Bill Text: NH HB314 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Relative to licensing requirements for autonomous vehicle testing and establishing an automated and connected vehicle testing and deployment commission.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-13 - Notwithstanding the Governor's Veto, Shall HB 314 Become Law: Regular Calendar 5Y-19N, Veto Sustained, lacking the necessary two-thirds vote; 09/13/2018; Senate Journal 19 [HB314 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2018-HB314-Amended.html

HB 314 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

3Jan2018... 2447h

05/02/2018   1646s

05/02/2018   1832s

2017 SESSION

17-0411

03/01

 

HOUSE BILL 314

 

AN ACT establishing an automated and connected vehicle testing and deployment commission and establishing an automated vehicle pilot program.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Steven Smith, Sull. 11; Rep. D. Thomas, Rock. 5

 

COMMITTEE: Transportation

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes an automated and connected vehicle testing and deployment commission.  This bill also establishes an automated vehicle pilot program.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

3Jan2018... 2447h

05/02/2018   1646s

05/02/2018   1832s 17-0411

03/01

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT establishing an automated and connected vehicle testing and deployment commission and establishing an automated vehicle pilot program.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Subdivision; Automated and Connected Vehicle Testing and Deployment Commission.  Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 161 the following new subdivision:

Automated and Connected Vehicle Testing and Deployment Commission

265:162  Automated and Connected Vehicle Testing and Deployment Commission.

I.  There is established an automated and connected vehicle testing and deployment commission.

II.  The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a)  The director of the office of strategic initiatives, or designee.

(b)  The commissioner of the department of transportation, or designee.

(c)  The commissioner of the department of safety, or designee.

(d)  The commissioner of the insurance department, or designee.

(e)  The director of the division of economic development, or designee.

(f)  The director of the division of state police, or designee.

(g)  The director of the division of motor vehicles, or designee.

(h)  Three members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by of the speaker of the house of representatives.

(i)  One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

III.  Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

IV.  To prepare the state for the use of automated vehicle technologies on public roadways, the commission shall:

(a)  Follow developments in the testing and deployment of automated and connected vehicle technology, including both federal and state laws, regulations, and guidance on the subject.

(b)  Identify all agencies with pertinent jurisdiction to support the testing and deployment of automated and connected vehicles.

(c)  Consider avenues to encourage the development of automated and connected vehicles technologies and their component hardware and software in New Hampshire, and to that end, shall work with both universities and companies in the sector to support innovation and development.

(d)  Examine ways to educate residents on the benefits of automated and connected vehicle technologies, including enhanced mobility, increased safety, more efficient land use, expanded roadway capacity, and reduced environmental impact.

(e)  Review existing state statues and administrative rules and identify existing statues or rules that impede the testing and deployment of automated and connected vehicles; such review shall include, but not be limited to, existing laws pertaining to vehicle registration and titling, vehicle insurance requirements, drivers' licenses, and general rules of the road.

(f)  Solicit input from representatives of:

(1)  New Hampshire colleges and universities.

(2)  Disabled communities.

(3)  Elder communities.

(4)  Public transportation providers.

(5)  Automated and connected vehicle manufacturers.

(6)  Automated and connected vehicle technology suppliers.

(7)  Automobile dealers.

(8)  The trucking industry.

(9)  Urban planning professionals.

(10)  Any other relevant actors with expertise or interest in the area of automated and connected vehicle technologies.

V.  The commission shall be chaired by the director of the office of strategic initiatives, or his or her designee.  The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the chairperson and shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.  Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

VI.  The commission shall report its initial findings and any recommendations to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 1, 2018, and provide annual reports thereafter every December 1.  Such annual reports shall include a summary of commission activities during the period, and may include recommendations for legislative and regulatory consideration.

2  New Subdivision; Automated Vehicle Pilot Program.  Amend RSA 21-P by inserting after section 68 the following new subdivision:

Automated Vehicle Pilot Program

21-P:69  Automated Vehicle Pilot Program.

I.  No person may test an automated vehicle in this state unless the person participates in the automated vehicle pilot program and provides notice under this section.  A person shall provide notice to the department, upon blanks furnished by it for that purpose, to participate in an automated vehicle pilot program.  The notice shall be accompanied by:

(a)  Information as to the date range and general geographic locations where the automated vehicles will be operated.  Testing may move to other areas with prior notice to the department; and

(b)  Evidence that the owner of the vehicle has obtained an instrument of insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-insurance in the amount of at least $5,000,000.

II.  The annual fee to participate in an automated vehicle pilot program shall be $500.

III.  The director may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a company's participation in the automated vehicle pilot program for any of the following reasons:

(a)  Failure to comply with the rules of the road of the state.

(b)  Any material misstatement on the notice for participation in the pilot program.

(c)  A finding that the operation of an autonomous vehicle by the person would create a danger to the public.

(d)  Failure to comply with the other requirements of this section.

3  Repeal.  The following are repealed:

I.  RSA 265:162, relative to the automated and connected vehicle testing and deployment commission.

II.  RSA 21-P:69, relative to the automated vehicle pilot program.

4  Effective Date.

I.  Section 3 of the act shall take effect December 2, 2019.

II.  The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

 

LBAO

17-0411

Amended 3/15/18

 

HB 314- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2017-2447h)

 

AN ACT relative to autonomous vehicles.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

   Expenditures

$49,000

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source:

  [    ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Other - Reflectorized Plate Fund and Restricted Cost of Collections*

*Pursuant to Part II, article 6-a of the New Hampshire constitution, any costs associated with the collection and administration of Highway Funds by the Department of Safety shall be deducted by the Department before such funds are credited to the Highway Fund as unrestricted revenue.

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes a license for autonomous vehicle operation and testing.  Licenses will be valid for one year at a cost of $500 and include temporary license plates.  It is unknown how many licenses will be applied for and issued and therefore this bill's impact on state revenue is indeterminable.  The Department of Safety estimates required system programming and testing costs will total $49,000.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety

 

 

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