Creating a Bill

• In the slides that follow, I put together a bill. First things first… the idea. Come up with a need for America – what needs fixing, what needs introducing, what has maybe been overlooked – you make the law.

• In this slideshow, I am putting together a bill to my committee – Commerce, Science, & Transportation

• My idea: Make it legal for driverless cars to be on the road in all 50 states. (Note: this is a very simple form bill.)

Research for The Preamble

• Opening portion of your bill…• State the causes – the need• What currently exists that warrants the need

for your bill – who/what/how will it benefit the people?

• Consider both sides of your argument• I will research facts/information that become

the Preamble

Turning facts into a preamble• A bill to legislate Google Driverless Cars• Laws (what already exists?)– To date, 4 states have laws allowing Florida, California,

Michigan, and Nevada – the rest effectively don’t allow• Accessibility (who may benefit?)– Allows disabled citizens the freedom of driving

• Safety – From 2009 to 2012 an average of 33,000 Americans

lost their lives in auto accidents (according to the DOT)• Reliability– Nearly 1,000,000 autonomous miles driven, only

accident occurred while a car was driven manually

GoogCar Preamble

Whereas an average of 33,000 Americans have died each year in car accidents from 2009-2012; whereas Google Driverless Cars have never been involved in an accident while driving autonomously; whereas GDCs allow disabled citizens the freedom to drive; whereas currently only 4 states have passed legislation allowing these cars on the road,

Section 1This is where your bill starts to take action

Section 1: Let autonomous cars be permitted on public roads in all 50 states.

Subsection 1A: “Autonomous car” also known as a driverless car, shall be defined as a self-driving car or robot car, capable of fulfilling the human transportation capabilities of a traditional car. An autonomous car is capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input.Section 2:

Section 1: Let autonomous cars be permitted on public roads in all 50 states.Subsection 1A: “Autonomous car” also known as a driverless car, shall be defined

as a self-driving car or robot car, capable of fulfilling the human transportation capabilities of a traditional car. An autonomous car is capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input.

Section 2: Let each state Department of Motor Vehicles create safety requirements for Autonomous Vehicles.Section 3: Any individual or organization must first register and apply with each state DMV before an autonomous vehicle is allowed on the road.Section 4: (Enforcement Clause Note: don’t actually write “enforcement clause”) This bill shall be overseen by the United States Department of Transportation.Section 5: (Enactment Clause) This bill shall be enacted 91 days after passage.

Title: An Act to Allow Driverless Cars

Preamble: Whereas an average of 33,000 Americans have died each year in car accidents from 2009-2012; whereas Google Driverless Cars have never been involved in an accident while driving autonomously; whereas GDCs allow disabled citizens the freedom to drive; whereas currently only 4 states have passed legislation allowing these cars on the road,

Section 1: Let autonomous cars be permitted on public roads in all 50 states.Subsection 1A: “Autonomous car” also known as a driverless car,

shall be defined as a self-driving car or robot car, capable of fulfilling the human transportation capabilities of a traditional car. An autonomous car is capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input.Section 2: Let each state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) create safety requirements for Autonomous Vehicles.Section 3: Any individual or organization must first register and apply with each state DMV before an autonomous vehicle is allowed on the road.Section 4: This bill shall be overseen by the United States Department of Transportation.Section 5: This bill shall be enacted 91 days after passage.

I don’t know what other sections to add…• Are there penalties or incentives?

– How might you get states to adopt the bill or discourage entities from not following this law…

– You may want to explain these – if it’s detailed, you may need subsections

– Example: A Bill for Education may include an incentive clause like, “All states that adopt this bill will receive a 1% increase in federal funding.” This would be listed as an additional Section.

• Are there costs/funding needed?– Are you taking from a particular budget – or are the costs

unforeseeable? • Does your bill happen all at once?• Will it require a new subcommittee or official?