2015 -- S 0696

========

LC001969

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - TAXICABS AND LIMITED

PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senator Louis P. DiPalma

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 39-14-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-14 entitled "Taxicabs

and Limited Public Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     39-14-9. Vehicles to be operated by owner or employee -- Assignment or lease of

rights. -- No taxicab or limited public motor vehicle subject to the provisions of this chapter shall

be operated except by the owner or an employee of the owner, and it shall be unlawful for the

owner of any taxicab or limited public motor vehicle to enter into any contract, agreement,

arrangement, or understanding, express or implied, with an operator thereof, by the terms of

which the operator pays to or for the account of the owner a fixed or determinable sum for the use

of the taxicab or limited public motor vehicle unless the contract, agreement, arrangement, or

understanding, express or implied, has been approved by the division. Every person proposing to

enter into a contract, agreement, arrangement, or understanding, whereby the owner of a taxicab

or limited public motor vehicle leases or otherwise lets a taxicab or limited public motor vehicle

to an operator, shall file with the administrator, in the form to be provided by him or her, an

application for approval of the agreement. The division shall, upon written application setting

forth the purpose, terms, and conditions of the lease agreement, after investigation, approve or

deny the request. The lease agreement shall be approved by the administrator if, after

investigation, the applicant operator is found to be fit, willing, and able to perform the authorized

service and to conform to the provisions of this chapter and the requirements, orders, rules, and

regulations of the administrator thereunder; provided, however, that any lease agreement may

only be entered into on a vehicle or vehicles, and the certificate or certificates issued pertaining to

the vehicle or vehicles which has been operating and actively and continuously engaged in the

conduct of business on a daily basis for twelve (12) months prior to the date of application.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC001969

========

LC001969 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - TAXICABS AND LIMITED

PUBLIC MOTOR VEHICLES

***

     This act would eliminate the requirement that taxicabs and/or limited public motor

vehicles can be operated only by owners or employees during the first twelve (12) month period

that the vehicle is in service, and would allow for the letting or leasing of said vehicles prior to

the twelve (12) month period.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC001969

========

LC001969 - Page 3 of 3