It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 39-14-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-14 entitled "Taxicabs and Limited Public Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows: :

{ADD 39-14-4. Hearing on application. -- ADD} Upon receipt of such application, the division {DEL shall fix a time and place of hearing thereon and shall give notice by registered mail of the pendency of such application and of the time and place of hearing thereon to such applicant, to the mayor of each city and to the president of the town council of each town in which the applicant desires to originate the transportation of such passengers, and to the certificate holder of any taxicab or limited public motor vehicle holding operating authority from the division within the territory specified in the application. Any city or town within which taxicab or limited public motor vehicle service is operated may bring a written petition to the division in respect to fares, service, operation or equipment, or the convenience, protection and safety of passengers and the public. Thereupon, the division shall fix a time and place for a hearing upon such petition and shall give notice thereof, by registered mail, to the parties in interest and give such other notice thereof as the division shall deem desirable. DEL} {ADD shall, within a reasonable time, fix the time and place of hearing on every application. Notice of the hearing shall be given by first class mail to the applicant and shall be published in a newspaper with statewide distribution. ADD}