[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7126 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7126

To prohibit a State from issuing a motor vehicle operator's license for 
the operation or use of an ADS-equipped vehicle operating at Level 4 or 
   Level 5 in a manner that discriminates on the basis of disability.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 30, 2024

 Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. Mast) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

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                                 A BILL


 
To prohibit a State from issuing a motor vehicle operator's license for 
the operation or use of an ADS-equipped vehicle operating at Level 4 or 
   Level 5 in a manner that discriminates on the basis of disability.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Autonomous Vehicle Accessibility 
Act'' or the ``AV Accessibility Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Disability.--The term ``disability'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 12102 of title 42, United States 
        Code.
            (2) Public transportation.--The term ``public 
        transportation'' has the meaning given the term in section 5302 
        of title 49, United States Code.
            (3) Ride-hail ads-equipped vehicle.--The term ``ride-hail 
        ADS-equipped vehicle'' means an ADS-equipped vehicle that is--
                    (A) offered for pre-arranged transportation 
                services for compensation, using an online-enabled 
                application or electronic platform to connect 
                passengers with vehicles; and
                    (B) dispatched in driverless operation.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
            (5) SAE-defined terms.--The terms ``ADS-equipped vehicle'', 
        ``dispatch'', ``Level 4'', ``Level 5'', and ``driverless 
        operation'' have the meanings given such terms in the document 
        titled SAE International Recommended Practice J3016, published 
        in April 2021, or by a revision of that such document 
        subsequently adopted by the Secretary.

SEC. 3. LICENSING.

    In accordance with title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
(42 U.S.C. 12132), a State shall not issue a motor vehicle operator's 
license for the operation or use of an ADS-equipped vehicle operating 
at Level 4 or Level 5 in a manner that discriminates on the basis of 
disability against a qualified individual with a disability.

SEC. 4. ACCESSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE STUDY.

    The Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the 
National Academies to conduct a study to--
            (1) determine changes to public transportation 
        infrastructure that would improve the ability of individuals 
        with disabilities to find, access, and use ride-hail ADS-
        equipped vehicles, including during pickup and dropoff; and
            (2) identify options to simplify safe access of ride-hail 
        ADS-equipped vehicles, such as non-visual access for 
        individuals with disabilities, including the consideration of--
                    (A) technological solutions for dynamic curb 
                management;
                    (B) sidewalk and roadway design;
                    (C) dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones;
                    (D) curb extension;
                    (E) infrastructure design; and
                    (F) other factors that can better enable 
                individuals with disabilities to safely locate, enter, 
                use, and exit ride-hail ADS-equipped vehicles during 
                pickup and dropoff.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out 
section 4, to be available until expended.
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