What's happening
This bill creates a commission to study and recommend responses to job impacts from autonomous and alternative-fuel tractor trailers in New York.
Why it matters
Focuses on real-world job loss. The commission is tasked with quantifying not just the number of jobs at risk from autonomous and alternative-fuel tractor trailers, but also the broader economic ripple effects, such as lost income for workers and impacts on related businesses and unemployment insurance.
Considers social and health impacts. By requiring analysis of social and healthcare costs related to displaced workers, the bill goes beyond economics to address potential increases in public assistance needs and community wellbeing.
Mandates actionable recommendations. The commission isn’t just studying the issue; it must propose concrete steps for the state government, covering job retraining, financial support, education, and healthcare access for affected workers.
Time-limited and accountable. With a set deadline for its report and automatic dissolution, the commission is designed to deliver timely, focused recommendations to policymakers, pushing for prompt government response rather than indefinite study.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Job Loss from Automation
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 32
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1702
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT establishing a commission to examine the impact of autonomous tractor trailer technology on the jobs of truck drivers and diesel mechanics; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Save our Jobs act of 2019".
§ 2. 1. Establishment. The labor department shall establish a commission to be known as the "tractor trailer operator and diesel mechanic retraining and employment commission". Such commission shall review the impact of the proliferation of autonomous tractor trailers on current tractor trailer operators and the proliferation of alternative fuel tractor trailers on diesel mechanic labor force.
2. Membership. Such commission shall consist of fifteen individuals, which shall be appointed as follows:
a. seven members shall be appointed by the governor;
b. three members shall be appointed by the senate majority leader;
c. one member shall be appointed by the senate minority leader;
d. three members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and
e. one member shall be appointed by the assembly minority leader.
3. Reports. a. The commission must report to the governor and the legislature their findings on how autonomous tractor trailer technologies will impact the current workforce of truck drivers and diesel mechanics no later than February 15, 2020. This report shall include, but shall not be limited to, calculations of:
i. the loss of income to tractor trailer operators and diesel mechanics;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07195-01-9
S. 1702 2
ii. the impact of such losses to linked companies that provide services and equipment to tractor trailer operators and diesel mechanics;
iii. the impact of such losses on the NYS unemployment insurance program; and
iv. social and health care costs created by the dislocation of these workers from their current high paying jobs.
b. The commission shall put forward a list of recommendations and submit the same to the governor and legislature no later than February 15, 2020. This list shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations regarding:
i. which steps the New York state government should take to address the loss of these high paying jobs as the technology proliferates;
ii. what steps state agencies should take to provide job training and retraining opportunities for the affected workforce;
iii. which financial resources need to be made available to assist the affected workforce in furthering their education, job retraining and job placement; and
iv. options to be developed or expanded to assist the affected workforce with accessing health insurance once they have lost their wellpaying jobs.
c. Upon submission of such reports to the governor and legislature, the commission shall be dissolved.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed one year after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act establishing a commission to examine the impact of autonomous tractor trailer technology on the jobs of truck drivers and diesel mechanics; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of the bill
Amends sections of the law in relation to the operation of autonomous vehicles to ensure passenger and public safety until technology becomes error-proof.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding sections 100-e and 100-f.
a. 100-e defines autonomous technology as technology installed on a motor vehicle with the capabilities to drive the vehicle without the active control or monitoring of a human being. This term excludes motor vehicles enabled with active safety systems or driver assistance systems unless any system enables the motor vehicle on which the technology is installed to drive without the active control or monitoring by a human operator.
b. 100-f defines an autonomous vehicle as a motor vehicle equipped with autonomous technology.
Section 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding section 507-a.
a. 507-a. Operation of autonomous vehicles may be any person who holds anything equivalent to class D license or any person with a learner's permit under the immediate supervision of a person at least 18 years of age with a valid state driver's license.
b. For the purposes of this chapter, a person will be required to oper- ate an autonomous vehicle in autonomous mode when a person causes the vehicle's autonomous technology to engage
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately. It will expire and be repealed when the legislature, with the written input by the governor's traffic safety committee, is provided with opinion that motor vehicle's autonomous technology has evolved to a point of such safety that a licensed driver is not needed; provided that the commissioner of motor vehicles notifies the legislative bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of providing such opinion to the legislature so that the commission may maintain an accurate data base of the official text of New York State. These law declares autonomous technology safe enough for class DJ learner's permit or license holders to operate an autonomous vehicle without the supervision of a person at least 18 years of age or a person who holds a license valid in this state, whichever occurs first; provided that the governor's traffic safety committee shall noti- fy the legislative bill drafting commission of the date of such declara- tion in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective database of the official text of the laws of the state of New
York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.