Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2205 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 2205
	1	+	By: Hancock, et al. S.B. No. 2205
	2	+	(Geren)
2	3
3	4
	5	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	6		AN ACT
5	7		relating to automated motor vehicles.
6	8		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
7	9		SECTION 1. Chapter 545, Transportation Code, is amended by
8	10		adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
9	11		SUBCHAPTER J. OPERATION OF AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLES
10	12		Sec. 545.451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
11	13		(1) "Automated driving system" means hardware and
12	14		software that, when installed on a motor vehicle and engaged, are
13	15		collectively capable of performing, without any intervention or
14	16		supervision by a human operator:
15	17		(A) all aspects of the entire dynamic driving
16	18		task for the vehicle on a sustained basis; and
17	19		(B) any fallback maneuvers necessary to respond
18	20		to a failure of the system.
19	21		(2) "Automated motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle on
20	22		which an automated driving system is installed.
21	23		(3) "Entire dynamic driving task" means the
22	24		operational and tactical aspects of operating a vehicle. The term:
23	25		(A) includes:
24	26		(i) operational aspects, including
25	27		steering, braking, accelerating, and monitoring the vehicle and the
26	28		roadway; and
27	29		(ii) tactical aspects, including
28	30		responding to events, determining when to change lanes, turning,
29	31		using signals, and other related actions; and
30	32		(B) does not include strategic aspects,
31	33		including determining destinations or waypoints.
32	34		(4) "Human operator" means a natural person in an
33	35		automated motor vehicle who controls the entire dynamic driving
34	36		task.
35	37		(5) "Owner" has the meaning assigned by Section
36	38		502.001.
37	39		Sec. 545.452. SUBCHAPTER AND DEPARTMENT GOVERN
38	40		EXCLUSIVELY. (a) Unless otherwise provided by this subchapter,
39	41		the following are governed exclusively by this subchapter:
40	42		(1) automated motor vehicles, including any
41	43		commercial use or operation of automated motor vehicles; and
42	44		(2) automated driving systems.
43	45		(b) A political subdivision of this state or a state agency
44	46		may not impose a franchise or other regulation related to the
45	47		operation of an automated motor vehicle or automated driving
46	48		system.
47	49		Sec. 545.453. OPERATOR OF AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE.
48	50		(a) When an automated driving system installed on a motor vehicle
49	51		is engaged:
50	52		(1) the owner of the automated driving system is
51	53		considered the operator of the automated motor vehicle solely for
52	54		the purpose of assessing compliance with applicable traffic or
53	55		motor vehicle laws, regardless of whether the person is physically
54	56		present in the vehicle while the vehicle is operating; and
55	57		(2) the automated driving system is considered to be
56	58		licensed to operate the vehicle.
57	59		(b) Notwithstanding any other law, a licensed human
58	60		operator is not required to operate a motor vehicle if an automated
59	61		driving system installed on the vehicle is engaged.
60	62		Sec. 545.454. AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION. (a) An
61	63		automated motor vehicle may operate in this state with the
62	64		automated driving system engaged, regardless of whether a human
63	65		operator is physically present in the vehicle.
64	66		(b) An automated motor vehicle may not operate on a highway
65	67		in this state with the automated driving system engaged unless the
66	68		vehicle is:
67	69		(1) capable of operating in compliance with applicable
68	70		traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state, subject to this
69	71		subchapter;
70	72		(2) equipped with a recording device, as defined by
71	73		Section 547.615(a), installed by the manufacturer of the automated
72	74		motor vehicle or automated driving system;
73	75		(3) equipped with an automated driving system in
74	76		compliance with applicable federal law and federal motor vehicle
75	77		safety standards;
76	78		(4) registered and titled in accordance with the laws
77	79		of this state; and
78	80		(5) covered by motor vehicle liability coverage or
79	81		self-insurance in an amount equal to the amount of coverage that is
80	82		required under the laws of this state.
81	83		Sec. 545.455. DUTIES FOLLOWING ACCIDENT INVOLVING
82	84		AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE. In the event of an accident involving an
83	85		automated motor vehicle, the automated motor vehicle or any human
84	86		operator of the automated motor vehicle shall comply with Chapter
85	87		550.
86	88		Sec. 545.456. VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION. An owner as defined
87	89		by Section 502.001(31) may identify the vehicle to the department
88	90		as an automated motor vehicle or an automated driving system.
89	91		SECTION 2. (a) In this section, "a request to intervene"
90	92		means notification by a vehicle to the human operator that the
91	93		operator should promptly begin or resume performance of the entire
92	94		dynamic driving task.
93	95		(b) For purposes of Subchapter J, Chapter 545,
94	96		Transportation Code, as added by this Act, a motor vehicle equipped
95	97		with hardware and software capable of engaging in the entire
96	98		dynamic driving task with the expectation that a human operator
97	99		will respond appropriately to a request to intervene is subject to
98	100		Sections 545.452(b) and 545.454, Transportation Code, as added by
99	101		this Act.
100	102		(c) Nothing in Subchapter J, Chapter 545, Transportation
101	103		Code, as added by this Act, shall be construed to affect, alter, or
102	104		amend the right to operate a motor vehicle equipped with hardware
103	105		and software capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task
104	106		with the expectation that a human operator will respond
105	107		appropriately to a request to intervene.
106	108		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
107		-	______________________________ ______________________________
108		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
109		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2205 passed the Senate on
110		-	April 27, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
111		-	______________________________
112		-	Secretary of the Senate
113		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2205 passed the House on
114		-	May 21, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 1, two
115		-	present not voting.
116		-	______________________________
117		-	Chief Clerk of the House
118		-	Approved:
119		-	______________________________
120		-	Date
121		-	______________________________
122		-	Governor