,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #agih ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ae1 #bjbe ,ms4 ,lummis introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to prescribe standards for autonomous vehicles1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,autonomous ,vehicle ,acceleration ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 rapid advancements in autonomous vehicle technology present significant opportunities to improve transportation safety1 efficiency1 and mobility2 7#b7 current ,federal motor vehicle safety standards were not designed with fully autonomous vehicles in mind1 creating certification challenges and slowing design and production of vehicles without drivers2 7#c7 maintaining global leadership in autonomous vehicle technology will enhance the competitiveness of the ,united ,states1 foster economic growth1 and spur innovation across the domestic manufacturing sector2 and 7#d7 the most advanced automated driving systems have demonstrated safety records superior to human drivers in comparable situations1 indicating that maintaining regulatory frameworks designed exclusively for human operators may delay lifesaving technological implementation4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,autonomous vehicle 7,a7 ,in general ,the term autonomous vehicle means a vehicle equipped with an automated driving system that is capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis without any expected involvement by a human driver4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle equipped with a ,level #d or ,level #e automated driving system4 7#b7 ,,fmvss ,the term ,,fmvss means a ,federal motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under section #cjaaa7;a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#c7 ,,sae ,international ,standard ,j#cjaf ,the term ,,sae ,international ,standard ,j#cjaf means ,,sae ,international ,recommended ,practice entitled ,taxonomy and ,definitions for ,terms ,related to ,driving ,automation ,systems for ,on-,road ,motor ,vehicles1 numbered ,j#cjaf1 and dated ,april #bjba 7or a successor standard adopted by the ,secretary74 7#d7 ,,sae terms ,the terms automated driving system1 ,level #d1 and ,level #e have the meanings given those terms in ,,sae ,international ,standard ,j#cjaf4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,national ,highway ,traffic ,safety ,administration4 7#f7 ,volpe #bjaf ,report ,the term ,volpe #bjaf ,report means the report of the ,john ,a4 ,volpe ,national ,transportation ,systems ,center of the ,department of ,transportation entitled ,review of ,federal ,motor ,vehicle ,safety ,standards 7,,fmvss7 for ,automated ,vehicles3 ,identifying ,potential ,barriers and ,challenges for the ,certification of ,automated ,vehicles ,using ,existing ,,fmvss and dated ,march #bjaf4 #d4 ,implementation of ,volpe ,center recommendations 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall address1 in accordance with subsection 7b71 all certification challenges identified by the ,volpe ,center #bjaf ,report relating to-- 7#a7 the presumption of a human driver2 and 7#b7 performance specifications1 test procedures1 or equipment requirements that do not adequately account for autonomous vehicle designs4 7b7 ,regulatory updates ,the ,secretary shall1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate1 develop1 amend1 interpret1 exempt from application1 or otherwise update any ,,fmvss requirement or other regulation1 guidance1 or interpretation under the jurisdiction of the ,secretary to ensure that the certification and approval process for ,level #d and ,level #e autonomous vehicles is not unduly obstructed by assumptions of traditional human-driver designs1 including requirements relating to seating arrangements1 internal cabin configurations1 window placement1 driver controls1 and other features1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,discretionary compliance determination and rulemaking authority ,at the discretion of the ,secretary1 and through such rulemaking as the ,secretary determines to be necessary1 including by establishing exemption processes for autonomous vehicles consistent with section #cjaad7;a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 autonomous vehicles may be determined to be in compliance with applicable regulations relating to motor vehicle safety1 including any ,,fmvss4 7d7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date described in subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report detailing steps taken by the ,secretary under subsection 7b7 to address the challenges identified by the ,volpe ,center #bjaf described in subsection 7a71 including any new or revised rules or guidance issued by the ,secretary4 #e4 ,roadmap for future concepts 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall develop a roadmap to achieve commercial-scale deployment of ,level #d and ,level #e autonomous vehicles4 7b7 ,requirements ,the roadmap required under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 support the design1 manufacturing1 and deployment of ,level #d and ,level #e autonomous vehicles in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 promote ,united ,states leadership in global autonomous vehicle markets and supply chains2 7#c7 identify ways to lower practical1 technological1 and regulatory barriers to ,level #d and ,level #e autonomous vehicle deployment2 7#d7 recommend a risk hierarchy involving the use of autonomous vehicles and a standard of safety for autonomous vehicle use2 7#e7 incorporate a supplemental technology assessment1 which shall-- 7,a7 identify and address-- 7i7 new technologies and industry developments since publication of the ,volpe #bjaf ,report2 7ii7 emerging safety concerns specific to autonomous vehicle operations2 and 7iii7 recommended updates to the findings or recommendations of the ,volpe #bjaf ,report2 and 7,b7 on completion1 be used by the ,secretary to propose any amendments to any existing ,,fmvss that are necessary to ensure clarity1 consistency1 and safety for autonomous-vehicle designs2 and 7#f7 include any additional initiatives or strategies the ,secretary determines necessary to achieve the objectives of this ,act4 7c7 ,supplemental technology assessment interim update ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a preliminary update describing progress1 challenges1 and next steps taken by the ,secretary to carry out the supplemental technology assessment described in subsection 7b77#e74 7d7 ,roadmap updates ,the roadmap required under subsection 7a7 shall be updated periodically1 as determined necessary by the ,secretary4 7e7 ,report ,the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress1 and make publicly available1 the roadmap required under subsection 7a74