As per the latest set of proposed regulations, the California Department of Motor Vehicles says that self-driving automobiles must have a licensed driver present in the vehicle at all times.
Self-driving cars would also need a human behind the wheel with an "autonomous vehicle operator certificate" in case of a mechanical malfunction.
Firstly, manufacturers must certify that their autonomous cars comply with safety and performance standards and must allow the vehicles to undergo an independent performance verification carried out by a third-party.
The DMV said it wanted regulations to protect public safety, but not be too onerous so that signature companies such as Google will be stifled in developing a technology that could prove safer than human drivers. Also read Google kicks against driverless car laws, here.
The draft also adds requirements for manufacturers to ensure that vehicles are protected from cyber attacks.
Next month, the state will open up the draft regulations to comments from companies.
Google's autonomous vehicles have driven more than 1 million miles on public roads, mostly around San Francisco and Austin, Texas.
Google is spinning off its research into self-driving cars into a separate company in a major sign of support for the technology.
Whilst not set in stone, the rules would upset Google's plans in California for driverless cars if passed.
The California DMV said more rules are coming and cited safety as its primary reason for putting in place tight controls for public use.
While autonomous cars are seen as the ultimate iteration of a passenger only transportation future, the biggest leaps are now being made in the driver-assist arena.
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