AV START Act

Bill: 115-s-1885
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-09-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Air quality
Child safety and welfare
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Department of Transportation
Energy efficiency and conservation
Federal preemption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hybrid, electric, and advanced technology vehicles
Land use and conservation
Law enforcement administration and funding
Manufacturing
Marketing and advertising
Motor vehicles
Product safety and quality
Public transit
Right of privacy
Technology assessment
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-28
text: 

American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act or the AV START Act

 
This bill: (1) establishes a framework for a federal role in ensuring the safety of highly automated vehicles (HAVs) by encouraging the testing and deployment of such vehicles; and (2) preempts states from enacting laws regarding the design, construction, or performance of HAVs or automated driving systems.
 
A state may not issue a motor vehicle operator's license for the use of an HAV in a manner that discriminates based on disability.
 
The bill: (1) sets forth conditions under which HAVs may be introduced into interstate commerce for purposes of testing, evaluation, or demonstration; and (2) applies certain safety exemptions to HAVs. Each manufacturer introducing a new HAV or automated driving system into interstate commerce shall provide a safety evaluation report.
 
The Department of Transportation shall: (1) establish a technical committee to make recommendations for HAV and automated driving system safety, (2) establish a working group on education efforts for advanced driver assist and automated driving systems, and (3) research the traffic safety implications of HAVs.
 
Each manufacturer of an HAV or automated driving system shall execute a written plan for identifying and reducing cybersecurity risks to the motor vehicle safety of such vehicles and systems.

action_date: 2017-11-28
text: 

American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies Act or the AV START Act

 
This bill: (1) establishes a framework for a federal role in ensuring the safety of highly automated vehicles (HAVs); (2) preempts states from adopting, maintaining, or enforcing any law, rule, or standard regulating an HAV or automated driving system (ADS) regarding certain safety evaluation report subject areas; (3) sets forth conditions under which HAVs may be introduced into interstate commerce for testing, evaluation, or demonstration; and (4) applies certain safety exemptions to HAVs.
 
The Department of Transportation shall: (1) establish a technical committee on HAV and ADS safety, (2) establish a working group on ADS education efforts, and (3) research the traffic safety implications of HAVs.
 
Each HAV or ADS manufacturer shall execute a written plan for identifying and reducing cybersecurity risks.
 

HAV Data Access Advisory Committee Act
 
 
The Department of Commerce shall establish the HAV Data Access Advisory Committee to provide a forum to discuss and make policy recommendations with respect to the information or data that vehicles collect, generate, record, or store in an electronic form that is retrieved from an HAV or ADS.
 
Commerce shall:
 
 
 develop educational cybersecurity resources to assist consumers in minimizing potential motor vehicle cybersecurity risks;
 
initiate a study on impacts of HAVs on transportation infrastructure, mobility, the environment, and fuel consumption; 
 
study ways to encourage U.S. manufacturing of automated driving equipment; and
 
 issue a final rule regarding a child safety system to alert motor vehicle operators to check rear designated seating positions after the engine is deactivated.
 
 
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration shall create a publicly accessible database containing information collected about individuals during motor vehicle operation and privacy policies and protections.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-11-28
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 268.
action_date: 2017-11-28
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-187.
action_date: 2017-11-28
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-187.
action_date: 2017-10-04
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-09-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2017-09-28
text: Introduced in Senate