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SB-336 Transportation: fully-automated transit vehicles.(2019-2020)

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Date Published: 04/29/2019 02:00 PM
SB336:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Senate  April 29, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 336

Introduced by Senator Dodd

February 19, 2019

An act to add and repeal Section 99174 to of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 336, as amended, Dodd. Transportation: fully-automated transit vehicles.
Existing law establishes regulations for 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 being operated if the manufacturer meets prescribed requirements. Existing law imposes various requirements on transit operators.
This bill would require a transit operator, as defined, until January 1, 2025, to ensure each of its fully-automated transit vehicles, as defined, is staffed by at least one of its employees, who has had specified training, while the vehicle is in service. The bill would require a transit operator that deploys a fully-automated transit vehicle to report the results of that deployment to the Legislature on or before March 31, 2025.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 99174 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:

99174.
 (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Fully-automated transit vehicle” means a vehicle designed to carry passengers and capable of operating without a human operator physically onboard the vehicle and actively controlling or monitoring the vehicle.
(2) “Public transit operator” means a public entity, including, but not limited to, the state, any subdivision of the state, or a transit district, special district, joint powers authority, city, county, or city and county, that provides passenger transportation services.
(3) “Transit operator” means a public transit operator or a private entity that receives public moneys to provide passenger transportation services.
(b) (1) A transit operator shall ensure each of its fully-automated transit vehicles is staffed by at least one of its employees while the vehicle is in service.
(2) An employee staffing a fully-automated transit vehicle shall have been trained in passenger safety, passenger communication, assisting the disabled and elderly, and emergency response and preparedness.
(3) This subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2025.
(c) This section shall not apply to a fixed guideway vehicle operating on a closed loop and moving passengers within an airport or other similar facility.
(d) (1) A transit operator that deploys a fully-automated transit vehicle pursuant to this section shall, on or before March 31, 2025, report the results of that deployment to the Legislature.
(2) A report to be submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed.