Senate Bill S6993

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
     S. 6993                                                  A. 7744
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                       S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 21, 2021
                                ___________
 
 IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered print-
   ed,  and  when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transporta-
   tion
 
 IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. McMAHON -- read once and  referred
   to the Committee on Transportation

 AN  ACT  to  amend part FF of chapter 55 of the laws of 2017 relating to
   motor  vehicles  equipped  with  autonomous  vehicle  technology,   in
   relation  to  demonstrations  and tests conducted by the University at
   Buffalo
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Subdivision a of section 1 of part FF of chapter 55 of the
 laws of 2017, relating to motor vehicles equipped with autonomous  vehi-
 cle  technology,  as amended by section 1 of part H of chapter 58 of the
 laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   a. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1226 of the  vehicle  and
 traffic  law,  the  New  York  state  commissioner of motor vehicles may
 approve demonstrations and tests consisting of the operation of a  motor
 vehicle  equipped  with  autonomous  vehicle technology while such motor
 vehicle is engaged in the use of  such  technology  on  public  highways
 within  this  state  for the purposes of demonstrating and assessing the
 current development of autonomous vehicle technology and to begin  iden-
 tifying potential impacts of such technology on safety, traffic control,
 traffic  enforcement, emergency services, and such other areas as may be
 identified by such commissioner. Provided,  however,  that  such  demon-
 strations  and  tests  NOT  CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO shall
 only take place under the direct  supervision  of  the  New  York  state
 police, in a form and manner prescribed by the superintendent of the New
 York  state  police.  Additionally,  a  law enforcement interaction plan
 shall be included as part of the demonstration and test application that

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

                                                            LBD07803-03-1

 S. 6993                             2                            A. 7744
 
 includes information for law enforcement and first responders  regarding
 how to interact with such a vehicle in emergency and traffic enforcement
 situations.   Such demonstrations and tests shall take place in a manner
 and form prescribed by the commissioner of motor vehicles including, but
 not  limited  to:  a  requirement  that a natural person holding a valid
 license for the operation of the motor vehicle's class be present within
 such vehicle for the duration of the time it is operated on public high-
 ways; a requirement that the  motor  vehicle  utilized  in  such  demon-
 strations  and  tests complies with all applicable federal motor vehicle
 safety standards and New York state motor vehicle inspection  standards;
 and a requirement that the motor vehicle utilized in such demonstrations
 and  tests  has in place, at a minimum, financial security in the amount
 of five million dollars. PROVIDED FURTHER THAT DEMONSTRATIONS AND  TESTS
 CONDUCTED  BY  THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO SHALL ONLY TAKE PLACE UNDER THE
 SUPERVISION OF THE ERIE COUNTY SHERIFF,  UNIVERSITY  AT  BUFFALO  CAMPUS
 POLICE,  AND/OR TOWN OF AMHERST POLICE, WITH SUPERVISION, FUTURE TESTING
 ZONES AUTHORIZED AND MINIMUM FINANCIAL SECURITY LEVELS  SUBJECT  TO  THE
 CONSENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TOWN OF AMHERST. Nothing
 in  this  act  shall authorize the motor vehicle utilized in such demon-
 strations and tests to operate in violation of article 22 or title 7  of
 the vehicle and traffic law, excluding section 1226 of such law.
   §  2.  This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that
 the amendments to subdivision a of section 1 of part FF of chapter 55 of
 the laws of 2017 made by section one of this act shall  not  affect  the
 repeal of such subdivision and shall be deemed to repeal therewith.