgrade,
379	381		maintain, or place traffic control devices on county roads in
380	382		a manner that is above and beyond the manner in which roads
381	383		are constructed, upgraded, maintained, or designed for all
382	384		other vehicular traffic.
383	385		Section 12. This act shall become effective October 1,
384		-	2024.
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407		-	191 SB226 Enrolled
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409		-	2024.
410		-	________________________________________________
411		-	President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
412		-	________________________________________________
413		-	Speaker of the House of Representatives
414		-	SB226
415		-	Senate 30-Apr-24
416		-	I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
417		-	the Senate, as amended.
418		-	Patrick Harris,
419		-	Secretary.
420		-	House of Representatives
421		-	Amended and passed: 09-May-24
422		-	Senate concurred in House amendment 09-May-24
423		-	By: Senator Allen
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	413	+	196 SB226 Engrossed
	414	+	Page 8
	415	+	Section 12. This act shall become effective October 1,
	416	+	2024.197 SB226 Engrossed
	417	+	Page 9
	418	+	2024.
	419	+	Senate
	420	+	Read for the first time and referred
	421	+	to the Senate committee on
	422	+	Transportation and Energy
	423	+	................19-Mar-24
	424	+	Read for the second time and placed
	425	+	on the calendar:
	426	+	1 amendment
	427	+	................04-Apr-24
	428	+	Read for the third time and passed
	429	+	as amended
	430	+	Yeas 33
	431	+	Nays 0
	432	+	Abstains 0
	433	+	................30-Apr-24
	434	+	Patrick Harris,
	435	+	Secretary.
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