WHEREAS, Autonomous vehicle technology is rapidly evolving and the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicle technology is advancing at a rapid pace; and

WHEREAS, Washington state's policies, laws, and rules predate autonomous vehicle technology and largely have not been developed in consideration of the operation of this technology on state roadways; and

WHEREAS, Efforts are underway at both the federal and state level to begin to establish a framework of policy guidance, laws, rules, and regulations that will organize and govern the use of autonomous vehicle technology in the United States;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the house of representatives of the state of Washington, the senate concurring, That a joint select committee on autonomous vehicle technology policy be established; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That membership of the joint select committee consist of the following: (1) The chairs and ranking members, or their designees, of the transportation, state government, public safety, and technology and economic development committees, or their successor committees, of the house of representatives; and (2) the chairs and ranking members, or their designees, of the transportation, state government, law and justice, and economic development and international trade committees, or their successor committees, of the senate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee member with the longest uninterrupted tenure in the legislature who represents one of the two largest caucuses in the legislature is cochair of the joint select committee with the member of the other chamber with the next longest uninterrupted tenure in the legislature who represents the other of the two largest caucuses in the legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That all meetings of the joint select committee be scheduled and conducted in accordance with the requirements of both the house of representatives and the senate. Meetings must be conducted separately from regularly scheduled interim meetings of other legislative committees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee monitor efforts to further the development of autonomous vehicle technology policy by the state transportation commission, additional Washington state agencies, other states, and the federal government. Areas for consideration may include, but are not limited to, manufacturer vehicle testing, vehicle registration and titling requirements, driver's license requirements, rules of the road, criminal law, roadway infrastructure, traffic management, transit, vehicle insurance, tort liability, cybersecurity, privacy, advertising, impacts to social services, and impacts to labor and small businesses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That staff support to the joint select committee be provided by the house of representatives office of program research and senate committee services. The joint select committee may request additional technical support from state agencies on developments in these areas as needed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That legislative members of the joint select committee be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120, and that expenses of the committee be paid jointly by the house of representatives and the senate. Committee expenditures and meetings are subject to approval by the house of representatives executive rules committee and the senate facilities and operations committee, or their successor committees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee report its findings and recommendations and, as necessary, propose legislation to address policy needs related to the operation of autonomous vehicles on public roadways in the state to the appropriate committees of the legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee on autonomous vehicle technology policy expires December 31, 2023.

--- END ---