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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PEER-TO-PEER CAR SHARING PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Goodwin, Gallo, DiPalma, LaMountain, Tikoian, and
McKenney

     Date Introduced: January 10, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 27-8.3-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-8.3 entitled "Peer-To-

Peer Car Sharing Program [Effective April 1, 2023.]" is hereby repealed.

     27-8.3-2. Applicability. [Effective April 1, 2023.]

     The provisions of this chapter apply notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the

contrary. Where any provision of this chapter conflicts with any other provision of law, the

provisions of this chapter shall supersede any such conflicting or contradictory provision.

     SECTION 2. Section 27-8.3-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-8.3 entitled "Peer-To-

Peer Car Sharing Program [Effective April 1, 2023.]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     27-8.3-3. Definitions. [Effective April 1, 2023.]

     (a) Except as otherwise provided, the following definitions apply throughout this chapter:

     (1) “Car sharing delivery period” means the period of time during which a shared vehicle

is being delivered to the location of the car sharing start time, if applicable, as documented by the

governing car sharing program agreement.

     (2) “Car sharing period” means the period of time that commences with the car sharing

delivery period or, if there is no car sharing delivery period, that commences with the car sharing

start time and in either case ends at the car sharing termination time.

     (3) “Car sharing program agreement” means the terms and conditions applicable to a shared

vehicle owner and a shared vehicle driver that govern the use of a shared vehicle through a peer-

to-peer car sharing program. “Car sharing program agreement” does not mean a rental car

agreement, issued by a motor vehicle rental company as defined in § 31-34.1-1.

     (4) “Car sharing start time” means the time when the shared vehicle becomes subject to the

control of the shared vehicle driver at or after the time the reservation of a shared vehicle is

scheduled to begin as documented in the records of a peer-to-peer car sharing program.

     (5) “Car sharing termination time” means the earliest of the following events:

     (i) The expiration of the agreed upon period of time established for the use of a shared

vehicle according to the terms of the car sharing program agreement if the shared vehicle is

delivered to the location agreed upon in the car sharing program agreement;

     (ii) When the shared vehicle is returned to a location as alternatively agreed upon by the

shared vehicle owner and shared vehicle driver as communicated through a peer-to-peer car sharing

program, which alternatively agreed upon location shall be incorporated into the car sharing

program agreement; or

     (iii) When the shared vehicle owner or the shared vehicle owner’s authorized designee,

takes possession and control of the shared vehicle.

     (6) “Peer-to-peer car sharing” means the authorized use of a vehicle by an individual other

than the vehicle’s owner through a peer-to-peer car sharing program. “Peer-to-peer car sharing”

does not mean rental car or rental activity as described in chapter 34.1 of title 31.

     (7) “Peer-to-peer car sharing program” means a business platform that connects vehicle

owners with drivers to enable the sharing of vehicles for financial consideration. “Peer-to-peer car

sharing program” does not mean a rental car company as defined in § 31-34.1-1.

     (8) “Shared vehicle” means a vehicle that is available for sharing through a peer-to-peer

car sharing program. “Shared vehicle” does not mean a rental car or rental vehicle as described in

§ 31-34.1-1(4).

     (9) “Shared vehicle driver” means an individual who has been authorized to drive the

shared vehicle by the shared vehicle owner under a car sharing program agreement.

     (10) “Shared vehicle owner” means the registered owner, or a person or entity designated

by the registered owner, of a vehicle made available for sharing to shared vehicle drivers through

a peer-to-peer car sharing program. Shared vehicle owner does not mean “rental company” as

defined in § 31-34.1-1(4).

     (b) "Peer-to-peer car sharing", "peer-to-peer car sharing program" and "car sharing

program agreement" as defined in this section are not considered rental vehicle activity under § 31-

34.1 et seq.; provided that, a shared vehicle owner does not share more than five (5) vehicles

through one or more peer-to-peer car sharing programs in one calendar year pursuant to § 31-5-33.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 27-8.3 of the General Laws entitled "Peer-To-Peer Car Sharing

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Program [Effective April 1, 2023.]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-8.3-15. Shared vehicle owner certification requirements.

     (a) A peer-to-peer vehicle sharing program shall require all shared vehicle owners to certify

to the peer-to-peer sharing program whether the shared vehicle owner or any affiliate or subsidiary

has registered more than five (5) different shared vehicles on any combination of platforms at any

one time.

     (b) A shared vehicle owner is under a continuing obligation to immediately notify all peer-

to-peer car sharing programs upon which they have vehicles registered, if the registration of a

shared vehicle on a platform will cause the shared vehicle owner to exceed five (5) or more different

shared vehicles registered on any combination of peer-to-peer vehicle sharing programs at any one

time. Such notification shall occur prior to sharing any additional shared vehicles on any platforms,

not including those already subject to a vehicle sharing program agreement at the time the

additional vehicle is registered with the program by the shared vehicle owner.

     (c) Failure by the shared vehicle owner to immediately notify any program shall subject

the shared vehicle owner to payment of the taxes due and applicable penalties.

     (d) Any affirmation or notification by the shared vehicle owner of the required

certifications shall require the peer-to-peer vehicle sharing program to collect any and all applicable

taxes and surcharges. A peer-to-peer vehicle sharing program that collects rental vehicle surcharges

pursuant to § 31-34.1-2 shall remit to the shared vehicle owner the portion of the surcharge allowed

to be retained by the rental company pursuant to § 31-34.1-2(b).

     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect on April 1, 2023.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PEER-TO-PEER CAR SHARING PROGRAM

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     This act would provide that peer-to-peer car sharing, peer-to-peer car sharing programs,

and peer-to-peer car sharing program agreements are not considered rental vehicles subject to a

rental vehicle surcharge under chapter 31-34.1 provided the shared vehicle owner shares no more

than five (5) vehicles in a calendar year.

     This act would take effect on April 1, 2023.

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