1. (a) Functional requirements.

   1. (1) A manufacturer utilizing remote assistance in its operations on public roads shall provide the department a description of how requests for remote assistance are assigned and the process for determining how many agents are required to be available to respond to requests at a given time.
   2. (2) A request shall be assigned only to an agent that has been trained and certified for responding to such a request.
   3. (3) There shall be a method for updating tooling utilized to provide remote assistance to enable changes and improvements as appropriate.
   4. (4) The remote assistant shall have the ability to immobilize the autonomous vehicle, follow instructions issued by first responders, allow an emergency response official to move the autonomous vehicle if it is equipped with an override system, or cause the autonomous vehicle to move as directed by an emergency response official.
   5. (5) The remote assistant shall have the ability to bring the autonomous vehicle to a controlled stop in its current travel path allowing the vehicle to remain stopped and not perform any functions in autonomous mode.
   6. (6) Each remote assistant shall comply with commands from the California Highway Patrol or other law enforcement officer during a vehicle inspection or traffic stop and will not cause the vehicle to move unless directed by a law enforcement officer.
   7. (7) The manufacturer shall immediately remove any remote assistant who no longer meets the eligibility requirements in this article. The remote assistant may not be reinstated until the manufacturer has verified the person meets the eligibility requirements in this article.

2. (b) Training requirements.

   1. (1) To be assigned to any remote assistance request, a person must receive training that includes training and assessment of knowledge about the automated driving system, escalation processes, and tooling utilized to provide remote assistance.
   2. (2) Training and assessments shall be designed to enable sufficient evaluation of a person's readiness to respond to the specific type of requests assigned.
   3. (3) A person may be certified for assignment of a specific type of request only after completion of foundational training and assessments and necessary training for that specific type of request.
   4. (4) Records, including the individual's true first name, driver's license number and jurisdiction of issuance, shall be continually maintained showing at any given time a list of requests for which each agent is trained and certified.
   5. (5) Within 10 business days of the adoption of any material modifications, the manufacturer shall provide the department with the modified version of the course outline and description of the training program.

3. (c) Qualifications.

   1. (1) The person has been trained and is certified to respond to each request they are assigned.
   2. (2) The person is an employee, contractor, or designee of the manufacturer.
   3. (3) The person holds a valid driver's license.

A manufacturer shall not allow any person to act as a remote assistant unless all of the following have been met:

Note: Authority cited: Sections 1651 and 38750, Vehicle Code. Reference: Section 38750, Vehicle Code.

History

1. Renumbering of former section 227.36 to new section 227.40, including amendment of section heading and section, filed 2-26-2018; operative 4-1-2018 (Register 2018, No. 9).

2. Renumbering of former section 227.40 to section 227.44 and new section 227.40 filed 4-28-2026; operative 4-28-2026 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2026, No. 18).