SB 145: Autonomous vehicles: testing on public roads.

Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle operated if specified requirements are satisfied. Existing law prohibits the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads until the manufacturer submits an application to the Department of Motor Vehicles, as specified, and that application is approved. Existing law requires the department to notify the Legislature if it receives an application from a manufacturer seeking approval to operate an autonomous vehicle capable of operating without the presence of a driver inside the vehicle. Existing law prohibits such an application from becoming effective any sooner than 180 days after that application is submitted.

Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations no later than January 1, 2015, setting forth requirements for submitting evidence of insurance, surety bond, or self-insurance, and for submitting and approving an application to operate an autonomous vehicle. Existing law requires the department to approve an application submitted by a manufacturer if it finds, among other information, that the applicant has completing testing necessary to satisfy the department that the autonomous vehicles are safe to operate on the public roads. Existing law prohibits the limitation or expansion of existing authority to operate autonomous vehicles on public roads, until 120 days after the department adopts those regulations.

This bill would repeal the requirement that the department notify the Legislature of receipt of an application seeking approval to operate an autonomous vehicle capable of operating without the presence of a driver inside the vehicle. The bill would also repeal the requirement that the approval of such an application not be effective any sooner that 180 days after the date the application is submitted. The bill would require the department to provide public notice when it adopts the autonomous vehicle regulations, would repeal the 120 day prohibition against limiting or expanding the authority to operate autonomous vehicles, and instead would prohibit the department from approving an application submitted pursuant to the regulations until 30 days after public notice of the adopted regulations is provided.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.