Bill > H4064

This bill establishes a new "ride for hire division" within the Department of Public Utilities to regulate transportation network companies, commonly known as ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, and also addresses regulations for traditional taxi and livery services. Key provisions include allowing municipal licensing authorities and the new division to access criminal offender record information for applicants to ensure public safety, and creating a funding mechanism for the division through assessments on transportation network companies based on their revenue. The bill also mandates that the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and the Massachusetts Port Authority establish rules for ride-for-hire vehicles at their respective locations, with specific regulations for the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and Logan Airport, including limitations on non-livery transportation network vehicles and conditional access for taxis from neighboring cities. Furthermore, it introduces new insurance requirements for ride-for-hire services, distinguishing between coverage when a driver is logged in but not actively providing a ride and when they are engaged in a prearranged ride, with higher coverage limits for the latter. The bill also establishes a task force to review the existing regulatory structure for the ride-for-hire industry, considering aspects like accessibility, pricing, and the impact of autonomous vehicles, and requires a report on the feasibility of statewide criminal background checks for all ride-for-hire operators. Finally, it allows for slightly older vehicles to be used by transportation network drivers, with a maximum model year of 15 years, and sets specific implementation dates for certain provisions.