2016 -- S 2864 | |
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LC005448 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION NETWORK | |
COMPANY SERVICES | |
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Introduced By: Senators Goodwin, and Miller | |
Date Introduced: March 31, 2016 | |
Referred To: Senate Commerce | |
(Division of Public Utilities) | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND |
2 | CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 14.2 |
4 | TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY SERVICES |
5 | 39-14.2-1. Definitions. -- Terms in this chapter shall be construed as follows, unless |
6 | another meaning is expressed or is clearly apparent from the language or context: |
7 | (1) "Administrator" means the administrator of the division of public utilities and |
8 | carriers. |
9 | (2) "Digital network" means any online-enabled technology application service, website |
10 | or system offered or utilized by a transportation network company that enables the |
11 | prearrangement of rider transportation with transportation network company drivers. |
12 | (3) "Division" means the division of public utilities and carriers. |
13 | (4) "Partner" or "partnering" means the act of a TNC operator agreeing to the terms and |
14 | conditions set forth by a TNC for access to the TNC's digital network for the purpose of being |
15 | connected to potential TNC riders seeking TNC services. |
16 | (5) "Person" means and includes any individual, partnership, corporation or other |
17 | association of individuals. |
18 | (6) "Personal vehicle" means a vehicle that is used by a transportation network company |
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1 | driver and is: |
2 | (i) Designed to hold no more than seven (7) individuals, including the driver; |
3 | (ii) Owned, leased or otherwise authorized for use by the individual; and |
4 | (iii) Not a jitney, as defined in §39-13-1, a taxicab or limited public motor vehicle, as |
5 | defined in §39-14-1, a public motor vehicle, as defined in §39-14.1-1, or a common carrier as |
6 | defined in title 39. |
7 | (7) "Transportation network company" or "TNC" means an entity licensed by the division |
8 | pursuant to this chapter that uses a digital network to connect transportation network company |
9 | riders to transportation network operators who provide prearranged rides. A transportation |
10 | network company shall not be deemed to control, direct or manage the personal vehicles or |
11 | transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed |
12 | to by written contract. |
13 | (8) "Transportation network company affiliation placard" or "TNC affiliation placard" |
14 | means a recognizable logo or decal issued by the TNC used to identify personal vehicles |
15 | whenever such a vehicle is available to provide, or is providing, TNC services. |
16 | (9) "Transportation Network operator" or "TNC operator" or "TNC driver" means an |
17 | individual who: |
18 | (i) Receives connections to potential riders and related services from a transportation |
19 | network company in exchange for payment of a fee to the transportation network company; and |
20 | (ii) Uses a personal vehicle to offer or provide a prearranged ride to TNC riders upon |
21 | connection through a digital network controlled by a transportation network company in |
22 | exchange for compensation or payment of a fee. |
23 | (10) "Transportation Network Company (TNC) rider" or "rider" means an individual or |
24 | persons who uses a transportation network company's digital network to connect with a |
25 | transportation network driver who provides prearranged rides to the rider in the driver's personal |
26 | vehicle between points chosen by the rider. |
27 | (11) "Transportation Network Company services" or "prearranged ride" means the |
28 | provision of transportation by a TNC driver to a TNC rider beginning when a TNC driver accepts |
29 | a TNC rider's request for a ride made only through a digital network controlled by a |
30 | transportation network company (TNC), continuing while the TNC driver transports the |
31 | requesting TNC rider(s) and ending when the last requesting TNC rider(s) departs from the |
32 | personal vehicle. TNC services and prearranged rides do not include transportation provided |
33 | using a jitney, as defined in §39-13-1, a taxicab or limited public motor vehicle, as defined in |
34 | §39-14-1. A public motor vehicle, as defined in §39-14.1-1, a common carrier as defined in title |
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1 | 39 of the general laws, or a regional transportation provider. TNC services and prearranged rides |
2 | do not include a shared expense carpool or vanpool arrangement or service, or any other type of |
3 | arrangement or service in which the driver receives a fee that does not exceed the driver's costs |
4 | associated with providing the ride or any arrangement or service in which the driver receives a fee |
5 | that exceeds the driver's costs associated with providing the ride but the driver makes no more |
6 | than three (3) roundtrips per day in the course of performing such arrangements or services. |
7 | 39-14.2-2. Not other carriers.-- TNCs or TNC drivers are not common carriers, as |
8 | defined in title 39, jitneys, as defined in §39-13-1, taxicabs or limited public motor vehicles, as |
9 | defined in §39-14-1, or public motor vehicles, as defined in §39-14.1-1. In addition, a TNC driver |
10 | shall not be required to register the vehicle such driver uses for prearranged rides as a commercial |
11 | or for-hire vehicle. |
12 | 39-14.2-3. Powers of division.-- Every person operating a licensed transportation |
13 | network company or operating as a licensed transportation network company operator is declared |
14 | to be subject to the jurisdiction of the division of public utilities and carriers. The division may |
15 | prescribe rules and regulations consistent with this chapter that are necessary to assure adequate, |
16 | safe and compliant service under this chapter. The division is further authorized to conduct |
17 | investigations into complaints, conduct investigations initiated on its own, and to hold hearings as |
18 | it deems necessary to fulfill the proper administration of this chapter. |
19 | 39-14.2-4. Audit procedures.-- (a) For the sole purpose of verifying that a TNC is in |
20 | compliance with the requirements of this chapter and no more often than annually, the division |
21 | shall have the right to visually inspect a sample of records that the TNC is required to maintain. |
22 | The sample shall be chosen randomly by the division in a manner agreeable to both parties. The |
23 | audit shall take place at a mutually agreed upon location in Rhode Island. Any record furnished to |
24 | the division may exclude information that would tend to identify specific drivers or riders. |
25 | (b) In response to a specific complaint against any TNC driver, or upon reasonable |
26 | suspicion that a violation of this chapter has occurred, the division is authorized to inspect records |
27 | held by the TNC that are necessary to investigate and resolve the complaint. Any record furnished |
28 | to the division may exclude information that would tend to identify specific drivers or riders, |
29 | unless the identity of a driver or rider is relevant to the complaint. |
30 | (c) Any records inspected by the division under this chapter shall be held confidential by |
31 | the division and shall not be published or be open to public inspection in any manner; provided, |
32 | that nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to prevent disclosure of such |
33 | information that is necessary to assist law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties. |
34 | 39-14.2-5. Permit required of transportation network company.-- (a) No person shall |
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1 | operate a TNC in the state until that person shall have applied for and obtained a permit from the |
2 | division; provided, that any transportation network company operating in the state before the |
3 | effective date of this chapter may continue to operate in the state until the division creates a |
4 | permit process as required pursuant to this section, and provides a reasonable period in which to |
5 | apply and obtain a permit. |
6 | (b) The permit shall be issued only after written application for the permit accompanied |
7 | by an application fee of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and only after the division satisfactorily |
8 | determines that the applicant meets the requirements for a TNC set forth in this chapter and as set |
9 | forth in any rules or regulations promulgated in accordance with §39-14.2-3, provided that no |
10 | hearing on the application shall be required, but provided further, however, that the division shall |
11 | reserve the right to require a hearing on the application if it deems that a hearing is in the public |
12 | interest. |
13 | (c) All permits issued under this section shall be renewed before the close of business on |
14 | December 31 of each calendar year. The annual renewal fee shall be ten thousand dollars |
15 | ($10,000). All revenue collected under this section shall be deposited into the transportation |
16 | network services reserve account as provided in §39-14.2-6. |
17 | (d) Permits issued under this chapter shall not be transferred without the consent of the |
18 | division. |
19 | (e) The sale or other transfer of a controlling percentage of the capital stock or |
20 | membership interests of a TNC, whether by merger, stock sale or otherwise, or the sale or transfer |
21 | of more than fifty percent (50%) of the value of the assets of a TNC, shall be deemed a change of |
22 | control, not a transfer, and shall not be subject to the restrictions in subsection (d) of this section. |
23 | The phrase "controlling percentage" means the ownership of, and the right to vote, stock or |
24 | interests possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all |
25 | classes of TNC's capital stock or interests issued, outstanding and entitled to vote for the election |
26 | of directors. |
27 | 39-14.2-6. Transportation network services administrative reserve account- |
28 | recovery of administration and enforcement expenses. -- There is hereby created a fund to be |
29 | known as the transportation network services administration reserve account, a restricted-use |
30 | account within the division of public utilities and carriers. Such account, hereinafter referred to as |
31 | the "fund," shall be used for the purpose of providing the financial means for the division to fulfill |
32 | its regulatory oversight of this chapter, enforcing relevant sections of this chapter, and any other |
33 | administrative expense deemed necessary by the administrator. |
34 | 39-14.2-7. Transportation network company operators or TNC operators, TNC |
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1 | drivers.-- (a) No individual shall provide TNC services or transport TNC riders in a personal |
2 | vehicle until the individual shall have first submitted to required background checks conducted |
3 | through the TNC in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. |
4 | (b) Prior to permitting an individual to accept trip requests through its digital network, a |
5 | TNC shall: |
6 | (1) Require the individual to submit an application to the TNC. The application shall |
7 | include the individual's name, address, age, driver's license number, photocopy or electronic copy |
8 | of the driver's license, motor vehicle registration for the personal vehicle that the individual |
9 | intends to use to provide prearranged rides, automobile liability insurance, and other information |
10 | as may be required by the TNC. |
11 | (2) Conduct, or have a third party accredited by the national association of professional |
12 | background screeners conduct, a local and national criminal background check for each applicant |
13 | that shall include: |
14 | (i) Multi-state/multi-jurisdictional criminal records locator or other similar commercial |
15 | nationwide database with validation (primary source search); and |
16 | (ii) Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website; and |
17 | (3) Obtain and review, or have a third party obtain and review, a driving history research |
18 | report for such driving applicant. |
19 | (c) The TNC shall certify that the required background checks verify that the applicant |
20 | meets the following criteria: |
21 | (1) Has not had more than three (3) moving violations in the prior three (3) year period, |
22 | or one of the following major violations in the prior three (3) year period: |
23 | (i) Attempting to evade the police; |
24 | (ii) Reckless driving or driving on a suspended; or |
25 | (iii) Revoked license; |
26 | (2) Has not, in the past seven (7) years, been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to |
27 | any of the following: |
28 | (i) Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; |
29 | (ii) Felony fraud; |
30 | (iii) Sexual offenses; |
31 | (iv) Use of a motor vehicle to commit a felony; |
32 | (v) Felony crimes involving property damage, and/or theft; or |
33 | (vi) Acts of violence or felony acts of terror. |
34 | (3) Is not a match in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website; |
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1 | (4) Possesses a valid driver's license; |
2 | (5) Possesses proof of registration for the motor vehicle to be used to provide prearranged |
3 | rides or TNC services. |
4 | (6) Possesses proof of automobile liability insurance, which satisfies the financial |
5 | responsibility requirement for a motor vehicle under §31-47-2(13)(i)(A), for the motor vehicle(s) |
6 | to be used to provide prearranged rides or TNC services; and |
7 | (7) Is at least nineteen (19) years of age. |
8 | (d) TNC operators may be affiliated with or may "partner" with more than one properly |
9 | permitted transportation network company to provide TNC services. |
10 | 39-14.2-8. Solicitation and acceptance of TNC service requests.-- TNC operators shall |
11 | be strictly prohibited from soliciting or accepting so-called "street hails." |
12 | 39-14.2-9. Vehicles to be utilized to provide TNC services.-- TNC operators may |
13 | utilize a personal vehicle to provide licensed TNC services, provided: |
14 | (1) The vehicle is owned by, leased to or otherwise authorized by the legal owner/lessee |
15 | to be used by a TNC operator to provide TNC services: and |
16 | (2) The vehicle is no older than fifteen (15) model years old and is designed to hold no |
17 | more than seven (7) individuals, including the driver; and |
18 | (3) The vehicle meets the vehicle safety inspection requirements for a private motor |
19 | vehicle in Rhode Island or the state in which the vehicle is registered performed by a facility |
20 | licensed by the state to conduct such inspections, and shall display an according inspection sticker |
21 | on the vehicle's windshield if required to do so by applicable law; and |
22 | (4) The vehicle shall have met or surpassed sanitary/acceptability standards established |
23 | by the TNC with which the TNC operator has "partnered"; and |
24 | (5) It shall be prohibited for a TNC operator to connect to a TNC's digital network for the |
25 | purpose of accepting solicitations and providing TNC services in a personal vehicle other than a |
26 | personal vehicle that the TNC operator has registered with the TNC pursuant to §39-14.2-11. |
27 | 39-14.2-10. Electronic identification of TNC vehicles and drivers by TNC.-- The |
28 | TNC's digital network shall display to passengers requesting TNC services a picture of the TNC |
29 | driver and the license plate number of the vehicle to be used to provide the requested services |
30 | before the passenger enters the TNC operator's vehicle. |
31 | 39-14.2-11. Transportation network affiliation placards required.-- (a) No personal |
32 | vehicle shall be utilized to provide TNC services until the TNC operator intending to utilize a |
33 | personal vehicle to provide such TNC services has first registered the vehicle with the TNC and |
34 | the owner has been issued by the TNC a transportation network affiliation placard. |
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1 | (b) TNC operators shall be required to display the transportation network affiliation |
2 | placard in a conspicuous place on the personal vehicle at all times when connected to a TNC's |
3 | digital network. |
4 | 39-14.2-12. Fare charged for TNC services provided.-- (a) On behalf of a TNC |
5 | operator, a TNC may charge a fare for the transportation services provided to the passengers; |
6 | provided that, if a fare is charged, the TNC shall disclose to the riders the fare or fare calculation |
7 | method on its website or within the digital network. |
8 | (b) The TNC shall provide the potential rider with the option to receive a reasonably |
9 | accurate estimate of the expected total fare before the passenger enters the TNC operator's |
10 | personal vehicle. |
11 | (c) Fares for TNC services shall not be paid in cash. Any payment for TNC services shall |
12 | be made only electronically using the TNC's digital network or other application. |
13 | 39-14.2-13. Rights of TNC riders.-- (a) Within a reasonable period of time following the |
14 | completion of a TNC service trip, a TNC shall transmit an electronic receipt to the rider that lists: |
15 | (1) The origin and destination of the trip; |
16 | (2) The total time and distance of the trip; and |
17 | (3) An itemization of the total fare paid, including any additional surcharges. |
18 | (b) A TNC shall be prohibited from disclosing a TNC rider's personally identifiable |
19 | information to a third party, unless: |
20 | (1) Disclosure is pursuant to the publicly disclosed terms of the TNC's privacy policy or |
21 | another consent mechanism to which the rider consents; |
22 | (2) Disclosure is required by a legal obligation; and |
23 | (3) Disclosure is required to protect or defend the terms of use of the service or to |
24 | investigate violations of those terms. In addition to the foregoing, a TNC shall be permitted to |
25 | share a rider's name and/or telephone number with the TNC operator providing prearranged rides |
26 | or TNC services to such passenger in order to facilitate correct identification of the rider by the |
27 | TNC operator or to facilitate communication between those two (2) parties. |
28 | (c) A TNC rider shall be afforded all of the anti-discrimination protections provided in § |
29 | 39-14.2-21. |
30 | 39-14.2-14. Proof of financial responsibility of transportation network companies.-- |
31 | (a) On or before ninety (90) days after the effective date of this chapter and thereafter, TNCs and |
32 | TNC drivers shall comply with the automobile liability insurance requirements of this section. |
33 | (b) The following automobile liability insurance requirements shall apply during the time |
34 | that a TNC driver is logged into the TNC's digital network and available to receive requests for |
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1 | transportation but is not providing prearranged rides: |
2 | (1) Primary automobile liability insurance in the amount of at least fifty thousand dollars |
3 | ($50,000) for death and bodily injury per person, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or |
4 | death and bodily injury per incident, and twenty-five thousand dollars ($2,.000) for property |
5 | damage. |
6 | (2) Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to the extent required by §27-7-2.1. |
7 | (3) The coverage requirements of subsection (b) of this section may be satisfied by any of |
8 | the following: |
9 | (i) Automobile insurance maintained by the TNC driver; or |
10 | (ii) Automobile insurance maintained by the TNC; or |
11 | (iii) Any combination of subsections (b)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section. |
12 | (c) The following automobile liability insurance requirements shall apply while a TNC |
13 | driver is providing prearranged rides: |
14 | (1) Primary automobile liability insurance that provides at least one million five hundred |
15 | thousand dollars ($1,500,000) for death, bodily injury and property damage; |
16 | (2) Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to the extent required by §27-7-2.1; |
17 | (3) The coverage requirements of this subsection (c) of this section may be satisfied by |
18 | any of the following: |
19 | (i) Automobile liability insurance maintained by the TNC driver; or |
20 | (ii) Automobile liability insurance maintained by the TNC; or |
21 | (iii) Any combination of section (c)(3)(i) and (ii) of this section. |
22 | (d) If insurance maintained by a TNC driver to fulfill the insurance requirements of |
23 | subsection (b) and (c) of this section has lapsed or does not provide the required coverage, |
24 | insurance maintained by a TNC shall provide the coverage required by this section beginning |
25 | with the first dollar of a claim and such insurer shall have the duty to defend such claim. |
26 | (e) Coverage under an automobile insurance policy maintained by the transportation |
27 | network company shall not be dependent on a personal automobile insurer first denying a claim |
28 | nor shall a personal automobile insurance policy be required to first deny a claim. |
29 | (f) Insurance required by this section may be placed with an insurer licensed under §27- |
30 | 2.4-1 et seq., or with a surplus lines insurer eligible under §27-3-40 that has a credit rating of no |
31 | less than "A-" from A.M. Best or "A" from Demotech or similar rating from another rating |
32 | agency recognized by the Rhode Island insurance division. |
33 | (g) Insurance required by this section shall be deemed to satisfy the financial |
34 | responsibility requirement for a motor vehicle under §31-47-2(13)(i)(A). |
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1 | (h) A TNC driver shall carry physical or electronic proof of coverage satisfying |
2 | subsections (b) and (c) of this section with them at all times during their use of a vehicle in |
3 | connection with a TNC's digital network. In the event of an accident, a TNC driver shall provide |
4 | this insurance coverage information to the directly interested parties, automobile insurers and |
5 | investigating police officers, upon request pursuant to §31-47-2(15). Upon such request, a TNC |
6 | driver shall also disclose to directly interested parties, automobile insurers, and investigating |
7 | police officers, whether they were logged on to the TNC' s digital network or providing |
8 | prearranged rides at the time of an accident. |
9 | 39-14.2-15. TNC and insurer disclosure requirements.-- (a) The TNC shall disclose in |
10 | writing to TNC drivers the following before they are allowed to accept a request for prearranged |
11 | rides on the TNC' s digital network: |
12 | (1) The insurance coverage, including the types of coverage and the limits for each |
13 | coverage, that the TNC provides while the TNC driver uses a personal vehicle in connection with |
14 | a TNC's digital network; and |
15 | (2) That the TNC driver's own automobile insurance policy might not provide any |
16 | coverage while the driver is logged on to the TNC's digital network and is available to receive |
17 | transportation requests or is engaged in a prearranged ride, depending on its terms. |
18 | (b) Insurers that write automobile liability insurance in Rhode Island may exclude any |
19 | and all coverage afforded under the policy issued to an owner or operator of a personal vehicle |
20 | for any loss or injury that occurs while a TNC driver is logged on to a TNC's digital network or |
21 | while a TNC driver provides a prearranged ride. This right to exclude all coverage may apply to |
22 | any coverage included in an automobile insurance policy including, but not limited to: |
23 | (1) Liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage; |
24 | (2) Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage; |
25 | (3) Medical payments coverage; |
26 | (4) Comprehensive physical damage coverage; |
27 | (5) Collision physical damage coverage; and |
28 | (6) Personal injury protection. |
29 | Such exclusions shall apply notwithstanding any requirement under §31-47-2(13)(i)(A). |
30 | Nothing in this section shall be construed as to require an insurer to use any particular policy |
31 | language or reference to this section in order to exclude any and all coverage for any loss or |
32 | injury that occurs while a driver is logged on to a TNC's digital network or while a TNC driver |
33 | provides a prearranged ride. |
34 | Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude an insurer from providing primary or |
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1 | excess coverage by contract or endorsement for the TNC driver's personal vehicle while the TNC |
2 | driver is logged on to a digital network or while the driver is engaged in a prearranged ride. |
3 | (c) Automobile insurers that exclude the coverage described in §39-14.2-14 (b) and (c) |
4 | shall have no duty to defend or indemnify any claim expressly excluded thereunder. Nothing in |
5 | this chapter shall be deemed to invalidate or limit an exclusion contained in a policy including |
6 | any policy in use or approved for use in Rhode Island prior to the enactment of this chapter that |
7 | excludes coverage for vehicles used to carry persons or property for a charge or available for hire |
8 | by the public. An automobile insurer that defends or indemnifies a claim against a driver that is |
9 | excluded under the terms of its policy, shall have a right of contribution against other insurers that |
10 | provide automobile insurance to the same driver in satisfaction of the coverage requirements of |
11 | §39-14.2-14(b) and (c) at the time of loss. |
12 | (d) In a claims coverage investigation, a TNC shall immediately provide upon request by |
13 | directly involved parties or any insurer of the transportation network company driver, if |
14 | applicable, the precise times that a transportation network company driver logged on and off of |
15 | the TNC's digital network in the twelve (12) hour periods immediately preceding and |
16 | immediately following the accident. Any insurer potentially providing coverage under §39-14.2- |
17 | 14(b) and (c) shall disclose upon request by any other such insurer involved in the particular |
18 | claim, the applicable coverage, exclusions, and limits provided under any automobile insurance |
19 | maintained under §39-14.2-14(b) and (c). |
20 | 39-14.2-16. Limitations on TNCs.-- TNC drivers shall be independent contractors and |
21 | not employees of the TNC if all of the following conditions are met: |
22 | (1) The TNC does not prescribe specific hours during which a TNC driver must be |
23 | logged into the TNC's digital platform; |
24 | (2) The TNC imposes no restrictions on the TNC driver's ability to utilize digital |
25 | platforms from other TNCs; |
26 | (3) The TNC does not assign a TNC driver a particular territory in which to operate; |
27 | (4) The TNC does not restrict a TNC driver from engaging in any other occupation or |
28 | business; and |
29 | (5) The TNC and TNC driver agree in writing that the TNC driver is an independent |
30 | contractor of the TNC. |
31 | 39-14.2-17. Alcohol/Drug use strictly prohibited.-- (a) The TNC shall implement a zero |
32 | tolerance policy regarding a TNC driver's activities while accessing the TNC's digital network. |
33 | The zero tolerance policy shall address the use of drugs or alcohol while a TNC driver is |
34 | providing prearranged rides or is logged into the TNC's digital network but is not providing |
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1 | prearranged rides, and the TNC shall provide notice of this policy on its website or mobile |
2 | application, as well as procedures to report a complaint about a TNC driver with whom a rider |
3 | was matched and whom the rider reasonably suspects was under the influence of drugs or alcohol |
4 | during the course of the trip. |
5 | (b) TNCs shall provide notice on its website or digital network how a rider may report a |
6 | complaint about a TNC operator who the passenger reasonably suspects was under the influence |
7 | of drugs or alcohol during the course of a recently completed prearranged trip. |
8 | (c) Upon receipt of such a rider complaint alleging a violation of the zero tolerance |
9 | policy. The TNC shall suspend such TNC operator's access to the digital network as soon as |
10 | possible and shall conduct an investigation into the reported incident. The suspension of access |
11 | shall last until the investigation is complete. The TNC shall maintain records relevant to the |
12 | enforcement of this requirement for a period of at least two (2) years from the date that a rider |
13 | complaint is received by the TNC. |
14 | 39-14.2-18. Controlling authority.-- All provisions of this chapter, with the exception of |
15 | §39-14.2-14, are hereby declared to be the sole jurisdiction of the division. Section 39-14.2-14 is |
16 | hereby declared to be the sole jurisdiction of the division and the department of business |
17 | regulation. Cities, towns, and other local entities in the state are expressly prohibited from: |
18 | (1) Establishing any licensing or registration requirement or imposing any charge, fee or |
19 | tax on transportation network companies, transportation network company operators or personal |
20 | vehicles; |
21 | (2) Requiring a TNC driver to obtain a business license or any other type of similar |
22 | authorization to operate within the jurisdiction; or |
23 | (3) Subjecting transportation network companies to the city, town, or local entity's rate, |
24 | entry, operation, or other requirements, provided, however, that cities and towns may continue to |
25 | impose excise taxes upon the legal owners of vehicles used to provide TNC services in a manner |
26 | consistent with previous such taxation of private motor vehicles. |
27 | 39-14.2-19. Airport Corporation Authority.-- Notwithstanding the provisions of §39- |
28 | 14.2-18, the Rhode Island airport corporation, or any successor entity authorized to oversee and |
29 | control the property of T.F. Green airport and any other state airport, shall have the authority to |
30 | establish reasonable regulations governing TNC operators offering TNC services on airport |
31 | property through proper amendment of the corporation's ground transportation rules or by |
32 | entering into operating agreements with TNCs. |
33 | 39-14.2-20. Business records to be maintained, retained by transportation network |
34 | companies.-- (a) A TNC shall maintain individual trip records that detail the date, time, pick-up |
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1 | location, drop-off location, distance traveled, length of time of the trip and total fare charged for |
2 | every TNC service it coordinates in the state. Such records shall be maintained for a minimum of |
3 | two (2) years from December 31 of the calendar year in which the services were rendered. |
4 | (b) A TNC shall maintain detailed TNC operator records that include the dates and times |
5 | the operator "logs into" and "logs out of' "the TNC's digital network, the number of TNC service |
6 | trips the operator performs through the TNC's digital network, and the total miles driven and fares |
7 | collected. Additionally, the TNC shall maintain records of all passenger complaints lodged |
8 | against each TNC operator and the results of any investigation or actions taken as a result of such |
9 | complaints. Such records shall be maintained for a minimum of two (2) years from December 31 |
10 | of the calendar year in which the services were rendered. |
11 | 39-14.2-21. Anti-discrimination-Handicapped accessibility.-- (a) A transportation |
12 | network company shall adopt a policy of non-discrimination based on the rider's race, color, |
13 | national origin, religious belief or affiliation, gender, physical disability, age, sexual |
14 | orientation/identity, gender identity, or the pick-up location or drop-off location requested by the |
15 | rider. TNCs and TNC operators shall not impose any additional charge(s) for providing services |
16 | in compliance with this section. |
17 | (b) TNC drivers shall comply with all applicable laws regarding non-discrimination |
18 | against riders or potential riders on the basis of the rider's race, color, national origin, religious |
19 | belief or affiliation, gender, physical disability, age, sexual orientation/identity, gender identity, |
20 | or the pick-up location or drop-off location requested by the rider. |
21 | (c) TNC operators shall not deny or refuse service to any rider accompanied by a service |
22 | animal, nor shall a TNC operator impose any additional charge for the transportation of any such |
23 | service animal accompanying a TNC rider. Such service animals shall be allowed to accompany |
24 | the TNC rider in the passenger compartment of the vehicle without any conditions or restrictions, |
25 | so long as the animal does not impede the safe operation of the vehicle. |
26 | 39-14.2-22. Penalties for violations by TNC's or TNC operators.-- The administrator |
27 | may impose civil sanctions upon any TNC or TNC operator subject to the applicable provisions |
28 | of this chapter and/or any rules and regulations promulgated under it, who shall knowingly or |
29 | willfully cause to be done any act prohibited by applicable sections of this chapter, or who shall |
30 | be guilty of any violation of this chapter or the rules and regulations. The sanctions may include a |
31 | civil penalty (fine) or the suspension or revocation of the TNC's license. This fine shall not |
32 | exceed two hundred dollars ($200) per each violation of the sections contained in this chapter or |
33 | the division's rules and regulations promulgated under it. The administrator shall not fine a TNC |
34 | or suspend or revoke the TNC's license unless the administrator has provided the TNC written |
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1 | notice of an alleged violation. |
2 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005448 - Page 13 of 14 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION NETWORK | |
COMPANY SERVICES | |
*** | |
1 | This act would create regulatory provisions for operators and drivers of transportation |
2 | network services companies to be administered by the division of public utilities and carriers and |
3 | would include requirements for obtaining permits, requiring BCIs for TNC drivers, and would set |
4 | minimum insurance requirements. |
5 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005448 - Page 14 of 14 |