2019 -- S 0583

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LC001707

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL

TRANSPORTATION

     

     Introduced By: Senators Euer, DiPalma, Goodwin, Lawson, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND

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CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 13.2

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PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

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     39-13.2-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Passenger Bill of Rights."

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     39-13.2-2. Bill of rights.

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     (a) Recipients shall have access to transportation for non-emergency medical

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appointment services.

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     (b) Transportation includes: public transit, taxi or limited public vehicle, ride share

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program, public motor vehicle, multi-passenger van, wheel-chair van, and ambulance.

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     (c) Qualified transportation services shall be required that:

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     (1) The operator shall have a recent and distinct photograph of himself or herself at least

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two and one-half inches (2 1/2") wide and four inches (4") high together with his or her full name

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and address;

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     (2) The operator will provide this identification to the recipient or facility employee upon

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arrival to pick up the recipient;

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     (3) Contracted operators shall have his or her PUC identification visible during operation

 

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of his or her vehicle;

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     (4) Contracted operators shall be required to display an EOHHS transportation broker

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placard or sign on the vehicle at all times when being utilized for the transportation of recipients;

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     (5) The operator shall be required to display that the passenger pick-up standard is that

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the operator will be arriving no earlier than fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled time nor

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later than fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled pick-up time; and

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     (6) The operator shall be required to display that the drop-off standard will be on time but

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no more than thirty (30) minutes early.

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     (d) Vehicle operators shall provide transportation recipients the contact information of

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the transportation services broker including:

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     (1) The telephone number for complaints or commendations regarding service;

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     (2) Local business address;

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     (3) Email address; and

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     (4) Website address.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL

TRANSPORTATION

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     This act would list information needed by recipients of transportation of non-emergency

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medical appointment services.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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