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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation of autonomous motor vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 541.001(1), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(1) "Operator" means, as used in reference to a |
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vehicle, a person who drives or has physical control of a vehicle, |
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except as provided by Section 545.428(b). |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 545.428 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 545.428. AUTONOMOUS MOTOR VEHICLES. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Autonomous motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle |
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that uses autonomous technology to operate itself without the |
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active control or continuous monitoring of a person. |
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(2) "Autonomous technology" means technology |
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installed on a motor vehicle enabling the vehicle to operate |
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without the active control or continuous monitoring of a person. |
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The term does not include, except to the extent that such a system |
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may be a component of autonomous technology, individual safety |
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systems or driver assistance systems that enhance safety or provide |
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driver assistance, but are not individually capable of operating a |
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motor vehicle without the active control or continuous monitoring |
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of a person, such as systems designed to provide: |
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(A) collision avoidance; |
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(B) electronic blind spot assistance; |
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(C) crash avoidance; |
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(D) automated emergency braking; |
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(E) parking assistance; |
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(F) adaptive cruise control; |
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(G) lane keep assistance; |
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(H) lane departure warning; or |
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(I) traffic jam and queuing assistance. |
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(b) The operator of an autonomous motor vehicle operating |
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with the use of autonomous technology is the person who causes the |
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vehicle's autonomous technology to engage, regardless of whether |
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the person is physically in the autonomous motor vehicle while the |
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vehicle is operating. |
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(c) A person who operates an autonomous motor vehicle under |
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Subsection (b) must possess a valid driver's license. |
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(d) The department shall adopt rules authorizing the |
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operation of autonomous motor vehicles on roadways and public |
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highways in this state, including rules: |
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(1) establishing minimum requirements that an |
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autonomous motor vehicle must meet before the vehicle may be |
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operated on a roadway or public highway in this state; |
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(2) establishing insurance requirements for: |
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(A) autonomous motor vehicle operators in this |
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state; and |
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(B) manufacturers of autonomous motor vehicles |
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that may test their vehicles in this state; |
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(3) governing the safe operation of autonomous motor |
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vehicles on roadways and public highways in this state; |
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(4) governing the testing of autonomous motor vehicles |
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in this state; and |
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(5) restricting the testing of autonomous motor |
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vehicles to certain geographic regions of this state. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |