DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 2

TO

SENATE BILL NO. 258

AMEND Senate Bill No. 258 on line 24 by inserting “ For purposes of this section, the person in violation and subject to fines is presumed to be the vehicle’s registered owner. ” after “ $7500. ”

FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No. 258 by adding the following after line 26:

  (d) By January 1, 2029, and upon appropriation by the General Assembly, the Department of Transportation shall submit a report to the members of the General Assembly and the Governor evaluating the performance of autonomous vehicle technology and its impact on public safety and employment in the transportation sector for autonomous vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more. The report must include a summary of disengagements, crashes, and other information the Department of Transportation believes is relevant. The report must include a recommendation on whether the General Assembly should remove, modify, or maintain the requirement for an autonomous vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more to operate with a human safety operator physically present in the vehicle. While preparing the report, the Department of Transportation shall do all of the following:

(1) Consult with the Department of Safety and Homeland Security on traffic impacts, driver and passenger safety risks, and impacts on other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

(2) Consult with the Department of Labor on any job-related impacts, including worker displacement and shortcomings in retraining opportunities.

(3) Consider the impact on infrastructure and any deficiencies or needs with current infrastructure.

(4) Consult with independent experts on the performance of the technology, public safety impacts, and any other relevant factors in considering deployment.

(e) The Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Department of Labor, and all other relevant state agencies shall provide additional information, as specified by the Department of Transportation, as needed to research the report required by this section.

SYNOPSIS

This Amendment clarifies that the person subject to the fines of this Act are presumed to be the vehicle’s registered owner.

This Amendment directs the Department of Transportation to submit a report evaluating the performance of autonomous vehicle technology to the General Assembly and the Governor by January 1, 2029. The Amendment directs the Department of Transportation to consult with other departments and independent experts for their report.

Author: Senator Mantzavinos