An Act To Authorize Municipalities To Develop and Operate Pilot Programs for the Use of Autonomous Vehicles for Public Transportation

Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2093  is enacted to read:

§ 2093.  Municipal pilot programs for autonomous vehicles for public transportation

Until March 31, 2022, a municipality may enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Secretary of State, the department and the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance pursuant to which the municipality may develop, test and operate a pilot program for the use of autonomous vehicles for public transportation in the municipality. For the purposes of this section, "autonomous vehicle" means a vehicle that is equipped with an automated driving system, designed to function without an operator. By December 1, 2021, a municipality that develops, tests or operates a pilot program pursuant to this section shall submit a report regarding the pilot program to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters. The joint standing committee may report out a bill relating to municipal programs for autonomous vehicles for public transportation to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.

summary

This bill authorizes municipalities to enter into memoranda of agreement with the Secretary of State, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance to develop, test and operate pilot programs for the use of autonomous vehicles for public transportation until March 31, 2022. It requires any municipality that develops, tests or operates a pilot program to submit a report regarding the pilot program to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by December 1, 2021, and it authorizes the joint standing committee to report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.