2021 -- S 0028

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LC000615

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION NETWORK

COMPANY SERVICES--WHEELCHAIR LIFT EQUIPMENT VEHICLES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Euer, Lawson, Murray, Miller, DiMario, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 39-14.2-1, 39-14.2-3 and 39-14.2-21 of the General Laws in Chapter

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39-14.2 entitled "Transportation Network Company Services" are hereby amended to read as

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follows:

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     39-14.2-1. Definitions.

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     Terms in this chapter shall be construed as follows, unless another meaning is expressed

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or is clearly apparent from the language or context:

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     (1) "Access provider" means an organization or entity that directly provides, or contracts

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with a separate organization or entity to provide, on-demand transportation to meet the needs of

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person with disabilities.

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     (1)(2) "Active TNC driver" means a TNC driver who has provided at least one prearranged

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ride through the TNC in the preceding ninety (90) days.

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     (2)(3) "Administrator" means the administrator of the division of public utilities and

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carriers.

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     (3)(4) "Digital network" means any online-enabled technology application service,

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website, or system offered or utilized by a transportation network company that enables the

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prearrangement of rider transportation with transportation network company drivers.

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     (4)(5) "Division" means the division of public utilities and carriers.

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     (5)(6) "Partner" or "partnering" means the act of a TNC operator agreeing to the terms and

 

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conditions set forth by a TNC for access to the TNC's digital network for the purpose of being

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connected to potential TNC riders seeking TNC services.

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     (6)(7) "Person" means and includes any individual, partnership, corporation, or other

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association of individuals.

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     (7)(8) "Personal vehicle" means a vehicle that is used by a transportation network company

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driver and is:

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     (i) Designed to hold no more than seven (7) individuals, including the driver;

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     (ii) Owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the individual; and

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     (iii) Not a jitney, as defined in § 39-13-1; a taxicab or limited public motor vehicle, as

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defined in § 39-14-1; a public motor vehicle, as defined in § 39-14.1-1; or a common carrier as

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defined in this title.

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     (8)(9) "Transportation network company" or "TNC" means an entity licensed by the

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division pursuant to this chapter that uses a digital network to connect transportation network

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company riders to transportation network operators who provide prearranged rides. A

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transportation network company shall not be deemed to control, direct, or manage the personal

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vehicles or transportation network company drivers that connect to its digital network, except

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where agreed to by written contract.

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     (9)(10) "Transportation network company affiliation placard" or "TNC affiliation placard"

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means a recognizable logo or decal issued by the TNC used to identify personal vehicles whenever

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the vehicle is available to provide, or is providing, TNC services.

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     (10)(11) "Transportation network company operator" or "TNC operator" or "TNC driver"

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means an individual who:

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     (i) Receives connections to potential riders and related services from a transportation

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network company in exchange for payment of a fee to the transportation network company; and

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     (ii) Uses a personal vehicle to offer or provide a prearranged ride to TNC riders upon

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connection through a digital network controlled by a transportation network company in exchange

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for compensation or payment of a fee.

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     (11)(12) "Transportation network company rider" or "TNC rider" means a person who uses

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a transportation network company's digital network to connect with a transportation network driver

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who provides prearranged rides to the rider in the driver's personal vehicle between points chosen

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by the rider.

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     (12)(13) "Transportation network company services" or "prearranged ride" means the

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provision of transportation by a TNC driver to a TNC rider beginning when a TNC driver accepts

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a TNC rider's request for a ride made only through a digital network controlled by a transportation

 

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network company (TNC), continuing while the TNC driver transports the requesting TNC rider(s),

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and ending when the last requesting TNC rider(s) departs from the personal vehicle. TNC services

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and prearranged rides do not include transportation provided using a jitney, as defined in § 39-13-

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1; a taxicab or limited public motor vehicle, as defined in § 39-14-1; a public motor vehicle, as

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defined in § 39-14.1-1; a common carrier as defined in this title; or a regional transportation

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provider. TNC services and prearranged rides do not include a shared-expense carpool or vanpool

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arrangement or service.

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     (14) "Wheelchair accessible vehicle" or "WAV" means a vehicle equipped with a ramp or

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lift capable of transporting non-folding motorized wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or other mobility

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devices.

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     39-14.2-3. Powers of division.

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     (a) Every person operating a licensed transportation network company or operating as a

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licensed transportation network company operator is declared to be subject to the jurisdiction of

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the division of public utilities and carriers. The division may prescribe rules and regulations

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consistent with this chapter that are necessary to ensure adequate, safe, and compliant service under

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this chapter. The division is further authorized to conduct investigations into complaints; conduct

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investigations initiated on its own; and to hold hearings as it deems necessary to fulfill the proper

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administration of this chapter.

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     (b) The division shall require transportation network companies to establish and implement

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a written policy capping dynamic pricing during disasters and relevant states of emergency and

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make this policy available on its website or application.

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     (c) The division shall establish a program relating to accessibility for persons with

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disabilities, including users of a wheelchair who need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV).

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     39-14.2-21. Anti-discrimination -- Handicapped accessibility Anti-discrimination --

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Accessibility for people with disabilities.

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     (a) A transportation network company shall adopt a policy of nondiscrimination based on

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the rider's race, color, national origin, religious belief or affiliation, gender, physical disability, age,

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sexual orientation/identity, gender identity, or the pick-up location or drop-off location requested

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by the rider. TNCs and TNC operators shall not impose any additional charge(s) for providing

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services in compliance with this section.

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     (b) TNC drivers shall comply with all applicable laws regarding nondiscrimination against

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riders or potential riders on the basis of the rider's race, color, national origin, religious belief or

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affiliation, gender, physical disability, age, sexual orientation/identity, gender identity, or the pick-

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up location or drop-off location requested by the rider.

 

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     (c) TNC operators shall not deny or refuse service to any rider accompanied by a service

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animal, nor shall a TNC operator impose any additional charge for the transportation of any service

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animal accompanying a TNC rider. Service animals shall be allowed to accompany the TNC rider

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in the passenger compartment of the vehicle without any conditions or restrictions, so long as the

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animal does not impede the safe operation of the vehicle.

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     (d) As part of the regulation of transportation network companies (TNCs), the division

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shall do all of the following:

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     (1) In a new or existing proceeding, establish a program relating to accessibility for persons

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with disabilities, including wheelchair users who need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV).

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This program shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

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     (i) By January 1, 2022, the division shall begin conducting workshops with stakeholders,

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including: Rhode Island cities and towns; disability rights organizations; persons with disabilities;

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the Rhode Island department of transportation; Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA);

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human service transportation coordinating committee; RIPTA accessible transportation committee;

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governor's commission on disabilities; and transportation network companies, in order to determine

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community WAV demand and WAV supply and to develop and provide recommendations

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regarding the establishment of geographic areas, criteria for access fund expenditures, and

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educational outreach objectives for programs for on-demand services and partnerships consistent

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with the requirements of this section. Workshops may also examine topics including, but not

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limited to, vehicle specifications, subsidies for wheelchair pickups, maintenance and fuel costs,

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designated pickup locations for drivers in locations where door-to-door service is not feasible,

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standards for trip requests, response times, and rider initiated cancellation, limiting of stranded

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users, integration of service into city and county transportation plans, or any necessary training or

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additional incentives for WAV drivers that results in a measurable impact on service availability,

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efficiency, and efficacy.

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     (ii) The division shall require each TNC by July 1, 2023, to pay on a quarterly basis to the

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division an amount equivalent to, at minimum, five cents ($0.05) for each TNC trip completed

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using the transportation network company’s online-enabled application or platform that originates

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in one of the geographic areas selected pursuant to subsection (v) of this section, except if a TNC

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meets the requirements of an exemption established by the division.

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     (iii) Each TNC shall charge its customers on each TNC completed trip, the full amount of

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the per-trip fee established pursuant to this subsection and remit the total amount of those fees

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charged to the division each quarter. The division shall authorize a TNC to offset against the

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amounts due pursuant to subsection (ii) of this section for a particular quarter the amounts spent by

 

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the TNC during that quarter to improve WAV service on its online-enabled application or platform

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and thereby reduce the amount required to be remitted to the division.

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     (iv) The division shall create the TNC access for all fund (access fund) and deposit monies

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collected pursuant to subsection (ii) of this section in the access fund. The division shall distribute

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funds in the access fund on a competitive basis to access providers that establish on-demand

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transportation programs or partnerships to meet the needs of persons with disabilities, including

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wheelchair users who need a WAV.

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     (v) The division shall select geographic areas, which shall be based on the demand for

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WAVs within the area and selected according to outcomes of workshops in subsection (i) of this

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section, for inclusion in the on-demand transportation programs or partnerships funded by the

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access fund. The division shall allocate monies in the access fund for use in each geographic area

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in a manner that is proportional to the percent of the access fund fees originating in that geographic

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area.

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     (vi) The division shall request access providers to submit applications to receive funds

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pursuant to subsection (iv) of this section by January 1, 2023. The division may accept applications

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for new on-demand transportation programs or partnerships any time after April 1, 2023. From the

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applications that are submitted, the division shall select by July 1, 2023, on-demand transportation

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programs or partnerships to receive funding based on criteria adopted by the division in

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consultation with stakeholders described in subsection (i) of this section. As part of the criteria, the

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division shall require an access provider to demonstrate in its application, at a minimum, how the

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program or partnership improves response times for WAV service compared to the previous year,

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the presence and availability of WAVs within the geographic area, and efforts undertaken to

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publicize and promote available WAV services to disability communities.

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     (vii) The division shall distribute funds from the access fund within ninety (90) days

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following the end of each fiscal year. If no access provider meets the requirements, funds shall

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remain in the access fund and be distributed the next year.

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     (viii) Within thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter beginning after July 1, 2023, a

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transportation network company that receives an offset pursuant to subsection (iii) of this section

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or an access provider that receives funding pursuant to subsection (vi) of this section shall submit

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a report to the division. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:

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     (A) The number of WAV rides requested.

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     (B) The number of WAV rides fulfilled.

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     (C) Data detailing the response time between when a WAV ride was requested and when

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the vehicle arrived.

 

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     (D) Information regarding educational outreach to disability communities, including, but

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not limited to, information and promotion of availability of WAVs for wheelchair users.

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     (E) A detailed description of expenditures or investments, as applicable.

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     (ix) The division shall establish yearly benchmarks for TNCs and access providers to meet

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to ensure WAV users receive continuously improved, reliable, and available service. These

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benchmarks shall include, but are not limited to, response times, percentage of trips fulfilled versus

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trips requested, and number of users requesting rides versus community WAV demand for each

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geographic area.

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     (2) Report to the general assembly by January 1, 2024, on compliance with the section and

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on the effectiveness of the on-demand transportation programs or partnerships funded pursuant to

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this section. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

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     (i) A study on the demand for WAVs, including demand according to time of day and

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geographic area.

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     (ii) An analysis of the reports required to be submitted by access providers receiving

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funding pursuant to subsection (1)(vi) of this section.

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     (iii) The availability of unallocated funds in the access fund, including the need to reassess

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access fund allocations.

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     (iv) An analysis of current program capabilities and deficiencies, and recommendations to

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overcome any identified deficiencies.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2021.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION NETWORK

COMPANY SERVICES--WHEELCHAIR LIFT EQUIPMENT VEHICLES

***

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     This act would require ride sharing services to provide wheelchair lift equipment vehicles

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as part of their fleet and establish a program relating to accessibility for persons with disabilities,

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including wheelchair users who need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, in unserved or underserved

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geographic areas of the state.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2021.

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