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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill enacts provisions regarding the transportation of unaccompanied minors by a
10 vehicle for hire operating in driverless operation.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines terms;
14 ▸ prohibits a vehicle for hire in driverless operation from transporting an
15 unaccompanied minor under eight years old;
16 ▸ requires a parent or guardian sign a waiver and provide emergency contact
17 information;
18 ▸ requires proper use of safety belts;
19 ▸ requires certain monitoring and emergency notification technology; and
20 ▸ requires the vehicle be in safe operating condition.
21 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22 None
23 Other Special Clauses:
24 None
25 Utah Code Sections Affected:
26 ENACTS:
27 41-26-109, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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29 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30 Section 1. Section 41-26-109 is enacted to read:
31 41-26-109. Unaccompanied minors in an autonomous transport.
32 (1) As used in this section:
33 (a) (i) "Autonomous transport" means a vehicle for hire operating in driverless
34 operation.
35 (ii) "Autonomous transport" includes the following, if operating in driverless
36 operation:
37 (A) a limousine as that term is defined in Section 32B-1-102;
38 (B) a taxicab as that term is defined in Section 53-3-102;
39 (C) a vehicle operated by a transportation network company as that term is defined in
40 Section 13-51-102; or
41 (D) a vehicle operated by a business offering a service similar to those described in
42 Subsections (1)(a)(ii)(A) through (C).
43 (b) "Safety belt" means the same as that term is defined in Section 41-6a-1802.
44 (c) "Unaccompanied minor" means a person under the age of 18 that is not under the
45 supervision of an adult.
46 (2) (a) An autonomous transport may not provide services to an unaccompanied minor
47 that is under the age of eight.
48 (b) An autonomous transport may not provide services to an unaccompanied minor
49 under the age of 16 if the services are not requested and initiated by the minor's parent or
50 guardian.
51 (3) (a) Before an autonomous transport may provide services to an unaccompanied
52 minor under the age of 16, the autonomous transport shall ensure that a parent or guardian has:
53 (i) completed a waiver or permission form; and
54 (ii) provided emergency contact information for each minor being transported.
55 (b) The waiver or permission form may be part of the autonomous transport's mobile
56 application or other ride hailing technology.
57 (4) An autonomous transport shall ensure that any vehicle offered to provide services
58 to an unaccompanied minor:
59 (a) is enclosed with a roof or top;
60 (b) is equipped with functional safety belts;
61 (c) has current vehicle registration;
62 (d) is in clean and safe condition;
63 (e) maintains an interior temperature between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit;
64 (f) is compliant with safety and equipment standards described in Chapter 6a, Part 16,
65 Vehicle Equipment;
66 (g) is equipped with an emergency communication system that can establish
67 communication between the vehicle, passenger, and emergency services in the event of an
68 incident; and
69 (h) has a video monitoring system to monitor activity in the vehicle, upload the video
70 data to a secure server, and retain the video data for the longer of:
71 (i) 90 days; or
72 (ii) a period of time for which the video data is needed for:
73 (A) evidentiary or investigative purposes; or
74 (B) pursuant to a warrant issued under the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure or an
75 equivalent federal warrant.
76 (5) Before an autonomous transport may provide services to an unaccompanied minor,
77 the parent or guardian shall ensure that:
78 (a) the safety belt is properly fastened; and
79 (b) another parent or guardian is at the destination to receive the unaccompanied minor.