SB 511: Pupil nutrition: nutrition assistance: community program information.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2026-01-05
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-02-02: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.)
Introduced
In Committee
Awaiting First Chamber Vote
Passed First Chamber
In Committee
Awaiting Second Chamber Vote
Passed Second Chamber
Enacted
Under existing law, the Legislature encourages school administrations to (1) offer wellness programs that include personalized instruction about healthy eating and physical activity and (2) ensure that the nutrition services, health services, and social services pupils need in order to learn are provided at the schoolsite or in cooperation with other community agencies.
This bill would state that the Legislature encourages school administrations, if the school maintains an internet website, to post on the schools internet website information about community programs that offer nutrition assistance to families.
(1)Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by an operator 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. Commencing January 1, 2030, and to the extent authorized by federal law, existing law requires that an autonomous vehicle with a model year of 2031 or later, as specified, only be operated pursuant to a deployment permit if it is a zero-emission vehicle. Existing law defines an autonomous vehicle for these purposes to include a vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that meets the definition of Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 of SAE Internationals standard J3016 from April 2021, as may be revised. Existing law excludes specific technologies from the definition of an autonomous vehicle, including, among other things, systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance that are not capable of driving the vehicle without the active control or monitoring of a human operator. A violation of these provisions is punishable as an infraction.This bill would instead require those zero-emission vehicle provisions to commence January 1, 2028, and apply to an autonomous vehicle with a model year of 2028 or later. This bill would revise the definition of autonomous vehicle to include a vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that meets the definition of Level 2 of that standard and restrict that definition only to the April 2021 version of the standard. The bill would also clarify that an autonomous vehicle has the ability to intentionally depart from its current lane of travel on a marked roadway while under the control of a driving automation system. This bill would delete the active control or monitoring exception and instead exclude systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance that are not capable of sustained automated steering of the vehicle.(2)Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations setting forth, among other things, requirements for the submission of evidence of insurance, a surety bond, or self-insurance. Existing law authorizes the department to establish additional requirements that are necessary to ensure the safe operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads, including, among others, new license requirements for the operator of an autonomous vehicle.This bill would additionally require the department to adopt regulations for training, testing, and application fees necessary to recover all reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the department to implement autonomous vehicle-related provisions, as well as administrative fines and penalties for violating specified provisions. The bill would require the department to adopt any regulation necessary to implement these provisions to ensure the safe operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads. The bill would, if the department adopts a special drivers license designation for an operator of an autonomous vehicle, require an operator to have that designation prior to operating an autonomous vehicle. By creating a new infraction for operating an autonomous vehicle without a special drivers license designation, contingent upon the department adopting that designation, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(3)Existing law prohibits a person from making specific modifications to a vehicle, including, among other things, adding a whistle-tip to the exhaust system of a motor vehicle. For purposes of autonomous vehicles, existing law defines a manufacturer as the person who manufactures a vehicle and equips autonomous technology on the originally completed vehicle or, in the case of a vehicle not originally equipped with autonomous technology, the person who modifies the vehicle by installing autonomous technology to convert it to an autonomous vehicle.This bill would make it a crime to modify a vehicle with before-market or aftermarket additions of software to give the vehicle the functionality of an autonomous vehicle. The bill would make it a crime to sell, lease, or transfer title to a vehicle that has been modified to make it an autonomous vehicle. This bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a fine not exceeding $10,000, by imprisonment, as specified, or by both that fine and imprisonment. The bill would require an autonomous vehicle owned or operated in this state that is manufactured after January 1, 2028, to be equipped with an electronic sensing device that can detect the presence of an unattended child under 6 years of age or a pet left inside the vehicle and for the vehicle to have the ability to notify the vehicles owner or first responders of the presence of the unattended child or pet. By creating new crimes, this bill would establish a state-mandated local program.(4)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.(1)Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by an operator 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. Commencing January 1, 2030, and to the extent authorized by federal law, existing law requires that an autonomous vehicle with a model year of 2031 or later, as specified, only be operated pursuant to a deployment permit if it is a zero-emission vehicle. Existing law defines an autonomous vehicle for these purposes to include a vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that meets the definition of Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 of SAE Internationals standard J3016 from April 2021, as may be revised. Existing law excludes specific technologies from the definition of an autonomous vehicle, including, among other things, systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance that are not capable of driving the vehicle without the active control or monitoring of a human operator. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. these provisions is punishable as an infraction.
This bill would instead require those zero-emission vehicle provisions to commence January 1, 2028, and apply to an autonomous vehicle with a model year of 2028 or later. This bill would revise the definition of autonomous vehicle to include a vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that meets the definition of Level 2 of that standard and restrict that definition only to the April 2021 version of the standard. The bill would also clarify that an autonomous vehicle has the ability to intentionally depart from its current lane of travel on a marked roadway while under the control of a driving automation system. This bill would delete the active control or monitoring exception and instead exclude systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance that are not capable of sustained automated steering of the vehicle.
(2)Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations setting forth, among other things, requirements for the submission of evidence of insurance, a surety bond, or self-insurance. Existing law authorizes the department to establish additional requirements that are necessary to ensure the safe operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads, including, among others, new license requirements for the operator of an autonomous vehicle.
This bill would additionally require the department to adopt regulations for training, testing, and application fees necessary to recover all reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the department to implement autonomous vehicle-related provisions, as well as administrative fines and penalties for violating specified provisions. The bill would require the department to adopt any regulation necessary to implement these provisions to ensure the safe operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads. The bill would, if the department adopts a special drivers license designation for an operator of an autonomous vehicle, require an operator to have that designation prior to operating an autonomous vehicle. By creating a new crime of infraction for operating an autonomous vehicle without a special drivers license designation, contingent upon the department adopting that designation, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(3)Existing law prohibits a person from making specific modifications to a vehicle, including, among other things, adding a whistle-tip to the exhaust system of a motor vehicle. For purposes of autonomous vehicles, existing law defines a manufacturer as the person who manufactures a vehicle and equips autonomous technology on the originally completed vehicle or, in the case of a vehicle not originally equipped with autonomous technology, the person who modifies the vehicle by installing autonomous technology to convert it to an autonomous vehicle.
This bill would make it a crime to modify a vehicle with before-market or aftermarket additions of software to give the vehicle the functionality of an autonomous vehicle. The bill would make it a crime to sell, lease, or transfer title to a vehicle that has been modified to make it an autonomous vehicle. This bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a fine not exceeding $10,000, by imprisonment, as specified, or by both that fine and imprisonment. The bill would require an autonomous vehicle owned or operated in this state that is manufactured after January 1, 2028, to be equipped with an electronic sensing device that can detect the presence of an unattended child under 6 years of age or a pet left inside the vehicle and for the vehicle to have the ability to notify the vehicles owner or first responders of the presence of the unattended child or pet. By creating new crimes, this bill would establish a state-mandated local program.
(4)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(1)Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by a driver an operator 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. Commencing January 1, 2030, and to the extent authorized by federal law, existing law requires that an autonomous vehicle with a model year of 2031 or later, as specified, only be operated pursuant to a deployment permit if it is a zero-emission vehicle. Existing law defines an autonomous vehicle for these purposes to include a vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that meets the definition of Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 of SAE Internationals standard J3016 from April 2021, as may be revised. Existing law excludes specific technologies from the definition of an autonomous vehicle, including, among other things, systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance that are not capable of driving the vehicle without the active control or monitoring of a human operator. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.This bill would instead require those zero-emission vehicle provisions to commence January 1, 2028, and apply to an autonomous vehicle with a model year of 2028 or later. This bill would revise the definition of autonomous vehicle to include a vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that meets the definition of Level 2 of that standard and restrict that definition only to the April 2021 version of the standard. The bill would also clarify that an autonomous vehicle has the ability to intentionally depart from its current lane of travel on a marked roadway while under the control of a driving automation system. This bill would delete the active control or monitoring exception and instead exclude systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance that are not capable of sustained automated steering of the vehicle.
(2)Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations setting forth, among other things, requirements for the submission of evidence of insurance, a surety bond, or self-insurance. Existing law authorizes the department to establish additional requirements that are necessary to ensure the safe operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads, including, among others, new license requirements for the operator of an autonomous vehicle.
This bill would additionally require the department to adopt regulations for training, testing, and application fees necessary to recover all reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the department to implement autonomous vehicle-related provisions, as well as administrative fines and penalties for violating specified provisions. The bill would require the department to adopt any regulation necessary to implement these provisions to ensure the safe operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads. The bill would, if the department adopts a special drivers license designation for an operator of an autonomous vehicle, require an operator to have that designation prior to operating an autonomous vehicle. By creating a new crime of operating an autonomous vehicle without a special drivers license designation, contingent upon the department adopting that designation, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(3)Existing law prohibits a person from making specific modifications to a vehicle, including, among other things, adding a whistle-tip to the exhaust system of a motor vehicle. For purposes of autonomous vehicles, existing law defines a manufacturer as the person who manufactures a vehicle and equips autonomous technology on the originally completed vehicle or, in the case of a vehicle not originally equipped with autonomous technology, the person who modifies the vehicle by installing autonomous technology to convert it to an autonomous vehicle.
This bill would make it a crime to modify a vehicle with before-market or aftermarket additions of software to give the vehicle the functionality of an autonomous vehicle. The bill would make it a crime to sell, lease, or transfer title to a vehicle that has been modified to make it an autonomous vehicle. This bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a fine not exceeding $10,000, by imprisonment, as specified, or by both that fine and imprisonment. The bill would require an autonomous vehicle owned or operated in this state that is manufactured after January 1, 2028, to be equipped with an electronic sensing device that can detect the presence of an unattended child or pet left inside the vehicle and for the vehicle to have the ability to notify the vehicles owner or first responders of the presence of the unattended child or pet. By creating new crimes, this bill would establish a state-mandated local program.
(4)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
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.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.
The Legislature encourages school administrations to do the following:
(a)Offer wellness programs that include personalized instruction about healthy eating and physical activity.
(b)Ensure that the nutrition services, health services, and social services children pupils need in order to learn are provided at the schoolsite or in cooperation with other community agencies.
(c)If the school maintains an internet website, post on the schools internet website information about community programs that offer nutrition assistance to families.
All matter omitted in this version of the bill appears in the bill as amended in the Senate, April 8, 2025. (JR11)(a)For purposes of this division, the following definitions apply:
(1)Autonomous technology means technology that has the capability to drive a vehicle without the active physical control by a human operator.
(2)(A)Autonomous vehicle means a vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that has been integrated into that vehicle that meets the definition of Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 of SAE Internationals Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles, known as standard J3016 (APR2021), and has the ability to intentionally depart from its current lane of travel on a marked roadway while under the control of a driving automation system.
(B)An autonomous vehicle does not include a vehicle that is equipped with one or more collision avoidance systems, including, but not limited to, electronic blind spot assistance, automated emergency braking systems, park assist, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, traffic jam and queuing assist, or other similar systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance that are not capable, collectively or singularly, of sustained automated steering of the vehicle.
(3)Department means the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(4)An operator of an autonomous vehicle is the person who is seated in the drivers seat, or, if there is no person in the drivers seat, causes the autonomous technology to engage.
(5)A manufacturer of autonomous technology is the person, as defined in Section 470, who originally manufactures a vehicle and equips autonomous technology on the originally completed vehicle or, in the case of a vehicle not originally equipped with autonomous technology by the vehicle manufacturer, the person who modifies the vehicle by installing autonomous technology to convert it to an autonomous vehicle after the vehicle was originally manufactured.
(b)An autonomous vehicle may be operated on public roads for testing purposes by an operator who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle being operated if all of the following requirements are met:
(1)The autonomous vehicle is being operated on roads in this state solely by employees, contractors, or other persons designated by the manufacturer of the autonomous technology.
(2)The operator is seated in the drivers seat, monitoring the safe operation of the autonomous vehicle, and capable of taking over immediate manual control of the autonomous vehicle in the event of an autonomous technology failure or other emergency.
(3)If the department adopts a special drivers license designation showing that an operator has passed a written or in-person driving test, an operator shall have that an operator has passed a written or in-person driving test, an operator shall have that designation prior to operating an autonomous vehicle.
(4)Prior to the start of testing in this state, a manufacturer performing the testing shall obtain an instrument of insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-insurance in the amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000), and shall provide evidence of the insurance, surety bond, or self-insurance to the department consistent with the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (d).
(c)Except as provided in subdivision (b), an autonomous vehicle shall not be operated on public roads until the manufacturer submits an application that is approved by the department pursuant to the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (d). The application shall contain, at a minimum, all of the following certifications:
(1)A certification by the manufacturer that the autonomous technology satisfies all of the following requirements:
(A)The autonomous vehicle has a mechanism to engage and disengage the autonomous technology that is easily accessible by the operator.
(B)The autonomous vehicle has a visual indicator inside the cabin to indicate when the autonomous technology is engaged.
(C)The autonomous vehicle has a system to safely alert the operator if an autonomous technology failure is detected while the autonomous technology is engaged, and when an alert is given, the system shall do either of the following:
(i)Require the operator to take control of the autonomous vehicle.
(ii)If the operator does not or is unable to take control of the autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle shall be capable of coming to a complete stop.
(D)The autonomous vehicle shall allow the operator to take control in multiple manners, including, without limitation, through the use of the brake, the accelerator pedal, or the steering wheel, and it shall alert the operator that the autonomous technology has been disengaged.
(E)The autonomous vehicles autonomous technology meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for the vehicles model year and all other applicable safety standards and performance requirements set forth in state and federal law and the regulations promulgated pursuant to those laws.
(F)The autonomous technology does not make inoperative any Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for the vehicles model year and all other applicable safety standards and performance requirements set forth in state and federal law and the regulations promulgated pursuant to those laws.
(G)The autonomous vehicle has a separate mechanism, in addition to, and separate from, any other mechanism required by law, to capture and store the autonomous technology sensor data for at least 30 seconds before a collision occurs between the autonomous vehicle and another vehicle, object, or natural person while the vehicle is operating in autonomous mode. The autonomous technology sensor data shall be captured and stored in a read-only format by the mechanism so that the data is retained until extracted from the mechanism by an external device capable of downloading and storing the data. The data shall be preserved for three years after the date of the collision.
(2)A certification that the manufacturer has tested the autonomous technology on public roads and has complied with the testing standards, if any, established by the department pursuant to subdivision (d).
(3)A certification that the manufacturer will maintain, an instrument of insurance, a surety bond, or proof of self-insurance as specified in regulations adopted by the department pursuant to subdivision (d), in an amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000).
(d)(1)The department shall adopt regulations setting forth all of the following:
(A)Requirements for the submission of evidence of insurance, a surety bond, or self-insurance required by subdivision (b).
(B)Requirements for the submission and approval of an application to operate an autonomous vehicle pursuant to subdivision (c).
(C)Training, testing, and application fees necessary to recover all reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the department to implement this division, which shall be deposited into the Autonomous Vehicle Regulatory Fund created pursuant to Section 38750.5.
(D)Administrative fines and penalties for a violation of this section.
(E)Processes related to notices of autonomous vehicle noncompliance pursuant to Section 38752.
(F)Any other regulation necessary to implement this division that is necessary to ensure the safe operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads, with or without the presence of an operator inside the vehicle.
(2)The regulations shall include any testing, equipment, and performance standards, in addition to those established for purposes of subdivision (b), that the department concludes are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, with or without the presence of an operator inside the vehicle. In developing these regulations, the department may consult with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, or any other entity identified by the department to have expertise in automotive technology, automotive safety, and autonomous system design.
(3)The department may establish additional requirements by the adoption of regulations that it determines, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, including, but not limited to, regulations regarding the aggregate number of deployments of autonomous vehicles on public roads, special rules for the registration of autonomous vehicles, new license requirements for operators of autonomous vehicles, regulations for notices of autonomous vehicle noncompliance, and rules for revocation, suspension, or denial of any license or any approval issued pursuant to this division.
(4)The department shall hold public hearings on the adoption of any regulation applicable to the operation of an autonomous vehicle without the presence of an operator inside the vehicle.
(e)(1)The department shall approve an application submitted by a manufacturer pursuant to subdivision (c) if it finds that the applicant has submitted all information and completed testing necessary to satisfy the department that the autonomous vehicles are safe to operate on public roads and the applicant has complied with all requirements specified in the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to subdivision (d).
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the application seeks approval for autonomous vehicles capable of operating without the presence of an operator inside the vehicle, the department may impose additional requirements it deems necessary to ensure the safe operation of those vehicles, and may require the presence of an operator in the drivers seat of the vehicle if it determines, based on its review pursuant to paragraph (1), that such a requirement is necessary to ensure the safe operation of those vehicles on public roads.
(f)The department shall post a public notice on its internet website when it adopts the regulations required by subdivision (d). The department shall not approve an application submitted pursuant to the regulations until 30 days after the public notice is provided.
(g)Federal regulations promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall supersede the provisions of this division when found to be in conflict with any other state law or regulation.
(h)The manufacturer of the autonomous technology installed on a vehicle shall provide a written disclosure to the purchaser of an autonomous vehicle that describes what information is collected by the autonomous technology equipped on the vehicle. The department may promulgate regulations to assess a fee upon a manufacturer that submits an application pursuant to subdivision (c) to operate autonomous vehicles on public roads in an amount necessary to recover all costs reasonably incurred by the department.
(i)(1)Commencing January 1, 2028, to the extent authorized by federal law, an autonomous vehicle with a model year of 2028 or later and a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 8,501 pounds shall only be operated pursuant to a deployment permit pursuant to Article 3.8 (commencing with Section 228.00) of Chapter 1 of Division 1 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations if the vehicle is a zero-emission vehicle, vehicle as defined in Section 44258 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)The department shall not commence rulemaking for the adoption of regulations implementing this subdivision before January 1, 2027.
SEC. 2.Section 38750.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:38750.5.(a)The Autonomous Vehicle Regulatory Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury.
(b)The moneys in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the department to implement this division.
SEC. 3.Section 38756 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:38756.(a)It is unlawful to transform or modify a vehicle with before-market or aftermarket additions of software in order to give that vehicle the functionality of an autonomous vehicle, as defined in Section 38750.
(b)It is unlawful to sell, lease, or transfer title to a vehicle described in subdivision (a).
(c)A violation of this section is punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(d)A crime under this section may be prosecuted regardless of concurrent enforcement of a civil penalty or administrative remedy available to the department.
SEC. 4.Section 38757 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:38757.(a)An autonomous vehicle owned or operated in the state shall have both of the following:
(1)An electronic sensing device that can detect the presence of an unattended child under six years of age or a pet left inside the vehicle.
(2)The ability to notify the vehicles owner or first responders of the presence of the unattended child or pet left inside the vehicle.
(b)This section shall only apply to an autonomous vehicle manufactured on or after January 1, 2028.
SEC. 5.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)For purposes of this division, the following definitions apply:
(1)Autonomous technology means technology that has the capability to drive a vehicle without the active physical control or monitoring by a human operator.
(2)(A)Autonomous vehicle means any a vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that has been integrated into that vehicle that meets the definition of Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 of SAE Internationals Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles, Vehicles, known as standard J3016 (APR2021), as may be revised. (APR2021), and has the ability to intentionally depart from its current lane of travel on a marked roadway while under the control of a driving automation system.
(B)An autonomous vehicle does not include a vehicle that is equipped with one or more collision avoidance systems, including, but not limited to, electronic blind spot assistance, automated emergency braking systems, park assist, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, traffic jam and queuing assist, or other similar systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance, but assistance that are not capable, collectively or singularly, of driving the vehicle without the active control or monitoring of a human operator. sustained automated steering of the vehicle.
(3)Department means the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(4)An operator of an autonomous vehicle is the person who is seated in the drivers seat, or, if there is no person in the drivers seat, causes the autonomous technology to engage.
(5)A manufacturer of autonomous technology is the person, as defined in Section 470, that who originally manufactures a vehicle and equips autonomous technology on the originally completed vehicle or, in the case of a vehicle not originally equipped with autonomous technology by the vehicle manufacturer, the person that who modifies the vehicle by installing autonomous technology to convert it to an autonomous vehicle after the vehicle was originally manufactured.
(b)An autonomous vehicle may be operated on public roads for testing purposes by a driver an operator who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle being operated if all of the following requirements are met:
(1)The autonomous vehicle is being operated on roads in this state solely by employees, contractors, or other persons designated by the manufacturer of the autonomous technology.
(2)The driver operator is seated in the drivers seat, monitoring the safe operation of the autonomous vehicle, and capable of taking over immediate manual control of the autonomous vehicle in the event of an autonomous technology failure or other emergency.
(3)If the department adopts a special drivers license designation showing that an operator has passed a written or in-person driving test, an operator shall have that an operator has passed a written or in-person driving test, an operator shall have that designation prior to operating an autonomous vehicle.
(3) Prior(4)Prior to the start of testing in this state, a manufacturer performing the testing shall obtain an instrument of insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-insurance in the amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000), and shall provide evidence of the insurance, surety bond, or self-insurance to the department consistent with the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (d).
(c)Except as provided in subdivision (b), an autonomous vehicle shall not be operated on public roads until the manufacturer submits an application that is approved by the department pursuant to the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (d). The application shall contain, at a minimum, all of the following certifications:
(1)A certification by the manufacturer that the autonomous technology satisfies all of the following requirements:
(A)The autonomous vehicle has a mechanism to engage and disengage the autonomous technology that is easily accessible by the operator.
(B)The autonomous vehicle has a visual indicator inside the cabin to indicate when the autonomous technology is engaged.
(C)The autonomous vehicle has a system to safely alert the operator if an autonomous technology failure is detected while the autonomous technology is engaged, and when an alert is given, the system shall do either of the following:
(i)Require the operator to take control of the autonomous vehicle.
(ii)If the operator does not or is unable to take control of the autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle shall be capable of coming to a complete stop.
(D)The autonomous vehicle shall allow the operator to take control in multiple manners, including, without limitation, through the use of the brake, the accelerator pedal, or the steering wheel, and it shall alert the operator that the autonomous technology has been disengaged.
(E)The autonomous vehicles autonomous technology meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for the vehicles model year and all other applicable safety standards and performance requirements set forth in state and federal law and the regulations promulgated pursuant to those laws.
(F)The autonomous technology does not make inoperative any Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for the vehicles model year and all other applicable safety standards and performance requirements set forth in state and federal law and the regulations promulgated pursuant to those laws.
(G)The autonomous vehicle has a separate mechanism, in addition to, and separate from, any other mechanism required by law, to capture and store the autonomous technology sensor data for at least 30 seconds before a collision occurs between the autonomous vehicle and another vehicle, object, or natural person while the vehicle is operating in autonomous mode. The autonomous technology sensor data shall be captured and stored in a read-only format by the mechanism so that the data is retained until extracted from the mechanism by an external device capable of downloading and storing the data. The data shall be preserved for three years after the date of the collision.
(2)A certification that the manufacturer has tested the autonomous technology on public roads and has complied with the testing standards, if any, established by the department pursuant to subdivision (d).
(3)A certification that the manufacturer will maintain, an instrument of insurance, a surety bond, or proof of self-insurance as specified in regulations adopted by the department pursuant to subdivision (d), in an amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000).
(d)(1)The department shall adopt regulations setting forth requirements all of the following:
(A)Requirements for the submission of evidence of insurance, a surety bond, or self-insurance required by subdivision (b), the (b).
(B)Requirements for the submission and approval of an application to operate an autonomous vehicle pursuant to subdivision (c), and processes (c).
(C)Training, testing, and application fees necessary to recover all reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the department to implement this division, which shall be deposited into the Autonomous Vehicle Regulatory Fund created pursuant to Section 38750.5.
(D)Administrative fines and penalties for a violation of this section.
(E)Processes related to notices of autonomous vehicle noncompliance pursuant to Section 38752.
(F)Any other regulation necessary to implement this division that is necessary to ensure the safe operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads, with or without the presence of an operator inside the vehicle.
(2)The regulations shall include any testing, equipment, and performance standards, in addition to those established for purposes of subdivision (b), that the department concludes are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, with or without the presence of a driver an operator inside the vehicle. In developing these regulations, the department may consult with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, or any other entity identified by the department that has to have expertise in automotive technology, automotive safety, and autonomous system design.
(3)The department may establish additional requirements by the adoption of regulations, which regulations that it determines, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, including, but not limited to, regulations regarding the aggregate number of deployments of autonomous vehicles on public roads, special rules for the registration of autonomous vehicles, new license requirements for operators of autonomous vehicles, regulations for notices of autonomous vehicle noncompliance, and rules for revocation, suspension, or denial of any license or any approval issued pursuant to this division.
(4)The department shall hold public hearings on the adoption of any regulation applicable to the operation of an autonomous vehicle without the presence of a driver an operator inside the vehicle.
(e)(1)The department shall approve an application submitted by a manufacturer pursuant to subdivision (c) if it finds that the applicant has submitted all information and completed testing necessary to satisfy the department that the autonomous vehicles are safe to operate on public roads and the applicant has complied with all requirements specified in the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to subdivision (d).
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the application seeks approval for autonomous vehicles capable of operating without the presence of a driver an operator inside the vehicle, the department may impose additional requirements it deems necessary to ensure the safe operation of those vehicles, and may require the presence of a driver an operator in the drivers seat of the vehicle if it determines, based on its review pursuant to paragraph (1), that such a requirement is necessary to ensure the safe operation of those vehicles on public roads.
(f)The department shall post a public notice on its internet website when it adopts the regulations required by subdivision (d). The department shall not approve an application submitted pursuant to the regulations until 30 days after the public notice is provided.
(g)Federal regulations promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall supersede the provisions of this division when found to be in conflict with any other state law or regulation.
(h)The manufacturer of the autonomous technology installed on a vehicle shall provide a written disclosure to the purchaser of an autonomous vehicle that describes what information is collected by the autonomous technology equipped on the vehicle. The department may promulgate regulations to assess a fee upon a manufacturer that submits an application pursuant to subdivision (c) to operate autonomous vehicles on public roads in an amount necessary to recover all costs reasonably incurred by the department.
(i)(1)Commencing January 1, 2030, 2028, to the extent authorized by federal law, any an autonomous vehicle with a model year of 2031 2028 or later and a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 8,501 pounds shall only be operated pursuant to a deployment permit pursuant to Article 3.8 (commencing with Section 228.00) of Chapter 1 of Division 1 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations if the vehicle is a zero-emission vehicle, as defined in Section 44258 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)The department shall not commence rulemaking for the adoption of regulations implementing this subdivision before January 1, 2027.
SEC. 2.Section 38750.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:38750.5.(a)The Autonomous Vehicle Regulatory Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury.
(b)The moneys in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the department to implement this division.
SEC. 3.Section 38756 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:38756.(a)It is unlawful to transform or modify a vehicle with before-market or aftermarket additions of software in order to give that vehicle the functionality of an autonomous vehicle, as defined in Section 38750.
(b)It is unlawful to sell, lease, or transfer title to a vehicle described in subdivision (a).
(c)A violation of this section is punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(d)A crime under this section may be prosecuted regardless of concurrent enforcement of a civil penalty or administrative remedy available to the department.
SEC. 4.Section 38757 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:38757.(a)An autonomous vehicle owned or operated in the state shall have both of the following:
(1)An electronic sensing device that can detect the presence of an unattended child or pet left inside the vehicle.
(2)The ability to notify the vehicles owner or first responders of the presence of the unattended child or pet left inside the vehicle.
(b)This section shall only apply to an autonomous vehicle manufactured on or after January 1, 2028.
SEC. 5.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)For purposes of this division, the following definitions apply:
(1)Autonomous technology means technology that has the capability to drive a vehicle without the active physical control or monitoring by a human operator.
(2)(A)Autonomous vehicle means any vehicle equipped with autonomous technology that has been integrated into that vehicle that meets the definition of Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 of SAE Internationals Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles, standard J3016 (APR2021), as may be revised.
(B)An autonomous vehicle does not include a vehicle that is equipped with one or more collision avoidance systems, including, but not limited to, electronic blind spot assistance, automated emergency braking systems, park assist, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, traffic jam and queuing assist, or other similar systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance, but are not capable, collectively or singularly, of driving the vehicle without the active control or monitoring of a human operator.
(3)Department means the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(4)An operator of an autonomous vehicle is the person who is seated in the drivers seat, or, if there is no person in the drivers seat, causes the autonomous technology to engage.
(5)A manufacturer of autonomous technology is the person, as defined in Section 470, that originally manufactures a vehicle and equips autonomous technology on the originally completed vehicle or, in the case of a vehicle not originally equipped with autonomous technology by the vehicle manufacturer, the person that modifies the vehicle by installing autonomous technology to convert it to an autonomous vehicle after the vehicle was originally manufactured.
(b)An autonomous vehicle may be operated on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle being operated if all of the following requirements are met:
(1)The autonomous vehicle is being operated on roads in this state solely by employees, contractors, or other persons designated by the manufacturer of the autonomous technology.
(2)The driver shall be is seated in the drivers seat, monitoring the safe operation of the autonomous vehicle, and capable of taking over immediate manual control of the autonomous vehicle in the event of an autonomous technology failure or other emergency.
(3)Prior to the start of testing in this state, the a manufacturer performing the testing shall obtain an instrument of insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-insurance in the amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000), and shall provide evidence of the insurance, surety bond, or self-insurance to the department in the form and manner required by the department pursuant to consistent with the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (d).
(c)Except as provided in subdivision (b), an autonomous vehicle shall not be operated on public roads until the manufacturer submits an application to the department, and that application that is approved by the department pursuant to the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (d). The application shall contain, at a minimum, all of the following certifications:
(1)A certification by the manufacturer that the autonomous technology satisfies all of the following requirements:
(A)The autonomous vehicle has a mechanism to engage and disengage the autonomous technology that is easily accessible to by the operator.
(B)The autonomous vehicle has a visual indicator inside the cabin to indicate when the autonomous technology is engaged.
(C)The autonomous vehicle has a system to safely alert the operator if an autonomous technology failure is detected while the autonomous technology is engaged, and when an alert is given, the system shall do either of the following:
(i)Require the operator to take control of the autonomous vehicle.
(ii)If the operator does not or is unable to take control of the autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle shall be capable of coming to a complete stop.
(D)The autonomous vehicle shall allow the operator to take control in multiple manners, including, without limitation, through the use of the brake, the accelerator pedal, or the steering wheel, and it shall alert the operator that the autonomous technology has been disengaged.
(E)The autonomous vehicles autonomous technology meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for the vehicles model year and all other applicable safety standards and performance requirements set forth in state and federal law and the regulations promulgated pursuant to those laws.
(F)The autonomous technology does not make inoperative any Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for the vehicles model year and all other applicable safety standards and performance requirements set forth in state and federal law and the regulations promulgated pursuant to those laws.
(G)The autonomous vehicle has a separate mechanism, in addition to, and separate from, any other mechanism required by law, to capture and store the autonomous technology sensor data for at least 30 seconds before a collision occurs between the autonomous vehicle and another vehicle, object, or natural person while the vehicle is operating in autonomous mode. The autonomous technology sensor data shall be captured and stored in a read-only format by the mechanism so that the data is retained until extracted from the mechanism by an external device capable of downloading and storing the data. The data shall be preserved for three years after the date of the collision.
(2)A certification that the manufacturer has tested the autonomous technology on public roads and has complied with the testing standards, if any, established by the department pursuant to subdivision (d).
(3)A certification that the manufacturer will maintain, an instrument of insurance, a surety bond, or proof of self-insurance as specified in regulations adopted by the department pursuant to subdivision (d), in an amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000).
(d)(1)The department shall adopt regulations setting forth requirements for the submission of evidence of insurance, surety bond, or self-insurance required by subdivision (b), the submission and approval of an application to operate an autonomous vehicle pursuant to subdivision (c), and processes related to notices of autonomous vehicle noncompliance pursuant to Section 38752.
(2)The regulations shall include any testing, equipment, and performance standards, in addition to those established for purposes of subdivision (b), that the department concludes are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, with or without the presence of a driver inside the vehicle. In developing these regulations, the department may consult with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, or any other entity identified by the department that has expertise in automotive technology, automotive safety, and autonomous system design.
(3)The department may establish additional requirements by the adoption of regulations, which it determines, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, including, but not limited to, regulations regarding the aggregate number of deployments of autonomous vehicles on public roads, special rules for the registration of autonomous vehicles, new license requirements for operators of autonomous vehicles, regulations for notices of autonomous vehicle noncompliance, and rules for revocation, suspension, or denial of any license or any approval issued pursuant to this division.
(4)The department shall hold public hearings on the adoption of any regulation applicable to the operation of an autonomous vehicle without the presence of a driver inside the vehicle.
(e)(1)The department shall approve an application submitted by a manufacturer pursuant to subdivision (c) if it finds that the applicant has submitted all information and completed testing necessary to satisfy the department that the autonomous vehicles are safe to operate on public roads and the applicant has complied with all requirements specified in the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to subdivision (d).
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the application seeks approval for autonomous vehicles capable of operating without the presence of a driver inside the vehicle, the department may impose additional requirements it deems necessary to ensure the safe operation of those vehicles, and may require the presence of a driver in the drivers seat of the vehicle if it determines, based on its review pursuant to paragraph (1), that such a requirement is necessary to ensure the safe operation of those vehicles on public roads.
(f)The department shall post a public notice on its internet website when it adopts the regulations required by subdivision (d). The department shall not approve an application submitted pursuant to the regulations until 30 days after the public notice is provided.
(g)Federal regulations promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall supersede the provisions of this division when found to be in conflict with any other state law or regulation.
(h)The manufacturer of the autonomous technology installed on a vehicle shall provide a written disclosure to the purchaser of an autonomous vehicle that describes what information is collected by the autonomous technology equipped on the vehicle. The department may promulgate regulations to assess a fee upon a manufacturer that submits an application pursuant to subdivision (c) to operate autonomous vehicles on public roads in an amount necessary to recover all costs reasonably incurred by the department.
(i)(1)Commencing January 1, 2030, to the extent authorized by federal law, any autonomous vehicle with a model year of 2031 or later and a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 8,501 pounds shall only be operated pursuant to a deployment permit pursuant to Article 3.8 (commencing with Section 228.00) of Chapter 1 of Division 1 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations if the vehicle is a zero-emission vehicle, as defined in Section 44258 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2)The department shall not commence rulemaking for the adoption of regulations implementing this subdivision before January 1, 2027.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Feb 2, 2026 | Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan 5, 2026 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Jan 5, 2026 | Re-referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Jan 5, 2026 | Withdrawn from committee. |
| Apr 18, 2025 | April 22 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Set for hearing April 29 in PUB. S. pending receipt. |
| Apr 8, 2025 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Apr 8, 2025 | Set for hearing April 22. |
| Apr 2, 2025 | Re-referred to Coms. on TRANS. and PUB. S. |
| Mar 26, 2025 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Feb 26, 2025 | Referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Feb 20, 2025 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22. |
| Feb 19, 2025 | Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association | ** Against | |
| California Coalition for Children's Safety and Health | ** Support | |
| California Teamsters Public Affairs Council | ** Support | |
| Center for Auto Safety | ** Support | |
| Tesla Inc. | ** Against | |
| The Dawn Project LLC | ** Support |
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Senator Dave Cortese, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular
Bill No: SB 511 Hearing Date: 4/22/2025
Author: | Pérez | ||
Version: | 4/8/2025 Amended | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | Manny Leon | ||
SUBJECT: Autonomous vehicles
DIGEST: This bill makes various changes to autonomous vehicle (AV) requirements, definitions, and imposes various penalties for certain violations of AV rules and regulations, as specified.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Defines “autonomous vehicle” to mean vehicle equipped with technology that makes it capable of operation that meets the definition of Levels 3, 4, or 5 of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International's Taxonomy and Testing of Autonomous Vehicles Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles, standard J3016 (APR 2021).
- Authorizes the operation of an AV 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.
- Prohibits the operation of an AV on public roads until the manufacturer submits an application to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and is approved, as specified.
- Requires DMV to adopt regulations setting forth requirements for the submission and approval of an application, including, among other things, any testing, equipment, and performance standards DMV concludes are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, as specified.
- Commencing January 1, 2030, and to the extent authorized by federal law, requires that an AV with a model year (MY) of 2031 or later, as specified, only be operated pursuant to a deployment permit if it is a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV).
- At the federal level, establishes the Federal Vehicle Safety Standards (FVSS) administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to set vehicle safety standards in areas such as vehicle design, construction, performance, and durability, as specified. NHTSA further provides regulatory guidance for AVs, including, but not limited to, levels of automation, as specified. Lastly, requires AVs or vehicles with level 2 ADAS to report crashes within five calendar days, as specified.
This bill:
- Revises the definition of AVs to include a vehicle equipped with “level 2” technology, as specified and further restricts this new definition to the abovementioned SAE J3016 (April 2021) standard.
- Adds to the revised definition that a level 2 vehicle having the ability to intentionally depart from a lane of travel, as specified, while under the control of a driving automation system is considered an AV.
- Removes AV exceptions pertaining to active control or monitoring from a human operator and instead, exclude systems that enhance safety or provide driver assistance that are not capable of sustained automated steering of the vehicle.
- Provides that if DMV adopts a special driver’s license (DL) designation for an AV operator, requires the operator to obtain the DL designation prior to operating the AV, as specified.
- Requires DMV to adopt additional regulations for:
- Establishing fees for relevant AV training, testing, and applications to recover department costs associated with administering AV regulations, as specified;
- Administrative fines and penalties for violations established under this measure; and,
- Any additional safety regulations necessary for the operation of AVs on public roads with or without an operator inside the vehicle, as specified.
- Accelerates the abovementioned AV ZEV requirement from 2030 to January 1, 2028, as specified.
- Establishes the Autonomous Vehicle Regulatory Fund, as specified.
- Makes it a crime to modify a vehicle with before-market or aftermarket additions of software that would provide the vehicle with AV functionality.
- Makes is a crime to sell, lease, or transfer title of a vehicle that has been modified to make it an AV.
- Makes it a violation to carry out the abovementioned modifications and / or transactions punishable by a fine and / or imprisonment, as specified.
- Requires an AV manufactured and owned / operated on or after January 1, 2028 to be equipped with an electronic sensing device that can detect the presence of an unattended child under age six or pet inside the vehicle, and also possess the ability to notify the vehicle’s owner or first responders of the unattended, as specified.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose of the bill. According to the author, “Autonomous vehicles are becoming a part on roadways. As the technology evolves, it is important that California ensure everyone using the roadways are safe while these vehicles also are present. California’s current law lacks sufficient safety and oversight of vehicles with full self-driving capabilities, allowing those with full self-driving capabilities to incorrectly be registered by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Under regulation of these vehicles not only places drivers in peril, but pedestrians. Unfortunately, this gap in regulation has resulted in more than 900 crashes and 29 fatalities on California’s roadways involving these incorrectly registered vehicles. This bill is necessary to ensure these vehicles are properly regulated.”
- NHTSA. Currently, NHTSA provides a variety of regulations and policy guidance pertaining to AVs. First, FVSS applies to all manufacturers and vehicles to provide across the board consistency and direction on vehicle specifications and safety standards. Additionally, NHTSA provides / offers guidance for AVs and AV manufacturers including, but not limited to, standardized levels of automation, an automated vehicle safety framework, and the ADS-equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation (AV STEP) Program. With respects to level of vehicle autonomy, NHTSA and DMV utilize the same SAE standards (i.e. Level 0-Level 5) with California statutes and regulations considering an AV levels 3 through 5.
- ADAS and ADS. Under SAE AV definitions, there are key differences between each level of vehicular autonomy. Levels 1 and 2 provide ADAS features that offer assistance to a human driver such as lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. Ultimately, under levels 0-2, these technologies are intended to assist the human driver, require human supervision, and the driver remains responsible for vehicle operation. Under existing law and regulations, levels 0-2 vehicles are not considered AVs. On the other hand, automated driving systems (ADS) are technologies designed to perform the entire dynamic driving task without a human driver. ADS equipped vehicles can operate autonomously under a variety of conditions and are considered vehicles in levels 3 through level 5. Under levels 3 through 5 (primarily levels 4 and 5), the ADS system takes full control of the vehicle and the human(s) in the vehicle is / are not responsible for the operation of the vehicle.
- Collisions and recalls. The author and sponsors of this bill assert additional safety measures are needed for vehicles with certain level 2 ADAS features. This assertion primarily stems from a major recall from the automaker Tesla in late 2023 following concerns raised by NHTSA in regards to a significant number of collisions (including several fatalities) tied to Tesla’s “Autopilot” ADAS features. Specifically, Tesla’s Autopilot ADAS features include “traffic-aware cruise control” which adjusts the vehicle’s speed based on surrounding traffic, and “autosteer” which assists the driver with keeping the vehicle centered in its lane. Tesla also offers a full self-driving feature which adds assistance such as “navigate on autopilot,” “auto lane change,” and “autopark,” which allow the vehicle to handle more complex driving scenarios. However, human driver supervision is still required when any of these features are activated and in use. In response to NHTSA’s efforts, Tesla carried out a number of actions in attempt to remedy the safety issues raised. The author of this bill and sponsors argue more needs to be done to ensure the public’s safety is upheld.
- NHTSA General Order 2021-01. While level 2 ADAS vehicles are not directly regulated at the state and federal level for their driver assistance capabilities, NHTSA’s General Order 2021-01 (Order herein through) establishes mandatory accident (vehicular crashes) reporting requirements for vehicles equipped with ADS or level 2 ADAS technologies. Specifically, the Order requires manufacturers and operators to report vehicular accidents involving ADS or level 2 ADAS technologies to NHTSA. For example, for ADS-equipped vehicles involved in an accident, the manufacturer / operator is required to be reported if ADS was active within 30 seconds of the incident and resulted in property damage or injury. For level 2 ADAS, manufacturers / operators must report vehicles involved in accidents if ADAS was active within 30 seconds and involved a vulnerable user, a fatality occurred, a passenger was hospitalized, the vehicle was towed off, or an airbag was deployed. Collecting this vehicular collision data will better equip NHTSA moving forward in developing regulations and guidance documents for both ADS and level 2 ADAS technologies.
- Expanding the AV definition. While the provisions specified in this bill attempt to enhance overall safety for specific level 2 ADAS technologies is well intended, the bill, in its current form, leaves a number of policy questions unanswered. For example, as noted above, extensive research and debate has resulted in both NHTSA and DMV adopting the SAE’s “level of automation” scale to properly categorize vehicles with varying degrees of ADAS and ADS technologies. As part of this standard, vehicles with level 0 through 2 driver assist features require the human driver to ultimately be responsible for the operation of the vehicle, regardless of the technology. Whereas, manufacturers are ultimately responsible for the operation of vehicles with level 3 through 5 ADS technologies. This bill, as proposed, would now consider certain level 2 ADAS vehicles AVs and as a result, remains unclear who (human driver vs. manufacturer) would be ultimately responsible for the operation of the vehicle.
- DL designation. The sponsors of this bill further assert that this bill authorizes DMV to establish a special DL for AV operation. This bill, as written, does not authorize DMV to establish a new specialized DL for AV operation, rather, the bill states if DMV adopts a special DL designation for AV operation, then a person will be required to have passed a DMV-created test prior to operating an AV. As written, it is unclear if DMV would be required to develop separate tests for each level of autonomy (i.e. level 2 ADAS, level 3, level 4, and level 5) and moreover, if this bill were to go into effect, it is unclear how DMV would manage existing drivers of level 2 ADAS vehicles in obtaining the new AV designation.
- ZEV mandate. This bill, as written, proposes to move up the statutory deadline, currently 2030, for the requirement that an AV needs to be a ZEV, to January 1, 2028. By this bill now including level 2 ADAS vehicles in the definition of AVs, this ultimately imposes a ZEV mandate on certain level 2 ADAS vehicles that currently are not subject to the AV ZEV requirement in statute. While many existing vehicles with level 2 ADAS technologies are in fact zero-emission, it’s unclear how the accelerated timeline will impact manufacturers in developing other types of vehicles with level 2 ADAS technologies.
- Sensing device. This bill, as written, requires an AV owned or operated in California to have a sensor / sensing device that can detect a child under six years of age or a pet left inside the vehicle and also have the capabilities to notify the vehicle’s owner or first responders of the unattended child or pet left inside the vehicle. This bill further specifies these provisions apply to manufactured AVs on or after January 1, 2028. While the author points out several technologies that offer “child presence detection” in vehicles, it’s unclear if the current technologies possess the ability to accurately identify a child under age six, determine the appropriate time a child may remain present in a vehicle, or contact the vehicle’s owner or first responder. Additionally, while these child detection sensors may be currently used voluntarily by vehicle owners, this bill mandates AVs manufactured starting January 1, 2028 to include an active child detection sensor, however remains silent on privacy matters such as what type of data is collected, how the data is stored, and who is authorized to monitor the collected data. Lastly, it’s unclear how federal law preempts this child detection sensor mandate for AVs that would operate in California after January 1, 2028.
- Double Referral. This bill is also referred to the Senate Public Safety Committee and will be heard in that committee should it pass out of this committee.
Related/previous Legislation:
SB 572 (Gonzalez, 2025) -- Would authorize DMV to collect certain accident data from manufacturers of vehicles with specific types of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) capabilities, as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday,
April 16, 2025.)
SUPPORT:
California Coalition for Children's Safety and Health (Sponsor)
California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
Center for Auto Safety
The Dawn Project LLC
OPPOSITION:
Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association
Tesla INC.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The sponsors of this bill write, “The California Coalition for Children’s Safety and Health (CCCSH) supports and is proud to co-sponsor SB 511 by Senator Perez bringing long overdue safety oversight to autonomous vehicles with full self-driving capabilities. Autonomous vehicles with full self-driving capabilities are already being dangerously used in California, with several other similar vehicles coming soon to California’s roadways. Tesla models with full self-driving feature are the passenger vehicle most folks talk about, but it will not be the only individually owned vehicle with full self-driving capability as other auto manufacturers are close on Tesla’s heels. SB 511 makes the important safety updates to how California provides safety oversight for these vehicles currently on the roadway but does so to provide the framework of safety that will be even more necessary as other auto manufacturers roll out their similar vehicles.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: Writing in opposition, “The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (“AVIA”) writes to express opposition to SB 511. The unworkable requirements imposed by this bill would effectively cut off the nascent autonomous vehicle (“AV”) industry in the state that has been a longstanding leader in AV technology development. To the extent that this bill is designed to impose heightened requirements on Level 2 vehicles–which are fundamentally different from autonomous vehicles–as currently drafted, this bill would inadvertently impact the AV industry. In particular, by making it unlawful to modify a vehicle with aftermarket additions to give a vehicle the functionality of an AV, SB 511 would affect the overwhelming majority of AV developers that currently retrofit traditional vehicles with automated driving systems.”
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Bill Co-Author(s):