1. Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Council (a) Establishment Subject to the availability of appropriations, not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration a Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Council (hereinafter referred to as the “Council”). (b) Membership Members of the Council shall include a diverse group representative of business, academia and independent researchers, State and local authorities, safety and consumer advocates, engineers, labor organizations, environmental experts, a representative of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and other members determined to be appropriate by the Secretary. Any subcommittee of the Council shall be composed of not less than 15 and not more than 30 members appointed by the Secretary. (c) Terms Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Secretary of Transportation and shall serve for a term of three years. (d) Vacancies Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the position being vacated. The vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the duties of the Council. (e) Duties and subcommittees The Council may form subcommittees as needed to undertake information gathering activities, develop technical advice, and present best practices or recommendations to the Secretary regarding— (1) labor and employment issues that may be affected by the deployment of highly automated vehicles; (2) the impact of the development and deployment of highly automated vehicles on the environment; (3) protection of consumer privacy and security of information collected by highly automated vehicles