By: Hancock  S.B. No. 2205          (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2017; March 29, 2017, read   first time and referred to Committee on Transportation;   April 24, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee   Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 24, 2017,   sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote    COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2205 By:  Hancock     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to automated motor vehicles.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 545, Transportation Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter J to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER J. OPERATION OF AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLES          Sec. 545.451.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Automated driving system" means hardware and   software that, when installed on a motor vehicle and engaged, are   collectively capable of performing, without any intervention or   supervision by a human operator:                      (A)  all aspects of the entire dynamic driving   task for the vehicle on a sustained basis; and                      (B)  any fallback maneuvers necessary to respond   to a failure of the system.                (2)  "Automated motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle on   which an automated driving system is installed.                (3)  "Entire dynamic driving task" means the   operational and tactical aspects of operating a vehicle.  The term:                      (A)  includes:                            (i)  operational aspects, including   steering, braking, accelerating, and monitoring the vehicle and the   roadway; and                            (ii)  tactical aspects, including   responding to events, determining when to change lanes, turning,   using signals, and other related actions; and                      (B)  does not include strategic aspects,   including determining destinations or waypoints.                (4)  "Human operator" means a natural person in an   automated motor vehicle who controls the entire dynamic driving   task.                (5)  "Owner" has the meaning assigned by Section   501.002(19), except that the term includes a manufacturer of an   automated motor vehicle or of an automated driving system.          Sec. 545.452.  SUBCHAPTER AND DEPARTMENT GOVERN   EXCLUSIVELY. (a)  Unless otherwise provided by this subchapter,   the following are governed exclusively by this subchapter:                (1)  automated motor vehicles, including any   commercial use or operation of automated motor vehicles; and                (2)  automated driving systems.          (b)  A political subdivision of this state or a state agency   may not impose a franchise or other regulation related to an   automated motor vehicle or automated driving system.          Sec. 545.453.  OPERATOR OF AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE.   (a)  When an automated driving system installed on a motor vehicle   is engaged:                (1)  the owner of the automated driving system is   considered the operator of the automated motor vehicle solely for   the purpose of assessing compliance with applicable traffic or   motor vehicle laws, regardless of whether the person is physically   present in the vehicle while the vehicle is operating; and                (2)  the automated driving system is considered to be   licensed to operate the vehicle.          (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a licensed human   operator is not required to operate a motor vehicle if an automated   driving system installed on the vehicle is engaged.          Sec. 545.454.  AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION. (a)  An   automated motor vehicle may operate in this state with the   automated driving system engaged, regardless of whether a human   operator is physically present in the vehicle.          (b)  An automated motor vehicle may not operate on a highway   in this state with the automated driving system engaged unless the   vehicle is:                (1)  capable of operating in compliance with applicable   traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state, subject to this   subchapter;                (2)  equipped with a recording device system as defined   by Section 547.615;                (3)  in compliance with applicable federal law and   Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards;                (4)  registered and titled in accordance with the laws   of this state; and                (5)  covered by motor vehicle liability coverage or   self-insurance in an amount equal to the amount of coverage that is   required under the laws of this state.          Sec. 545.455.  DUTIES FOLLOWING ACCIDENT INVOLVING   AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE. In the event of an accident involving an   automated motor vehicle, the automated motor vehicle or any human   operator of the automated motor vehicle shall, regardless of   whether the operator is required to do so under Chapter 550:                (1)  stop the vehicle at or return the vehicle to the   scene of the accident; and                (2)  immediately by the quickest means of communication   give notice of the accident to the:                      (A)  local police department if the accident   occurred in a municipality;                      (B)  local police department or the sheriff's   office if the accident occurred not more than 100 feet outside the   limits of a municipality; or                      (C)  sheriff's office or the nearest office of the   Department of Public Safety if the accident is not required to be   reported under Paragraph (A) or (B).          Sec. 545.456.  LIABILITY. (a)  The manufacturer of an   automated motor vehicle or the manufacturer of an automated driving   system is not liable, including for equitable relief, for damage   that arises from modifications made by a person other than the   manufacturer or without the consent of the manufacturer to:                (1)  the automated motor vehicle; or                (2)  an automated driving system installed on the   automated motor vehicle.          (b)  Subsection (a) does not supersede or otherwise affect   any contractual obligations between an automated motor vehicle   manufacturer or automated driving system manufacturer and a person   that modifies a motor vehicle after the vehicle is manufactured by   installing an automated driving system in the vehicle to convert   the vehicle to an automated motor vehicle.          Sec. 545.457.  VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION. An owner as defined   by Section 502.001(31) may identify the vehicle to the department   as an automated motor vehicle or an automated driving system.          SECTION 2.  (a)  In this section, "a request to intervene"   means notification by a vehicle to the human driver that the driver   should promptly begin or resume performance of the entire dynamic   driving task.          (b)  For purposes of Subchapter J, Chapter 545,   Transportation Code, as added by this Act, a motor vehicle equipped   with hardware and software capable of engaging in the entire   dynamic driving task with the expectation that a human driver will   respond appropriately to a request to intervene is subject to   Sections 545.452(b) and 545.456, Transportation Code, as added by   this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.     * * * * *