S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4901
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CUNNINGHAM  -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation  to  autonomous
   vehicle driving
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1.  The vehicle and traffic law is amended  by  adding  a  new
 article 34-E to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 34-E
                        AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE DRIVING
 SECTION 1290. DEFINITIONS.
         1291. OPERATION  OF  FULLY  AUTONOMOUS  VEHICLES WITHOUT A HUMAN
                 DRIVER.
         1292. LICENSING.
         1293. INSURANCE.
         1294. DUTIES FOLLOWING CRASHES INVOLVING FULLY AUTONOMOUS  VEHI-
                 CLES.
         1295. ON-DEMAND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NETWORK.
         1296. REGISTRATION AND TITLE.
         1297. CONTROLLING AUTHORITY.
         1298. OPERATION  OF  A  MOTOR  VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATED DRIVING
                 SYSTEM BY A HUMAN DRIVER.
   § 1290. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE THE FOLLOWING  TERMS
 SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   1.  "AUTOMATED  DRIVING  SYSTEM"  SHALL MEAN THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
 THAT ARE COLLECTIVELY CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THE ENTIRE  DYNAMIC  DRIVING
 TASK  ON  A  SUSTAINED  BASIS,  REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS LIMITED TO A
 SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN;
   2. "DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK OR DDT" SHALL MEAN ALL OF THE REAL-TIME OPER-
 ATIONAL AND TACTICAL FUNCTIONS REQUIRED TO OPERATE A VEHICLE IN  ON-ROAD
 TRAFFIC,  EXCLUDING  THE STRATEGIC FUNCTIONS SUCH AS TRIP SCHEDULING AND
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00929-01-5
              

 A. 4901                             2
 
 SELECTION OF DESTINATIONS AND WAYPOINTS, AND INCLUDING  WITHOUT  LIMITA-
 TION:  LATERAL  VEHICLE MOTION CONTROL VIA STEERING, LONGITUDINAL MOTION
 CONTROL VIA ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION, MONITORING THE DRIVING  ENVI-
 RONMENT VIA OBJECT AND EVENT DETECTION, RECOGNITION, CLASSIFICATION, AND
 RESPONSE  PREPARATION,  OBJECT  AND  EVENT  RESPONSE EXECUTION, MANEUVER
 PLANNING; AND ENHANCING CONSPICUITY VIA LIGHTING, SIGNALING, AND GESTUR-
 ING;
   3. "DDT FALLBACK" SHALL MEAN THE RESPONSE BY THE PERSON OR HUMAN DRIV-
 ER TO EITHER PERFORM THE DDT OR ACHIEVE A MINIMAL RISK  CONDITION  AFTER
 OCCURRENCE  OF  A DDT PERFORMANCE-RELEVANT SYSTEM FAILURE OR FAILURES OR
 UPON OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN EXIT, OR THE  RESPONSE  BY  AN  AUTOMATED
 DRIVING SYSTEM TO ACHIEVE MINIMAL RISK CONDITION, GIVEN THE SAME CIRCUM-
 STANCES;
   4. "FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE" SHALL MEAN A MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH
 AN  AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM DESIGNED TO FUNCTION WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER
 AS A LEVEL 4 OR 5 SYSTEM UNDER SAE J3016;
   5. "HUMAN DRIVER" SHALL MEAN A NATURAL PERSON IN THE  VEHICLE  WITH  A
 VALID LICENSE TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHO CONTROLS ALL OR PART OF THE
 DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK;
   6.  "MINIMAL RISK CONDITION" SHALL MEAN A CONDITION TO WHICH A PERSON,
 HUMAN DRIVER, OR AN ADS MAY BRING A VEHICLE  AFTER  PERFORMING  THE  DDT
 FALLBACK IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A CRASH WHEN A GIVEN TRIP CANNOT
 OR SHOULD NOT BE COMPLETED;
   7.  "ON-DEMAND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NETWORK" SHALL MEAN A TRANSPORTATION
 SERVICE NETWORK THAT USES A SOFTWARE APPLICATION OR OTHER DIGITAL  MEANS
 TO  DISPATCH  OR  OTHERWISE ENABLE THE PRE-ARRANGEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 WITH FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES FOR PURPOSES OF  TRANSPORTING  PASSENGERS
 OR  GOODS,  INCLUDING  FOR-HIRE  TRANSPORTATION  AND  TRANSPORTATION  OF
 PASSENGERS OR GOODS FOR COMPENSATION;
   8. "OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN OR ODD" SHALL MEAN OPERATING  CONDITIONS
 UNDER WHICH A GIVEN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO
 FUNCTION,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT LIMITED TO, ENVIRONMENTAL, GEOGRAPHICAL,
 AND TIME-OF-DAY RESTRICTIONS, AND/OR THE REQUISITE PRESENCE  OR  ABSENCE
 OF CERTAIN TRAFFIC OR ROADWAY CHARACTERISTICS;
   9.  "PERSON" SHALL MEAN A NATURAL PERSON, CORPORATION, BUSINESS TRUST,
 ESTATE, TRUST,  PARTNERSHIP,  LIMITED  LIABILITY  COMPANY,  ASSOCIATION,
 JOINT  VENTURE,  GOVERNMENTAL  AGENCY,  PUBLIC CORPORATION, OR ANY OTHER
 LEGAL OR COMMERCIAL ENTITY;
   10. "REQUEST TO INTERVENE" SHALL MEAN  NOTIFICATION  BY  AN  AUTOMATED
 DRIVING  SYSTEM TO A HUMAN DRIVER, THAT THE HUMAN DRIVER SHOULD PROMPTLY
 BEGIN OR RESUME PERFORMANCE OF PART OR ALL OF THE DYNAMIC DRIVING  TASK;
 AND
   11.  "SAE  J3016"  SHALL  MEAN  THE TAXONOMY AND DEFINITIONS FOR TERMS
 RELATED  TO  DRIVING  AUTOMATION  SYSTEMS  FOR  ON-ROAD  MOTOR  VEHICLES
 PUBLISHED BY SAE INTERNATIONAL IN APRIL 2021.
   § 1291. OPERATION OF FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER.
 1.  A  PERSON MAY OPERATE A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ON THE PUBLIC ROADS
 OF THIS STATE WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER PROVIDED THAT THE AUTOMATED DRIVING
 SYSTEM IS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE MEETS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
   (A) IF A FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM OCCURS  THAT  RENDERS
 THAT  SYSTEM  UNABLE TO PERFORM THE ENTIRE DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK RELEVANT
 TO ITS INTENDED OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN, THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS  VEHICLE
 SHALL ACHIEVE A MINIMAL RISK CONDITION;
   (B) THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE IS CAPABLE OF OPERATING IN COMPLIANCE
 WITH  THE  APPLICABLE  TRAFFIC  AND  MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY LAWS AND REGU-
 A. 4901                             3
 
 LATIONS OF THIS STATE WHEN REASONABLE TO DO SO, UNLESS AN EXEMPTION  HAS
 BEEN GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT; AND
   (C)  WHEN  REQUIRED  BY  FEDERAL  LAW,  THE VEHICLE BEARS THE REQUIRED
 MANUFACTURER'S CERTIFICATION LABEL INDICATING THAT AT THE  TIME  OF  ITS
 MANUFACTURE  IT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICA-
 BLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, INCLUDING REFERENCE  TO  ANY
 EXEMPTION GRANTED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.
   2.  PRIOR  TO OPERATING A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ON THE PUBLIC ROADS
 OF THIS STATE WITHOUT A HUMAN  DRIVER,  A  PERSON  SHALL  SUBMIT  A  LAW
 ENFORCEMENT INTERACTION PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH SHALL DESCRIBE:
   (A)  THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATING WITH A FLEET SUPPORT SPECIALIST WHO IS
 AVAILABLE DURING THE TIMES THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION;
   (B) THE MEANS OF SAFELY REMOVING THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE FROM THE
 ROADWAY AND STEPS TO SAFELY TOW THE VEHICLE;
   (C) THE MEANS TO RECOGNIZE WHETHER OR NOT THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE
 IS IN AUTONOMOUS MODE; AND
   (D) ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THE MANUFACTURER OR OWNER DEEMS  NECES-
 SARY  REGARDING  THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OR PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS ASSOCI-
 ATED WITH THE OPERATION OF THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE.
   § 1292. LICENSING. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE  NINETEEN
 OF  THIS  CHAPTER, WHEN AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM INSTALLED ON A MOTOR
 VEHICLE IS ENGAGED:
   1. THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED THE DRIVER OR  OPERATOR,
 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSESSING COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE TRAFFIC OR MOTOR
 VEHICLE  LAWS AND SHALL BE DEEMED TO SATISFY ELECTRONICALLY ALL PHYSICAL
 ACTS REQUIRED BY A DRIVER OR OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE; AND
   2. THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED TO BE LICENSED TO  OPER-
 ATE THE VEHICLE.
   §  1293.  INSURANCE.  BEFORE  OPERATING  A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ON
 PUBLIC ROADS IN THIS STATE, A PERSON SHALL  SUBMIT  PROOF  OF  FINANCIAL
 RESPONSIBILITY  SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS
 VEHICLE IS COVERED BY INSURANCE OR PROOF OF SELF-INSURANCE  THAT  SATIS-
 FIES THE REQUIREMENTS OF ARTICLE SIX OF THIS CHAPTER.
   §  1294. DUTIES FOLLOWING CRASHES INVOLVING FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.
 IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH:
   1. THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SHALL REMAIN ON THE SCENE OF THE CRASH
 WHEN REQUIRED BY ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER; AND
   2. THE OWNER OF THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE, OR A PERSON ON BEHALF OF
 THE VEHICLE OWNER, SHALL  PROMPTLY  REPORT  ANY  CRASHES  OR  COLLISIONS
 CONSISTENT WITH ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
   §  1295. ON-DEMAND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NETWORK. AN ON-DEMAND AUTONOMOUS
 VEHICLE NETWORK SHALL BE PERMITTED TO OPERATE  PURSUANT  TO  STATE  LAWS
 GOVERNING  THE  OPERATION OF TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES, TAXIS, OR
 ANY OTHER GROUND TRANSPORTATION FOR-HIRE OF PASSENGERS, WITH THE  EXCEP-
 TION  THAT  ANY  PROVISION  OF ARTICLE FORTY-FOUR-B OF THIS CHAPTER THAT
 REASONABLY APPLIES ONLY TO A HUMAN DRIVER DOES NOT APPLY TO  THE  OPERA-
 TION  OF  FULLY  AUTONOMOUS  VEHICLES  WITH THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM
 ENGAGED ON AN ON-DEMAND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NETWORK.
   § 1296. REGISTRATION AND TITLE. 1. A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SHALL BE
 PROPERLY REGISTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE FOUR OF  THIS  CHAPTER  AND
 THE  VEHICLE  SHALL  BE IDENTIFIED ON THE REGISTRATION AS A FULLY AUTON-
 OMOUS VEHICLE.
   2. A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SHALL BE PROPERLY TITLED  IN  ACCORDANCE
 WITH  ARTICLE FORTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER AND THE VEHICLE SHALL BE IDENTI-
 FIED ON THE TITLE AS A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE.
 A. 4901                             4
 
   § 1297. CONTROLLING AUTHORITY. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE OR  REGU-
 LATION TO THE CONTRARY:
   1.  UNLESS  OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS CHAPTER AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
 OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND AUTOMATED  DRIVING
 SYSTEMS  ARE GOVERNED EXCLUSIVELY BY THIS ARTICLE. THE DEPARTMENT IS THE
 SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE STATE AGENCY THAT MAY  IMPLEMENT  THE  PROVISIONS  OF
 THIS ARTICLE;
   2.  FULLY  AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEMS OPERATING
 PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO SECTION TWELVE  HUNDRED
 TWENTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER; AND
   3.  NO  STATE  AGENCY,  POLITICAL  SUBDIVISION, MUNICIPALITY, OR LOCAL
 ENTITY MAY PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF FULLY  AUTONOMOUS  VEHICLES,  AUTO-
 MATED  DRIVING  SYSTEMS,  OR  ON-DEMAND  AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NETWORKS, OR
 OTHERWISE ENACT OR KEEP IN FORCE RULES OR ORDINANCES THAT  WOULD  IMPOSE
 TAXES,  FEES,  OR  OTHER  REQUIREMENTS  INCLUDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS,
 SPECIFIC TO THE OPERATION OF FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, AUTOMATED  DRIV-
 ING SYSTEMS, OR ON-DEMAND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE NETWORKS IN ADDITION TO THE
 REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ARTICLE.
   4. NOTWITHSTANDING SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO, OR THREE OF THIS SECTION, ANY
 CITY WITH A POPULATION OF FIVE MILLION OR MORE MAY ESTABLISH LOCAL RULES
 AND  REGULATIONS GOVERNING FOR-HIRE VEHICLE SERVICES FOR TRIPS ORIGINAT-
 ING IN SUCH CITY, WHEN SUCH SERVICES ARE PROVIDED USING FULLY AUTONOMOUS
 VEHICLES,  INCLUDING,  AS  APPLICABLE,  ON-DEMAND   AUTONOMOUS   VEHICLE
 NETWORKS,   TAX,   LIMOUSINE,  PARATRANSIT  VEHICLE,  AND  COMMUTER  VAN
 SERVICES.
   § 1298. OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATED DRIVING  SYSTEM
 BY  A  HUMAN  DRIVER.   1. A PERSON MAY OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED
 WITH AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THE ENTIRE DYNAM-
 IC DRIVING TASK IF:
   (A) SUCH AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM WILL ISSUE A  REQUEST  TO  INTERVENE
 WHENEVER  THE  AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM IS NOT CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THE
 ENTIRE DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT  THE  PERSON  WILL
 RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO SUCH A REQUEST; AND
   (B)  THE  AUTOMATED  DRIVING  SYSTEM  IS  CAPABLE OF BEING OPERATED IN
 COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER WHEN  REASONABLE  TO  DO  SO
 UNLESS AN EXEMPTION HAS BEEN GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   2.  NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE PROHIBITS OR RESTRICTS A HUMAN DRIVER FROM
 OPERATING A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH CONTROLS  THAT  ALLOW
 FOR THE HUMAN DRIVER TO CONTROL ALL OR PART OF THE DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK.
   §  2.  The  vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
 383-a to read as follows:
   § 383-A. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN AUTOMATED MOTOR  VEHICLES.  1.
 FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE TERMS "FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE,"
 "AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM," AND "HUMAN DRIVER" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEAN-
 INGS AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWELVE HUNDRED NINETY OF THIS CHAPTER.
   2. A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE THAT IS DESIGNED TO BE  OPERATED  EXCLU-
 SIVELY  BY  THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM FOR ALL TRIPS IS NOT SUBJECT TO
 MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT LAWS OR REGULATIONS  OF  THIS  STATE  WHICH  (A)
 RELATE  TO OR SUPPORT MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION BY A HUMAN DRIVER; AND (B)
 ARE NOT RELEVANT FOR AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM.
   § 3. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding  a  new  section
 301-c to read as follows:
   §  301-C.  INSPECTION  CRITERIA FOR FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES. SECTION
 THREE HUNDRED ONE OF THIS ARTICLE AND ANY REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE
 COMMISSIONER THEREWITH SHALL ONLY APPLY TO A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE IN
 A. 4901                             5
 
 A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED  EIGHT-
 Y-THREE-A OF THIS TITLE.
   §  4.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
 this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
 on or before such effective date.