Bill Text: HI HB699 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Transportation Network Companies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-10 - Carried over to 2022 Regular Session. [HB699 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-HB699-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	699
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that statewide regulation of transportation network companies is needed to ensure the safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of rides provided by transportation network company drivers as well as to preserve and enhance access to important transportation options for residents and visitors of the State.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to provide statewide regulation of transportation network companies to provide operational consistency across the State and to establish a permitting process within the department of transportation.

     SECTION 2.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES

     §   -1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter:

     "Department" means the department of transportation.

     "Digital network" means any online-enabled technology application service, website, or system offered or utilized by a transportation network company that enables the prearrangement of rides with transportation network company drivers.

     "Director" means the director of transportation.

     "Prearranged ride" has the same meaning as in section 431: 10C-701.

     "Transportation network company" means an entity that uses a digital network or software application service to connect passengers to transportation network company drivers; provided that the entity:

     (1)  Does not control, direct, or manage the transportation network company vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract; and

     (2)  Is not a taxicab association or a for-hire vehicle owner.

     "Transportation network company driver" has the same meaning as in section 431:10C-701.

     "Transportation network company rider" or "rider" means an individual or person who uses a transportation network company's digital network to connect with a transportation network company driver who provides prearranged rides to the rider in a transportation network company vehicle between destination  points chosen by the rider.

     "Transportation network company vehicle" means a vehicle that is:

     (1)  Used by a transportation network company driver to provide a prearranged ride;

     (2)  Owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the transportation network company driver; and

     (3)  Not operating as a taxicab, limousine, or other for-hire vehicle.

     §   -2  Relation to other laws; commercial vehicle; for hire vehicle; registration; exemption.  Solely for the purposes of this chapter, neither a transportation network company nor a transportation network company driver shall be deemed to be a common carrier by motor vehicle, a contract carrier by motor  vehicle, a motor carrier as defined in section 271-4, a taxicab, or a for-hire vehicle service.  No transportation network company driver shall be required to register a transportation network company vehicle as a commercial or for-hire vehicle.

     §   -3  Transportation network company; permit; required.  (a)  No person shall operate a transportation network company in the State without first having obtained a permit from the director, the application for which shall be in a form and content as prescribed by the director; provided that any transportation network company operating in the State before the effective date of this chapter may continue operating until the director has established a permitting process and sets a registration deadline.

     (b)  The director shall issue a permit to each applicant that satisfies the requirements for a transportation network company as set forth by the director and shall collect an annual permit fee of up to $25,000 from the applicant prior to the issuance of a permit.

     §   -4  Fare transparency.  Prior to a rider confirming a ride, each transportation network company shall clearly display its fare structure and:

     (1)  The fare for the upcoming ride;

     (2)  The option to receive an estimated fare for the upcoming ride; or

     (3)  The basis and rate on which the subject fare is to be calculated, and any additional fees or charges that may apply.

     §   -5  Agent for service.  Any transportation network company in operation in the State shall maintain an agent for service of process in the State.

     §   -6  Identification of transportation network company vehicles and drivers.  During a prearranged ride, a transportation network company's digital network shall display an image of the transportation network company driver and the license plate number of the transportation network company vehicle.

     §   -7  Electronic receipt.  Following the completion of a trip, the transportation network company shall transmit an electronic receipt on behalf of the transportation network company driver that shall include the following information:

     (1)  The origin and destination or destinations of the trip;

     (2)  The total time and distance of the trip; and

     (3)  The total fare paid.

     §   -8  Disclosure; limitations; insurance requirements.  The requirements of section 431:10C-703 shall apply to transportation network companies and transportation network company drivers.

     §   -9  Transportation network company driver requirements.  (a)  Prior to allowing an individual to act as a transportation network company driver and accept a request for a prearranged ride through a transportation network company's digital network:

     (1)  The individual shall submit an application to the transportation network company and shall include the following information:

          (A)  The individual's address;

          (B)  The individual's age;

          (C)  A copy of the individual's valid driver's license;

          (D)  A copy of the applicable motor vehicle registration;

          (E)  A copy of the applicable motor vehicle insurance; and

          (F)  Other information deemed necessary by the transportation network company;

     (2)  The transportation network company shall each year conduct national and local criminal background checks for each applicant and each driver.  The criminal background check shall include a review of:

          (A)  A multi-state and multi-jurisdictional criminal records locator or other similar commercial nationwide database with validation; and

          (B)  The United States Department of Justice national sex offender public website; and

     (3)  The transportation network company shall obtain and review, or have a third-party entity obtain and review, a driving history research report for the individual.

     (b)  The transportation network company shall not permit an individual to act as a transportation network company driver on its digital network who:

     (1)  Has more than three moving violations within the prior three years, or one of the following major violations in the past three years:

          (A)  Attempting to evade police;

          (B)  Reckless driving; or

          (C)  Driving on a suspended or revoked license;

     (2)  Within the past seven years has been:

          (A)  Convicted of any felony; or

          (B)  Convicted of any misdemeanor relating to driving, violent, or sexual offenses;

     (3)  Is registered on the United States Department of Justice national sex offender public website or any publicly accessible state sex offender registry;

     (4)  Does not possess a valid driver's license;

     (5)  Does not possess proof of a current and valid registration for the motor vehicle or vehicles used to provide prearranged rides;

     (6)  Does not possess proof of valid motor vehicle insurance for the transportation network company vehicle; or

     (7)  Is not at least nineteen years of age.

     (c)  A transportation network company driver shall be considered an independent contractor, and not an employee of a transportation network company, if all of the following conditions are met:

     (1)  The transportation network company does not prescribe the specific hours during which the transportation network company driver is required to be logged in to the transportation network company's digital network;

     (2)  The transportation network company does not impose any restrictions upon the transportation network company driver's ability to use other transportation network companies' digital networks;

     (3)  The transportation network company does not restrict a transportation network company driver from engaging in any other occupation or business; and

     (4)  The transportation network company and the transportation network company driver agree in writing that the transportation network company driver is an independent contractor.

     (d)  A transportation network company shall not control, direct, or manage the transportation network company vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, unless a written contract expressly provides otherwise.

     §   -10  Non-discrimination; accessibility.  (a)  The transportation network company shall adopt a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of destination, race, color, national origin, religious belief or affiliation, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity with respect to riders and potential riders and shall notify the transportation network company drivers of the policy.

     (b)  In addition to any policy established pursuant to subsection (a), transportation network company drivers shall comply with all applicable laws regarding nondiscrimination against riders or potential riders on the basis of destination, race, color, national origin, religious belief or affiliation, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

     (c)  Transportation network company drivers shall comply with all applicable laws to accommodate service animals.

     For purposes of this subsection, "service animal" has the same meaning as in section 347-2.5.

     (d)  A transportation network company shall not impose additional charges for providing services to persons with physical disabilities.

     §   -11  Audit procedures; confidentiality of records.  (a) Not more than annually, the department may visually inspect and audit a sample of records maintained by a transportation network company for the sole purpose of verifying that a transportation network company complies with the requirements of this chapter.  The sample shall be chosen randomly by the department in a manner agreeable to both parties.  The audit shall take place at a mutually agreed location in the State.  Any record furnished to the department shall exclude information that would tend to identify specific drivers or riders.

     (b)  In response to a specific complaint against any transportation network company driver or transportation network company, the department may inspect records held by the transportation network company that are necessary to investigate and resolve the complaint.  The department and transportation network company shall conduct the inspection at a mutually agreed upon location in the State.  Any record furnished to the department shall exclude information that would tend to identify specific transportation network company drivers or riders, unless the identity of a transportation network company driver or rider is relevant to the complaint.

     (c)  Any records inspected by the department under this section shall be confidential, are not subject to disclosure to a third party by the department without the prior written consent of the transportation network company, and shall be exempt from disclosure under chapter 92F.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the applicability of any other exemptions under chapter 92F.

     §   -12  Uniform statewide regulation.  (a)  This chapter shall apply uniformly throughout the State and in all political subdivisions of the State.

     (b)  This chapter shall supersede any ordinance or other rule adopted by a political subdivision that specifically governs transportation network companies, transportation network company drivers, or transportation network company vehicles, including those adopted before the effective date of this chapter."

     SECTION 3.  Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, is amended by amending section 6 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 2 of this Act shall take effect on September 1, 2016[; provided further that this Act shall be repealed on September 1, 2021]."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Transportation Network Companies; Regulation; Permitting

 

Description:

Establishes requirements and permitting procedures for transportation network companies operating in the State.  Makes permanent insurance requirements for transportation network companies and transportation network drivers.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.