Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2205 by Hancock (Relating to automated motor vehicles.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to establish a legal framework for the operation of automated motor vehicles. Specifically, the bill would:
1) Require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to govern automated motor vehicles; 2) Proscribe local entities from imposing a franchise or other regulation on operating an automated motor vehicle; 3) Specify that the owner of an automated motor vehicle is the vehicle's operator for purposes of enforcement of applicable traffic laws; 4) Remove the necessity for a licensed human operator to be present in the automated motor vehicle, and instead would consider the automated driving system to be the entity licensed to operate the vehicle; 5) Define the conditions under which an automated motor vehicle may operate in a highway, including the responsibilities of individuals involved in an accident involving an automated motor vehicle; and 6) Clarify that a manufacturer of an automated motor vehicles, or an automated driving system, is not liable for damage that arises from modifications made without the consent of the manufacturer.
It is assumed any cost associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 454 Department of Insurance, 601 Department of Transportation, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles