S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  3909--A
     Cal. No. 428
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 1, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- reported
   favorably from said committee, ordered to  first  and  second  report,
   ordered  to  a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining
   its place in the order of third reading

 AN ACT establishing the New York task force on automated  vehicle  tech-
   nology;  and  providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expira-
   tion thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Legislative findings. The Legislature finds that automated
 vehicle technology offers widely anticipated and revolutionary potential
 for the transportation sector.  Among  the  unprecedented  opportunities
 offered  by  this  technology  are inclusive mobility options to benefit
 disadvantaged, disabled and elderly residents; congestion and  emissions
 mitigation;  improved  livable land use, and better road usage. Further,
 the legislature has amended section 2 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 2 of part H of chapter 58  of  the
 laws  of  2018,  as  amended by section 1 of part M of chapter 58 of the
 laws of 2019, to allow for a testing program for automobile  manufactur-
 ers  and  technology  leaders  to test and demonstrate automated vehicle
 technology in New York, which will expire and be deemed  repealed  April
 1,  2023.  Consequently,  the legislature finds that there is a pressing
 need for policymakers to study automated vehicle technology  and  formu-
 late  comprehensive laws and regulations to ensure the state is prepared
 for the safe deployment of automobiles equipped with this technology and
 to help prepare the state for a future where automated vehicle technolo-
 gy plays a role in shaping our roadways, economy, education system,  and
 society.

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

                                                            LBD05669-03-1

 S. 3909--A                          2
 
   To  this  end,  it is in the public interest to establish an automated
 vehicle task force to study, evaluate and develop recommendations relat-
 ing to specific actionable measures that address how  automated  vehicle
 technology  will  transform  the  state's  roadways,  economy, education
 system, and society.
   §  2.  Automated  vehicle task force. The New York task force on auto-
 mated vehicle technology is hereby established to study and  assess  the
 future of automated vehicle technology. For purposes of this act, "auto-
 mated  vehicle"  shall  mean  a motor vehicle that has the capability to
 drive the vehicle without the active control or monitoring  of  a  human
 operator  including  any automation level at or above SAE J3016 level 3.
 Such task force shall consist of  seventeen  members  with  demonstrated
 expertise  in issues relating to the work of the task force. The members
 of the task force shall be appointed as follows:
   (a) five members shall be appointed by  the  governor,  such  members'
 expertise shall encompass, but not be limited to, the areas of transpor-
 tation,  research and development, education, education for or assisting
 people with disabilities; one of these members shall be the commissioner
 of the department of motor vehicles and shall serve  as  chairperson  of
 the  task force; and one member shall be the commissioner of the depart-
 ment of transportation and shall serve as vice chair;
   (b) four members shall be appointed by the temporary president of  the
 senate,  one of whom shall be appointed from an association representing
 the manufacturers of the majority of new car and light truck manufactur-
 ers sold in the United States and shall represent a  different  original
 equipment  manufacturer  than the speaker of the assembly's appointment,
 and one of whom shall be appointed from a state federation of affiliated
 public sector, private sector, and building trades labor organizations;
   (c) four members shall be appointed by the speaker  of  the  assembly,
 one  of  whom  shall  be  appointed from an association representing the
 manufacturers of the majority of new car and light  truck  manufacturers
 sold  in  the  United  States  and  shall represent a different original
 equipment manufacturer than the temporary president's  appointment,  and
 one of whom shall be appointed from a statewide business advocacy organ-
 ization representing large and small member companies and local chambers
 of commerce and professional and trade associations;
   (d) one member shall be appointed by the senate minority leader;
   (e) one member shall be appointed by the assembly minority leader;
   (f)  one  member  shall  be  appointed  by the chancellor of the state
 university of New York; such member shall be  a  member  of  a  research
 faculty  of  an engineering department at a state university of New York
 campus; and
   (g) one member shall be appointed by  the  commission  on  independent
 colleges  and  universities  from a New York private university research
 faculty of an engineering department.
   § 3. All appointments shall be made no later than  the  thirtieth  day
 after the effective date of this section. Vacancies in the membership of
 the  task  force  shall be filled in the same manner provided for by the
 original appointments. The task force shall organize as soon as  practi-
 cable  following  the  appointment of its members. The chairperson shall
 appoint a secretary who shall not be a member of  the  task  force.  The
 members  of  the  task  force  shall  receive  no compensation for their
 services.
   § 4. The task force shall study, evaluate and develop  recommendations
 relating  to  specific  actionable  measures  that address how automated
 vehicle technology will transform the state's roadways, economy,  educa-

 S. 3909--A                          3

 tion  system  and  society. The automated vehicle task force shall study
 how to support the safe testing, deployment and operation  of  automated
 vehicle  technology on public highways. It shall take all of the follow-
 ing  into  consideration:  (a)  the  measures  necessary to successfully
 implement automated vehicles, including necessary legislative and  regu-
 latory  or  administrative changes; (b) the difficulties and liabilities
 that could arise by allowing automated vehicles on public  highways  and
 proper mechanisms to manage risks and ensure adequate risk coverage; (c)
 how automated vehicle technology can promote research and development in
 this  state;  (d)  potential  considerations  and resource needs for law
 enforcement; (e) potential infrastructure  changes  needed  and  capital
 planning  considerations;  and  (f)  any other issue the committee deems
 relevant.
   § 5. The task force shall be entitled  to  request  and  receive,  and
 shall  utilize such facilities, resources and data of any court, depart-
 ment, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or  any
 political  subdivision  thereof as it may reasonably request to properly
 carry out its powers and duties.
   § 6. In carrying out its functions, the task  force  shall  hold  five
 public  hearings  around  the  state to foster discussions in accordance
 with article seven of the public officers law, and formal  public  hear-
 ings  to  solicit  input and recommendations from statewide and regional
 stakeholder interests.
   § 7. The task force shall report its findings and  recommendations  to
 the  governor,  the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of
 the assembly on or before April first, two thousand twenty-three.
   § 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
 deemed repealed 2 years after such date.