S.19.4-1: Transport Industry Jobs Protection Act (Statute)

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Fellow Delegates,

It behooves us to to be diligent with respects to the welfare of all Southerners. Transport Jobs are a great source of employment not only in our great region but also of the whole of Atlasia. I have therefore put forward this bill to protect our hard working Southern drivers from being replaced en mass by artificial intelligences. The cost to families, both financially and in dignity to our truckers, taxi drivers, and others, of being replaced by a machine in the name of "progress" is not one our society should pay. Protecting these jobs is a matter of principle. I am of course open to improvements to this bill. I encourage all delegates to back this bill to ensure the protection of these jobs.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

I thank the honorable Delegate from North Carolina for his questions.

A few questions to the Deputy Speaker:

How were the amounts of $240 and $2,400, respectively, chosen? How is "luxury vehicle" defined in this bill? Is there a cutoff price-tag for vehicles to denote regular private vehicles vs. luxury ones?

Now the figure of $240 was derived from a base charge of $20 a month. $2,400 for luxury vehicles was that base charge times 10. If the Delegate West_Midlander has a better figure I'm happy to hear it. I am happy to amend these figures should a "better" rate be put forward. It could be halved.

There was an assumption that there was a pre-existing definition for luxury vehicles. I am fine for us to add a definition for example of "Any road vehicle over $50,000 is a luxury vehicle"

Can't a taxi (van) have more than six passengers (one in the passenger seat, three in each of the typical two back rows equates to seven)?

Hence why there is a clarification that any vehicles over the capacity of 6 are covered by this bill. Maybe this could have been worded better.

Is a two-month phasing out period sufficient and how was this value chosen?

Two months was chosen from the assumption that there are no existing businesses with an mass of vehicles with SDVT as this technology is quite young and this bill is a preventative measure against mass job loss from labor replacement technology. Does delegate West_Midlander, have a suggestion for a more sufficient time frame?

Finally, as my conservative friends would say: Isn't this an obstruction of the free market? Won't businesses using or planning on utilizing SDVT in the near future move operations to other countries, or more easily, to other regions?

Yes, this is a regulation to prevent mass job losses. There are regulations of all kinds it's always a matter of degree. Can you explain how a business that provides transportation to a set geographical area gains a better market position by moving to a new area where there is already preexisting competition, abandoning their existing market share?

Should this happen this would create a gap in the market for a new local business. Considering that the South already has the most business friendly laws in Atlasia, I find it highly unlikely scenario that transportation businesses will en mass up and leave due to a law that essentially is just ensuring a continuation of the existing status quo.


Now on another point, having re-read the bill I think there is room for improvement by having a more specific definition of the level of SDVT. From looking at the various levels of SDVT anything greater than two I think should be what is outlawed in this bill. I'm not entirely opposed to including level 3 as legal. However I'd like to hear from other delegates before putting forward a specific amendment.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Suggesting an amendment, solely for clarity's sake. Four minor additions shown here in bold.

Section I: Title and Terms
1.1) This shall be known as the "Transport Industry Jobs Protection Act" or "TIJ-Pro Act"
1.2) Terms
a) Self Driving Vehicle Technology (SDVT)
b) Trucking Industry – Vehicles that fall under the description of Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs), Rail Road, and/or water going vehicles used for the transportation of goods.
c) Passenger Transport Industry – Taxis, buses, public transport & mass private transport (anything greater than 6 passengers).

Section II: Self Driving Vehicle Technology Ban
2.1) SDVT is banned for use for both trucking and passenger transport industries in the Southern Region.
2.2) Any businesses currently using SDVT at the implementation of this bill has a two month phasing out period.

Section III: Exemptions & Registration Fees
3.1) SDVT is legal for use on one private vehicle without incurring a SDVT registration fee.
3.2) Private vehicles using SDVT will pay an additional registration fee of $240 annually.
3.3) Luxury vehicles using SDVT will incur an additional registration fee of $2,400 annually.

Thankyou Delegate West_Midlander, I was quite tired when I wrote this bill and am glad to have theses typos corrected.

I believe the Blue amendments are fine.
The Maroon amendment is not what I intended in the original bill.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

I trust the Deputy Speaker has no objection to the "and/or" addition in Section 1.2, part b?

Delegate West_Midlander, your trust is not misplaced. I missed marking that in blue.

I was under the impression that no fee would be incurred with the registration of one private SDVT vehicle. The Deputy Speaker references "a base charge of $20 a month." I interpret this as a charge of $20 monthly on the first private vehicle. Is this the intent of the bill? I may be out of the loop but is the $20 charge a mainstay of current regional/federal law or is this a change sought by this bill? If the $20 charge on the first private vehicle is a reform sought by this bill, perhaps it should be stated more clearly. If the $20 stands already as law, then I apologize to the Deputy Speaker for being ill-informed on this point.

This is a new fee and relates to vehicles using SDVT. The fee is to be charged as a part of the yearly car registration. The intent was to have a limit of one private vehicle eligible for SDVT.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

I am once again going to express my great disappointment that the chamber is not willing to even engage in discussion. I thank the Honorable Delegate, West_Midlander for demonstrating a commitment to the people of the region by demonstrating his willingness to serve by not only engaging in discussion, but also putting forward bills.

the impact this bill would have on productivity in the Southern economy is deeply concerning to me.

Mr Speaker can you elaborate on this position?
Any increase in productivity means nothing if we have mass unemployment. Surly as a member of the labor party you are pro-worker and don't wish to see an entire sector of workers faced with the very real possibility of mass unemployment? Technology is supposed to be our tool not our replacement.

Would Delegates be open to SDVT level 4 & 5 being banned?

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Section I: Title and Terms
1.1) This shall be known as the "Transport Industry Jobs Protection Act" or "TIJ-Pro Act"
1.2) Terms
a) Self Driving Vehicle Technology (SDVT), technology that makes a vehicle is capable of performing all driving functions under certain conditions or under all conditions.
b) Trucking Industry – Vehicles that fall under the description of Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs), Rail Road, and/or water going vehicles used for the transportation of goods.
c) Passenger Transport Industry – Taxis, buses, public transport & mass private transport (anything greater than 6 passengers).
d) Luxury vehicle – Any road vehicle with a selling price, in new condition, of over $50,000.

Section II: Self Driving Vehicle Technology Ban
2.1) SDVT is banned for use for both trucking and passenger transport industries in the Southern Region.
2.2) Any businesses currently using SDVT at the implementation of this bill has a two-month phasing out period.

Section III: Exemptions & Registration Fees
3.1) SDVT is legal for use on one private vehicle.
3.2) Private vehicles using SDVT will pay an additional SDVT registration fee of $240 annually.
3.3) Luxury vehicles using SDVT will incur an additional SDVT registration fee of $2,400 annually.

I have made all the edits in blue.
My new amendment on top of Delegate West_Midlander's is to Section 1.2a

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

How should we go about regulating the development of this technology and/or what level(s) of SDVT does everyone think should be banned if any?

As per the current amendment "technology that makes a vehicle is capable of performing all driving functions under certain conditions or under all conditions." Which covers level 4 & 5. This means that Drivers get benefits of limited automation without the risks of having their jobs replaced by machines.

This isn't about an outright ban. SDVT is still legal for private citizens. This is about the long term protection of Transport industry jobs, which is a major sector of employment not only in the South but Atlasia wide.

How very neoliberal of y'all to not want to put some form of protection for the hark working drivers of the South. The governor said he was against neo-liberalism yet this chamber doesn't seem to want to actually take a stand to provide protection to the workers in the Transport Industry.

Would y'all be more amenable if a sunset clause was included into TIJ Pro?

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Given that there is no apparent will in the Chamber to amend this bill further (ie. for a sunset clause, as I will support this bill without one, now), I motion for a final vote if there are no objections.

As there have been no objections Voting on S.19.4-1: Transport Industry Jobs Protection (TIJ Pro) Act is now open. Voting is open for 48 Hours or until all delegates have voted which ever comes first.

Sound the bells (Delegates will be DM'd)

The text of the Bill reads:

Section I: Title and Terms
1.1) This shall be known as the "Transport Industry Jobs Protection Act" or "TIJ-Pro Act"
1.2) Terms
a) Self Driving Vehicle Technology (SDVT), technology that makes a vehicle capable of performing all driving functions under certain conditions or under all conditions.
b) Trucking Industry – Vehicles that fall under the description of Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs), Rail Road, and/or water going vehicles used for the transportation of goods.
c) Passenger Transport Industry – Taxis, buses, public transport & mass private transport (anything greater than 6 passengers).
d) Luxury vehicle – Any road vehicle with a selling price, in new condition, of over $50,000.

Section II: Self Driving Vehicle Technology Ban
2.1) SDVT is banned for use for both trucking and passenger transport industries in the Southern Region.
2.2) Any businesses currently using SDVT at the implementation of this bill has a two-month phasing out period.

Section III: Exemptions & Registration Fees
3.1) SDVT is legal for use on one private vehicle.
3.2) Private vehicles using SDVT will pay a SDVT registration fee of $240 annually.
3.3) Luxury vehicles using SDVT will incur a SDVT registration fee of $2,400 annually.

Voting Options are:
[   ] Aye
[   ] Nay
[   ] Abstain

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

AYE

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Voting is Closed.

All Delegates have voted.
S.19.4-1: Transport Industry Jobs Protection (TIJ Pro) Act Passes.


Final Vote Tally S.19.4-1
[ 3 ] Aye
[ 2 ] Nay
[ 0 ] Abstain



The Bill now awaits the Governor's Signature:

Section I: Title and Terms
1.1) This shall be known as the "Transport Industry Jobs Protection Act" or "TIJ-Pro Act"
1.2) Terms
a) Self Driving Vehicle Technology (SDVT), technology that makes a vehicle capable of performing all driving functions under certain conditions or under all conditions.
b) Trucking Industry – Vehicles that fall under the description of Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs), Rail Road, and/or water going vehicles used for the transportation of goods.
c) Passenger Transport Industry – Taxis, buses, public transport & mass private transport (anything greater than 6 passengers).
d) Luxury vehicle – Any road vehicle with a selling price, in new condition, of over $50,000.

Section II: Self Driving Vehicle Technology Ban
2.1) SDVT is banned for use for both trucking and passenger transport industries in the Southern Region.
2.2) Any businesses currently using SDVT at the implementation of this bill has a two-month phasing out period.

Section III: Exemptions & Registration Fees
3.1) SDVT is legal for use on one private vehicle.
3.2) Private vehicles using SDVT will pay a SDVT registration fee of $240 annually.
3.3) Luxury vehicles using SDVT will incur a SDVT registration fee of $2,400 annually.