Section 1 defines "autonomous vehicle" for the purposes of this act, as a vehicle equipped with technology that can drive a vehicle without active control or monitoring of a human operator.

Section 2 establishes the autonomous vehicles task force.

Subdivision 1 states the purpose of the task force to conduct a demonstration project and report to the Legislature concerning use of autonomous vehicles on public roads and highways by people with disabilities.

Subdivision 2 creates a task force of 19 members, to be appointed by July 31, 2016, specifying members as follows: Senators and Representatives; Governor appointees; representatives of Departments of Transportation, Public Safety, and Commerce; members with experience in paratransit administration; and additional individuals, including representatives of the disability community.  The Governor selects the chair of the task force.  Public members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate majority leader, and Governor should reflect geographic balance across the state.

 Subdivision 3 requires the chair to convene the first meeting by October 15, 2016.

Subdivision 4 specifies that the duty of the task force is to examine and report to the Legislature on ways to utilize autonomous vehicles to serve the mobility needs of people with disabilities.

Subdivision 5 authorizes the task force to solicit funding from private and public sources, to be deposited in an autonomous vehicle project account.  Money in the account is appropriated to the Commissioner of Transportation to pay costs of the task force and the demonstration project.

Subdivision 6 provides that public members of the task force receive no compensation or per diem payments.

Subdivision 7 requires the Commissioner of Transportation to provide administrative support.

 Subdivision 8 subjects task force meetings to the Open Meeting law.

 Subdivision 9 requires the task force to submit its report by December 31, 2018, to the chairs of legislative Transportation Committees. · The report must discuss findings concerning use of autonomous vehicles to provide for mobility needs of people with disabilities in the metro area and in greater Minnesota.

 Subdivision 10 sunsets the task force on June 30, 2019.

Section 3 describes the autonomous vehicle demonstration project.

Subdivision 1 establishes the goal of the autonomous vehicle demonstration project to identify means by which these vehicles can be used to provide mobility services for people with disabilities.

Subdivision 2 requires the task force to select vendors to furnish autonomous vehicles for testing.  The vehicles must meet safety standards set by the Commissioner of Public Safety.  Each vendor must submit a certificate of insurance, surety bond, or proof of self­ insurance in the amount of $5,000,000.

Subdivision 3 provides that the demonstration project include people from both greater Minnesota and the metropolitan area, some having disabilities that may disqualify them from qualifying for a driver's license or from safely operating a traditional motor vehicle.

 Subdivision 4 provides that an operator of an autonomous vehicle is a person who causes the vehicle's technology to engage, whether or not the person is physically present inthe vehicle. The operator must have a class D license, or be in the presence of a class D license holder who can take control of the vehicle immediately if necessary.

Section 4·appropriates $5,000,000 from the general fund to the Commissioner of Transportation for the expenses of the task force and demonstration project.

Section 5 makes sections 1 to 4 effective the day following final enactment.