S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  10586

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 7, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Rodriguez)
  -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to direct a study and report on  the  testing  and  operation  of
  autonomous vehicles on public highways

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Autonomous vehicle committee. (a) There is  hereby  created
the  autonomous  vehicle committee which shall guide the enactment of an
autonomous vehicle study to assess  the  future  of  autonomous  vehicle
technology.  For purposes of this act, "autonomous vehicle" shall mean a
motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle  without  the
active control or monitoring of a human operator.
  (b)  The  autonomous vehicle committee shall consist of at least eight
members:
  (1) The executive deputy commissioner of the department of motor vehi-
cles, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair;
  (2) A representative of the autonomous vehicle industry who  shall  be
appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
  (3)  A representative of highway user groups who shall be appointed by
the governor;
  (4) A representative of regional transportation agencies who shall  be
appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
  (5)  The chair of the assembly transportation committee, or his or her
designee;
  (6) The chair of the senate transportation committee, or  his  or  her
designee;
  (7)  A representative of the civic community who shall be appointed by
the governor;
  (8) A representative of transit advocates who shall  be  appointed  by
the governor; and
  (9) Any other stakeholders identified by the department of motor vehi-
cles.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD15494-01-6

              

A. 10586                            2

  (c)  The  autonomous  vehicle committee shall study how to support the
testing and operation of autonomous  vehicles  on  public  highways.  It
shall take all of the following into consideration:
  (1)  The measures necessary to successfully implement autonomous vehi-
cles, including any legislative changes.
  (2) Difficulties and liabilities that could arise by  allowing  auton-
omous vehicles on public highways.
  (3)  How autonomous vehicle technology can promote research and devel-
opment in this state.
  (4) Any other issue the committee deems relevant.
  S 2. Report. (a) On or before January 1,  2019,  the  committee  shall
report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legisla-
ture.  Such  report  shall  include recommendations and such legislative
proposals as shall be deemed necessary.
  (b) Prior to the completion of such report, the  commissioner  of  the
department  of  transportation  and the executive deputy commissioner of
the department of motor vehicles are authorized  and  directed  to  take
such  actions  as  are necessary to support the testing and operation of
autonomous vehicles on public highways.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.