Bill Text: TX HB3475 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the operation of automated motor vehicles on highways in this state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-03 - Referred to Transportation [HB3475 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB3475-Introduced.html
85R12859 BEE-F | ||
By: Geren | H.B. No. 3475 |
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relating to the operation of automated motor vehicles on highways | ||
in this state. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 545, Transportation Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subchapter J to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER J. OPERATION OF AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLES | ||
Sec. 545.451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
(1) "Automated driving system" means hardware and | ||
software that are collectively capable, when installed on a motor | ||
vehicle and engaged, of performing all aspects of the dynamic | ||
driving task for the vehicle on a part-time or full-time basis | ||
without supervision by a human operator. | ||
(2) "Automated motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle on | ||
which an automated driving system is installed. | ||
(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of Motor | ||
Vehicles. | ||
(4) "Dynamic driving task" means the operational and | ||
tactical aspects of operating a vehicle. The term: | ||
(A) includes: | ||
(i) operational aspects, including | ||
steering, braking, accelerating, and monitoring the vehicle and the | ||
roadway; and | ||
(ii) tactical aspects, including | ||
responding to events, determining when to change lanes, turning, | ||
using signals, and other related actions; and | ||
(B) does not include strategic aspects, | ||
including determining destinations or waypoints. | ||
Sec. 545.452. SUBCHAPTER AND DEPARTMENT GOVERN | ||
EXCLUSIVELY. (a) Unless otherwise provided by this subchapter, | ||
the following are governed exclusively by this subchapter: | ||
(1) automated motor vehicles, including any | ||
commercial use or operation of automated motor vehicles; and | ||
(2) automated driving systems. | ||
(b) The department is the only state agency that may | ||
implement the provisions of this subchapter. No other state agency | ||
or entity may impose requirements or adopt regulations governing | ||
the operation of automated motor vehicles or automated driving | ||
systems in this state that are in addition to or otherwise | ||
inconsistent with this subchapter. | ||
(c) A political subdivision of this state may not impose a | ||
local fee, registration requirement, franchise, or other | ||
regulation related to an automated motor vehicle or automated | ||
driving system. | ||
Sec. 545.453. OPERATOR OF AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) When | ||
engaged, an automated driving system installed on a motor vehicle | ||
is: | ||
(1) notwithstanding Section 541.001, considered the | ||
operator of the vehicle for the purpose of assessing compliance | ||
with applicable traffic or motor vehicle laws; and | ||
(2) considered to be licensed to operate the vehicle | ||
and satisfy all physical acts required of the operator of a vehicle. | ||
(b) Notwithstanding any other law: | ||
(1) an automated driving system installed on a motor | ||
vehicle may be considered the operator of the vehicle; and | ||
(2) a licensed human operator is not required to | ||
operate a motor vehicle if an automated driving system installed on | ||
the vehicle is engaged. | ||
Sec. 545.454. AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION. (a) | ||
Subject to this subchapter, the owner of an automated motor vehicle | ||
or an operator authorized by the owner may operate the vehicle on a | ||
highway in this state with the automated driving system engaged, | ||
regardless of whether a human operator is physically present in the | ||
vehicle: | ||
(1) to test the vehicle; | ||
(2) to provide a transportation service to individual | ||
passengers; or | ||
(3) for any other use. | ||
(b) An automated motor vehicle may not be operated on a | ||
highway in this state with the automated driving system engaged | ||
unless the owner or authorized operator of the vehicle: | ||
(1) obtains and provides evidence to the department, | ||
in a form prescribed by the department, of an instrument of | ||
insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-insurance in the amount of | ||
at least $10 million; and | ||
(2) ensures that the vehicle is: | ||
(A) capable of operating in compliance with | ||
applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state, subject to | ||
this subchapter; | ||
(B) equipped with a data recording system with | ||
the capacity to record, before an accident involving the vehicle: | ||
(i) the status of the automated driving | ||
system; and | ||
(ii) other vehicle attributes, including | ||
speed, direction, and location; | ||
(C) in compliance with applicable federal law; | ||
and | ||
(D) registered and titled in accordance with the | ||
laws of this state. | ||
Sec. 545.455. PRIVACY POLICY; DATA COLLECTION. (a) An | ||
owner or operator of an automated motor vehicle that is used to | ||
offer a transportation service to individual passengers shall make | ||
publicly available a privacy statement disclosing the data handling | ||
practices of the owner or operator in connection with the vehicle. | ||
(b) An individual passenger of a transportation service | ||
that uses automated motor vehicles is considered to consent to the | ||
collection of data as described in an applicable privacy statement | ||
under Subsection (a) while a passenger in the vehicle. | ||
Sec. 545.456. LIABILITY. The manufacturer of an automated | ||
motor vehicle is not liable, including for equitable relief, for | ||
damage that arises from any modification made by a person other than | ||
the manufacturer or without the consent of the manufacturer to: | ||
(1) the automated motor vehicle; or | ||
(2) an automated driving system installed on the | ||
automated motor vehicle. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |