2024 -- H 7678

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LC004954

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION NETWORK

COMPANY SERVICES

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Cortvriend, Kislak, Carson, Cotter, Tanzi,
Speakman, McGaw, Sanchez, and Giraldo

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2024

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 39-14.2 of the General Laws entitled "Transportation Network

Company Services" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     39-14.2-23. Rideshare or transportation network company vehicle surcharge.

     (a) Each rideshare or transportation network company shall collect a surcharge which shall

be added to the fare charged to each customer. For the purposes of this chapter, "rideshare or

transportation network company" means a company that provides on-demand transportation

services through app-based platforms to connect drivers with clients or passengers to facilitate

and/or provide transportation for compensation or a fee.

     (b) The surcharge shall be seventy-five cents ($0.75) per fare.

     (c) The total amount of surcharge collections shall be remitted to the State of Rhode Island,

and fifty percent (50%) of the surcharge collections shall be deposited in a restricted account to be

used for street infrastructure improvements in the municipality where the fare originated, and fifty

percent (50%) of the surcharge collections shall be deposited in a restricted account to be used as

funding for implementation of Transit Forward RI as adopted by the state planning council.

     (d) The tax administrator shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement

the provisions of this chapter.

     (e) All disbursements and expenditures of funds from the restricted accounts subject to the

provisions of this section shall be by appropriation of the general assembly.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 44-18 of the General Laws entitled "Sales and Use Taxes — Liability

and Computation" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     44-18-18.2. Transportation network companies tax.

     All sales tax revenue collected from transportation network companies, as defined in § 39-

14.2-1, shall be deposited in a restricted receipt account for the benefit of the Rhode Island public

transit authority (RIPTA).

     SECTION 3. 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 -- TRANSPORTATION NETWORK

COMPANY SERVICES

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     This act would impose a seventy-five cent ($0.75) surcharge on fares charged by rideshare

or transportation network companies. This act would also require that fifty percent (50%) of the

surcharge be deposited in a restricted account to be used for street improvements in the municipality

where the fare originated, and fifty percent (50%) of the surcharge be deposited in a restricted

account to fund Transit Forward RI. The tax administrator would promulgate rules and regulations

to implement the provisions of this chapter. The act would also establish a restricted receipt account

for the benefit of RIPTA funded by sales tax collected from ride-share companies such as Uber and

Lyft.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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