BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 2682


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          Date of Hearing:  April 20, 2016


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                               Lorena Gonzalez, Chair


          AB  
          2682 (Chang) - As Amended March 18, 2016


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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill requires DMV, upon the development of a model state  
          policy on autonomous vehicles by the National Highway Traffic  
          Safety Administration (NHTSA), to hold public hearings on the  
          model policy and, to the extent authorized by other law,  








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          consider conforming DMV regulations with the model policy.


          FISCAL EFFECT:


          Minor absorbable costs to DMV, which indicates it has been in  
          constant communication with NHTSA regarding the department's  
          autonomous vehicle regulations and will likely be able to easily  
          conform its regulatory package to NHTSA's model state policy.


          COMMENTS:


          1)Background and Purpose. DMV is currently in the process of  
            adopting regulations applicable to the operation of autonomous  
            vehicles, pursuant to SB 1298 (Padilla), Chapter 570, Statutes  
            of 2012. In December 2015, DMV released, for public review, an  
            early draft of the regulations for the full deployment of  
            autonomous vehicles, and expects to initiate the final  
            regulatory process this summer.


            In January, the U.S Transportation Secretary announced that  
            within six months, the NHTSA will: 1) consult with industry  
            and other stakeholders to develop guidance on the safe  
            deployment and operation of autonomous vehicles; and 2)  
            consult with state partners, the American Association of Motor  
            Vehicle Administrators, and other stakeholders to develop a  
            model state policy on automated vehicles that offers a path to  
            consistent national policy.


            According to the author, this bill ensures California remains  
            a technological leader when the model policy is issued, and  
            remains competitive for any new related federal funds that  
            become available in the future.









                                                                    AB 2682


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          2)Related Legislation. AB 2866 (Gatto), pending in Assembly  
            Transportation, requires DMV and the CHP to conduct a pilot  
            project in three counties, in conjunction with one or more  
            manufacturers of autonomous vehicles, to test the safety and  
            feasibility of operating autonomous vehicles on public roads.



          Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081