HLS 14RS-640 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 937
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
MOTOR VEHICLES: Authorizes the operation of autonomous motor vehicles
AN ACT1
To enact Part XVII of Chapter 3 of Title 32 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be2
comprised of R.S. 32:691 and 692, relative to operating autonomous motor vehicles;3
to authorize the operation of autonomous motor vehicles in the state; to provide for4
definitions; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. Part XVII of Chapter 3 of Title 32 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of7
1950, comprised of R.S. 32:691 and 692, is hereby enacted to read as follows:8
PART XVII. AUTONOMOUS MOTOR VEHICLES9
§691. Definitions10
As used in this part, the following words, terms, and phrases have the11
meaning ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates a12
different meaning:13
(1) "Autonomous motor vehicle" means a vehicle equipped with technology14
that has the capability to drive the vehicle without active control or monitoring by15
a human operator; a vehicle equipped with active safety systems or driver assistance16
systems, including a system to provide electronic blind spot assistance, crash17
avoidance, emergency braking, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane keep18
assistance, lane departure warning, or traffic jam and queuing assistance is not an19
autonomous vehicle unless the system alone or in combination with other systems20 HLS 14RS-640 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 937
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
enables the vehicle on which the technology is installed to drive without active1
control or monitoring by a human operator.2
(2) "Operator" means the person who causes the vehicle's autonomous3
technology to engage, regardless of whether the person is physically present in the4
vehicle at that time.5
(3) "Manufacturer" means the person or entity that originally manufactures6
a vehicle and equips autonomous technology on the originally completed vehicle, or7
in the case of a vehicle not originally equipped with autonomous technology by the8
vehicle manufacturer, the person or entity that modifies the vehicle by installing9
autonomous technology to convert it to an autonomous vehicle after the vehicle was10
originally manufactured.11
§692. Autonomous motor vehicles; operation12
A. The Department of Transportation and Development shall adopt13
regulations authorizing the operation of autonomous motor vehicles on roadways14
within the state.15
B. The regulations to be adopted by the Department of Transportation and16
Development pursuant to Subsection A of this Section shall:17
(1) Set forth requirements that an autonomous motor vehicle must meet18
before it may be operated on a roadway within this state.19
(2) Establish minimum safety standards for autonomous vehicles and their20
operation.21
(3) Provide for the testing, research, and development of autonomous motor22
vehicles.23
(4) Restrict the testing of autonomous motor vehicles to specific geographic24
areas.25
(5) Set forth other such requirements as the department determines to be26
necessary.27 HLS 14RS-640 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 937
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Leger HB No. 937
Abstract: Authorizes the operation of autonomous motor vehicles in the state.
Proposed law defines "autonomous motor vehicle", "operator", and "manufacturer" and
authorizes the operation of such vehicles on the roadways of the state.
Proposed law requires the Dept. of Transportation and Development to adopt regulations
regarding the operation of autonomous motor vehicles in La. Specifies that these regulations
shall:
(1)Set forth requirements that an autonomous motor vehicle must meet before it may
be operated on a roadway within this state.
(2)Establish minimum safety standards for autonomous vehicles and their operation.
(3)Provide for the testing, research, and development of autonomous motor vehicles.
(4)Restrict the testing of autonomous motor vehicles to specific geographic areas.
(5)Set forth other requirements as the department deems necessary.
(Adds R.S. 32:691 and 692)