Pennsylvania § 8503 - Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Committee.

§ 8503. Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Committee.

(a) Establishment.--The Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Committee is established within the department.

(b) Composition.--The advisory committee shall consist of the following members:

(1) The secretary, who shall serve as the chairperson of the advisory committee.

(2) The Secretary of Community and Economic Development.

(3) The Insurance Commissioner.

(4) The Secretary of Labor and Industry.

(5) The Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police.

(6) The Chief Executive Officer of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

(6.1) The chairperson of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

(7) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Transportation Committee of the Senate.

(8) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives.

(9) The following members to be appointed by the Governor:

(i) One member representing a transit authority located in this Commonwealth.

(ii) One member representing an educational or research institution located in this Commonwealth engaged in developing highly automated vehicles.

(iii) One member representing a technology company engaged in developing highly automated vehicles.

(iv) One member representing a vehicle manufacturer engaged in developing highly automated vehicles.

(v) One member representing bicyclists, pedestrians or motorcyclists in this Commonwealth.

(vi) One member representing drivers or consumers in this Commonwealth.

(vii) One member representing a municipality of this Commonwealth.

(viii) One member representing platoon operations.

(ix) One member representing an insurance company, association or exchange who is authorized to transact the business of motor vehicle insurance in this Commonwealth.

(x) Two members representing different labor organizations in this Commonwealth.

(xi) One member representing Pennsylvanians with disabilities.

(xii) One member representing a company engaged in the development of highly automated motor carrier vehicles.

(c) Vacancies.--If a position under subsection (b)(9) has been vacant for 120 days, an appointment shall be made on a rotating basis by the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to fill the vacancy.

(d) Alternates.--An advisory committee member under subsection (b)(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8) may designate an alternate to serve in the member's absence. The advisory committee member shall notify the chairperson of the advisory committee in writing of the designation.

(e) Alternate for secretary.--The secretary may designate an alternate under subsection (b)(1) who must be a deputy secretary.

(f) Terms.--An advisory committee member may be reappointed for additional terms. The terms of advisory committee members appointed by the Governor under subsection (b)(9) shall be three years. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy on the advisory committee under subsection (b) shall serve for the unexpired term and shall be eligible for reappointment.

(g) Meetings and expenses.--The following shall apply:

(1) The advisory committee shall meet at least three times annually but may hold additional meetings as are called by the chairperson of the advisory committee. The chairperson shall provide notice at least 14 days in advance for regular meetings and shall provide a minimum of three days' notice for special meetings.

(2) A record of meeting attendance shall be maintained, and appointed members shall receive written notice if two consecutive meetings are missed. An appointed member under subsection (b)(9) who misses three consecutive meetings without good cause acceptable to the chairperson of the advisory committee may be replaced by the Governor.

(3) Minutes of the meetings shall be prepared and filed with the advisory committee and distributed to each member. Each record shall be a matter of public record.

(4) An appointed member under subsection (b)(9) may not receive per diem expenses.

(5) The department shall provide appropriate staff support to enable the advisory committee to properly carry out the advisory committee's functions.

(h) Powers.--The advisory committee shall have the power to advise and consult the secretary on each aspect of highly automated vehicles and platooning in this Commonwealth and may undertake any of the following:

(1) Developing technical guidance.

(2) Evaluating best practices.

(3) Reviewing existing laws, regulations and guidelines.

(4) Engaging in continued research and evaluation of connected and automated systems technology necessary to ensure safe testing, deployment and continued innovation in this Commonwealth.

(5) Evaluating accidents, based on summaries prepared by the department, if the certificate holder or highly automated vehicle driver was determined to be at fault.

(6) Evaluating workforce impacts, based on summaries prepared by the department in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industry, and how the Federal Government and the Commonwealth are supporting the workforce as a result of automation.

(i) Annual report.--The department shall provide an annual report of the activities of the advisory committee under subsection (h) on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.

(j) Special reports.--Beginning as soon as practicable, but no later than 18 months after the effective date of this subsection, the advisory committee shall submit an annual report that evaluates the impact of highly automated vehicles authorized by this chapter on this Commonwealth. The report shall be submitted to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Transportation Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives and posted on the department's publicly accessible Internet website. The report shall evaluate the following with respect to highly automated vehicles authorized by this chapter:

(1) Benefits and implications to this Commonwealth's workforce.

(2) Economic benefits and implications to this Commonwealth.

(3) Improvements to accessibility and mobility for persons with disabilities.

(4) Improvements to mobility options for the general public.

(5) Suggested changes to the laws of this Commonwealth.

(Nov. 3, 2022, P.L.1946, No.130, eff. 240 days)

2022 Amendment. Act 130 amended subsecs. (b) and (h) and added subsec. (j).

Cross References. Section 8503 is referred to in section 8501 of this title.