Preparing Localities for an Autonomous and Connected Environment Act

“307 National highly automated vehicle clearinghouse

“30701. National highly automated vehicle clearinghouse

“(a) In general—The Secretary of Transportation shall make a grant to an institution of higher education engaged in research on the secondary influences of highly automated vehicles to—

“(1) operate a national highly automated vehicle clearinghouse;

“(2) collect, conduct, and fund research on the secondary influences of highly automated vehicles; and

“(3) make such research available on a public website.

“(b) Authorization of appropriations—There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund $2,000,000 for each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 2019, to carry out this Act.

“(c) Applicability of title 23—Funds authorized by subsection (b) shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23 except that the funds shall remain available until expended.

“(d) Definitions—In this section:

“(1) Highly automated vehicle—The term highly automated vehicle means a motor vehicle that is capable of performing the entire task of driving (including steering, accelerating and decelerating, and reacting to external stimulus) without human intervention.

“(2) Institution of higher education—The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

“(3) Secondary influence—The term secondary influence means the influence on land use, urban design, transportation, real estate, municipal budgets, social equity, and the environment.”