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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 by the Texas |
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Department of Transportation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 472, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. DEPARTMENT SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS |
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Sec. 472.041. DEPARTMENT USE OF AUTONOMOUS MOTOR VEHICLES. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Autonomous motor vehicle" means a self-propelled |
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vehicle or piece of equipment that uses autonomous technology to |
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operate itself without the active control or continuous monitoring |
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of a person. |
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(2) "Autonomous technology" means technology that |
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enables a vehicle or piece of equipment to operate without the |
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active control or continuous monitoring of a person. The term does |
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not include, except to the extent that such a system may be a |
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component of autonomous technology, an individual safety system or |
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a driver assistance system that enhances safety or provides driver |
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assistance but is not individually capable of operating a motor |
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vehicle or piece of equipment without the active control or |
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continuous monitoring of a person. |
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(3) "Passenger vehicle" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 545.412. |
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(b) An operator of an autonomous motor vehicle operating |
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with autonomous technology is: |
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(1) a person who causes the vehicle's autonomous |
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technology to engage, regardless of whether the person is in the |
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autonomous motor vehicle while the vehicle is operating; or |
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(2) a person who is seated in the driver's seat of the |
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autonomous motor vehicle and continuously monitors the operation of |
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the autonomous motor vehicle. |
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(c) The commission by order may authorize the department to |
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operate an autonomous motor vehicle on the state highway system to |
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perform construction and maintenance work for the department if: |
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(1) the commission determines that the use of the |
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autonomous motor vehicle will increase the efficiency of |
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construction and maintenance projects and improve the safety of |
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department employees and the public; |
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(2) the manufacturer of that type of autonomous motor |
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vehicle has certified that: |
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(A) the autonomous technology of the autonomous |
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motor vehicle: |
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(i) complies with state and federal |
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standards and regulations for motor vehicles; and |
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(ii) does not impede the operation of a |
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feature of a motor vehicle that is required for the motor vehicle to |
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comply with: |
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(a) state and federal standards and |
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regulations for motor vehicles; or |
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(b) federal motor vehicle safety |
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standards for the model year of the motor vehicle, if the motor |
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vehicle is a passenger vehicle; |
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(B) the manufacturer has tested the autonomous |
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motor vehicle on public roadways; and |
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(C) the manufacturer has established financial |
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responsibility in a manner accepted under Section 601.051 in an |
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amount of at least $5 million; |
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(3) the autonomous motor vehicle includes a fail-safe |
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system where: |
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(A) an indicator alerts the operator to a failure |
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of the autonomous technology that may affect the motor vehicle's |
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ability to operate autonomously; and |
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(B) when the indicator is activated: |
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(i) the motor vehicle may be manually |
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controlled by the operator; or |
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(ii) the motor vehicle stops; |
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(4) the autonomous motor vehicle includes an indicator |
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that indicates whether the vehicle's autonomous technology is |
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turned on or off; and |
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(5) the autonomous motor vehicle allows the operator |
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to assume active control over the motor vehicle, including by using |
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the brakes, accelerator pedal, and steering wheel. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |