Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3475 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R12859 BEE-F
2	2	By: Geren H.B. No. 3475
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the operation of automated motor vehicles on highways
8	8	in this state.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Chapter 545, Transportation Code, is amended by
11	11	adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
12	12	SUBCHAPTER J. OPERATION OF AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLES
13	13	Sec. 545.451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
14	14	(1) "Automated driving system" means hardware and
15	15	software that are collectively capable, when installed on a motor
16	16	vehicle and engaged, of performing all aspects of the dynamic
17	17	driving task for the vehicle on a part-time or full-time basis
18	18	without supervision by a human operator.
19	19	(2) "Automated motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle on
20	20	which an automated driving system is installed.
21	21	(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of Motor
22	22	Vehicles.
23	23	(4) "Dynamic driving task" means the operational and
24	24	tactical aspects of operating a vehicle. The term:
25	25	(A) includes:
26	26	(i) operational aspects, including
27	27	steering, braking, accelerating, and monitoring the vehicle and the
28	28	roadway; and
29	29	(ii) tactical aspects, including
30	30	responding to events, determining when to change lanes, turning,
31	31	using signals, and other related actions; and
32	32	(B) does not include strategic aspects,
33	33	including determining destinations or waypoints.
34	34	Sec. 545.452. SUBCHAPTER AND DEPARTMENT GOVERN
35	35	EXCLUSIVELY. (a) Unless otherwise provided by this subchapter,
36	36	the following are governed exclusively by this subchapter:
37	37	(1) automated motor vehicles, including any
38	38	commercial use or operation of automated motor vehicles; and
39	39	(2) automated driving systems.
40	40	(b) The department is the only state agency that may
41	41	implement the provisions of this subchapter. No other state agency
42	42	or entity may impose requirements or adopt regulations governing
43	43	the operation of automated motor vehicles or automated driving
44	44	systems in this state that are in addition to or otherwise
45	45	inconsistent with this subchapter.
46	46	(c) A political subdivision of this state may not impose a
47	47	local fee, registration requirement, franchise, or other
48	48	regulation related to an automated motor vehicle or automated
49	49	driving system.
50	50	Sec. 545.453. OPERATOR OF AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) When
51	51	engaged, an automated driving system installed on a motor vehicle
52	52	is:
53	53	(1) notwithstanding Section 541.001, considered the
54	54	operator of the vehicle for the purpose of assessing compliance
55	55	with applicable traffic or motor vehicle laws; and
56	56	(2) considered to be licensed to operate the vehicle
57	57	and satisfy all physical acts required of the operator of a vehicle.
58	58	(b) Notwithstanding any other law:
59	59	(1) an automated driving system installed on a motor
60	60	vehicle may be considered the operator of the vehicle; and
61	61	(2) a licensed human operator is not required to
62	62	operate a motor vehicle if an automated driving system installed on
63	63	the vehicle is engaged.
64	64	Sec. 545.454. AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION. (a)
65	65	Subject to this subchapter, the owner of an automated motor vehicle
66	66	or an operator authorized by the owner may operate the vehicle on a
67	67	highway in this state with the automated driving system engaged,
68	68	regardless of whether a human operator is physically present in the
69	69	vehicle:
70	70	(1) to test the vehicle;
71	71	(2) to provide a transportation service to individual
72	72	passengers; or
73	73	(3) for any other use.
74	74	(b) An automated motor vehicle may not be operated on a
75	75	highway in this state with the automated driving system engaged
76	76	unless the owner or authorized operator of the vehicle:
77	77	(1) obtains and provides evidence to the department,
78	78	in a form prescribed by the department, of an instrument of
79	79	insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-insurance in the amount of
80	80	at least $10 million; and
81	81	(2) ensures that the vehicle is:
82	82	(A) capable of operating in compliance with
83	83	applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state, subject to
84	84	this subchapter;
85	85	(B) equipped with a data recording system with
86	86	the capacity to record, before an accident involving the vehicle:
87	87	(i) the status of the automated driving
88	88	system; and
89	89	(ii) other vehicle attributes, including
90	90	speed, direction, and location;
91	91	(C) in compliance with applicable federal law;
92	92	and
93	93	(D) registered and titled in accordance with the
94	94	laws of this state.
95	95	Sec. 545.455. PRIVACY POLICY; DATA COLLECTION. (a) An
96	96	owner or operator of an automated motor vehicle that is used to
97	97	offer a transportation service to individual passengers shall make
98	98	publicly available a privacy statement disclosing the data handling
99	99	practices of the owner or operator in connection with the vehicle.
100	100	(b) An individual passenger of a transportation service
101	101	that uses automated motor vehicles is considered to consent to the
102	102	collection of data as described in an applicable privacy statement
103	103	under Subsection (a) while a passenger in the vehicle.
104	104	Sec. 545.456. LIABILITY. The manufacturer of an automated
105	105	motor vehicle is not liable, including for equitable relief, for
106	106	damage that arises from any modification made by a person other than
107	107	the manufacturer or without the consent of the manufacturer to:
108	108	(1) the automated motor vehicle; or
109	109	(2) an automated driving system installed on the
110	110	automated motor vehicle.
111	111	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.