2019 -- S 0908

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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 LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- ESTABLISHING THE "COMMUTER

TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS ACT"

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Ciccone, Metts, Lombardi, and Quezada

     Date Introduced: May 22, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 28 of the General Laws entitled "LABOR AND LABOR

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

CHAPTER 58

THE COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS ACT

     28-58-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Commuter Transportation Benefits

Act."

     28-58-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) "Covered employer" means an employer with twenty (20) or more employees

assigned, scheduled to work, working or situated at the employer's place of business or work

site(s) located within the state.

     (2) "Director" means the director of the department of labor and training.

     (3) "Employee" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 28-12-2.

     (4) "Employer" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 28-12-2.

     (5) "Pre-tax transportation fringe benefit" means a pre-tax election transportation fringe

benefit that provides commuter highway vehicle and transit benefits, consistent with the

provisions and limits of § 132(f)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. §132(f)(1))

at the maximum benefit levels allowable under federal law, to be deducted for those programs

from an employee's gross income pursuant to § 132(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986

(26 U.S.C. § 132(f)(2)).

     (6) "Transit pass" means a pass for travel by bus or vehicle operated by the Rhode Island

public transit authority (RIPTA).

     28-58-3. Commuter employee transportation benefit.

     (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, every covered employer with

twenty (20) or more employees shall offer employees at least one of the following benefit

programs:

     (1) A pre-tax transportation fringe benefit program that provides commuter transit

benefits consistent with § 132(f)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 132(f)(1))

at the maximum benefit levels allowable under federal law, to be deducted from an employee's

gross income pursuant to § 132(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. §

132(f)(2));

     (2) An employer-paid benefit program whereby the employer supplies a transit pass for

each covered employee for travel to and from the employer's place of business or work site; or

     (3) Employer-provided transportation at no cost to the covered employee in a van or bus

operated by or for the employer.

     (b) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to:

     (1) The government of the United States;

     (2) The state of Rhode Island including any office, department, agency, authority,

institution, association, society or other body of the state;

     (3) Any local government or entity;

     (4) Any group of employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement in effect on

January 1, 2020, until the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement; or

     (5) Any employer who has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the director that the

offering of such benefits would result in a severe financial hardship for the employer.

     28-58-4. Rules and regulations.

     The director shall promulgate rules and regulations as he or she deems necessary to

effectuate the provisions of this chapter.

     28-58-5. Civil penalty.

     Any employer found to be in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable for

a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than two hundred fifty

dollars ($250) for a first violation. An employer shall have ninety (90) days to offer a pre-tax

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transportation fringe benefit before the civil penalty is imposed. After ninety (90) days, each

additional thirty (30) day period in which an employer fails to comply with the provisions of this

chapter shall constitute a subsequent violation and a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars

($250) shall be imposed for each subsequent violation. A civil penalty shall not be imposed on

any single employer more than once in any thirty (30) day period.

     28-58-6. Public awareness campaign.

     The department of transportation, in conjunction with the department of labor and

training, shall conduct a public awareness campaign encouraging the public to contact employers

about commuter transportation benefits.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- ESTABLISHING THE "COMMUTER

TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS ACT"

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     This act would establish the commuter transportation benefit act. Employers with twenty

(20) or more employees would provide a pre-tax transportation fringe benefit program or provide

transportation to the employees.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2020.

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