Bill Text: CA AB1069 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Local government: taxicab transportation services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-10-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 753, Statutes of 2017. [AB1069 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB1069-Amended.html
Amended
IN
Senate
September 08, 2017 |
Amended
IN
Senate
August 22, 2017 |
Amended
IN
Senate
June 28, 2017 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
May 26, 2017 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
April 18, 2017 |
Assembly Bill | No. 1069 |
Introduced by Assembly Member Low |
February 16, 2017 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
This bill would require a city or county
that adopts an ordinance pursuant to the above-described requirements to include in that ordinance a general authorization for a company to set fares and charge a set rate, but would authorize a joint powers authority, transit agency, or countywide transportation authority to impose a maximum rate, and would require a company to comply with requirements related to the calculations and disclosure of rates.
The bill would authorize a permitted taxicab company to provide for prearranged trips, as defined, within the county where it obtains a permit. The bill would prohibit a permitted taxicab company from prejudicing, disadvantaging, or requiring different rates or providing different service to a person based on specified protected characteristics, including race or religion. The bill would require a permitted taxicab service company to comply with various requirements related to driver training and vehicle maintenance. The bill would also require a permitted taxicab company to participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles’ pull-notice system to regularly check the driving records of all drivers.
By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would provide that it is unlawful to operate a taxicab without a valid permit, and would establish a civil penalty for violation of this provision.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this act:(a)Notwithstanding Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 5351) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code, and consistent with the requirements in Section 53075.51, a city or county shall protect the public health, safety, and welfare by adopting an ordinance or resolution in regard to taxicab transportation service rendered in vehicles designed for carrying not more than eight persons, excluding the driver, which is operated
and substantially located pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 53075.51 within the jurisdiction of the city or county.
(b)Each city or county that adopts an ordinance pursuant to subdivision (a) shall provide for in that ordinance, but is not limited to providing for, the following:
(1)A policy for entry into the business of providing taxicab transportation service. The policy shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following provisions:
(A)Employment, or
an offer of employment, as a taxicab driver in the jurisdiction, including compliance with all of the requirements of the program adopted pursuant to paragraph (3), shall be a condition of issuance of a driver’s permit.
(B)The driver’s permit shall become void upon termination of employment.
(C)The driver’s permit shall state the name of the employer.
(D)The employer shall notify the city or county upon termination of employment.
(E)The driver shall return the permit to the city or county upon termination of employment.
(2)The establishment or registration of rates for the provision of taxicab transportation
service that meets the following requirements of this paragraph.
(A)The company may set fares or charge a flat rate. However, a joint powers authority, transit agency, or countywide transportation agency that is formed or elects to consolidate and regulate taxicab service and driver permits pursuant to Section 53075.51 may set a maximum rate.
(B)The company may use any type of device or technology approved by the Division of Measurement Standards to calculate fares, including the use of Global Positioning System metering, provided that the device or technology complies with Section 12500.5 of the Business and Professions Code and with all regulations established pursuant to Section 12107 of the Business and Professions Code.
(C)The company shall disclose fares, fees, or rates to the customer. A permitted taxicab company may satisfy this requirement by disclosing fares, fees, or rates on its Internet Web site, mobile telephone application, or telephone orders upon request by the customer.
(D)The company shall notify the passenger of the applicable rate prior to the passenger accepting the ride for walkup rides and street hails. The rate may be provided on the exterior of the vehicle, within an application of a mobile telephone, device, or other internet-connected device, or be clearly visible in either print or electronic form inside the taxicab.
(3)(A)A mandatory controlled substance and alcohol testing certification program. The program shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the
following requirements:
(i)Drivers shall test negative for each of the controlled substances specified in Part 40 (commencing with Section 40.1) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, before employment. Drivers shall test negative for these controlled substances and for alcohol as a condition of permit renewal or, if no periodic permit renewals are required, at such other times as the city or county shall designate. As used in this section, a negative test for alcohol means an alcohol screening test showing a breath alcohol concentration of less than 0.02 percent.
(ii)Procedures shall be substantially as in Part 40 (commencing with Section 40.1) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, except that the driver shall show a valid California driver’s license at the time and place of testing, and except as provided otherwise in this section. Requirements for
rehabilitation and for return-to-duty and followup testing and other requirements, except as provided otherwise in this section, shall be substantially as in Part 382 (commencing with Section 382.101) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(iii)A test in one jurisdiction shall be accepted as meeting the same requirement in any other jurisdiction. Any negative test result shall be accepted for one year as meeting a requirement for periodic permit renewal testing or any other periodic testing in that jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction, if the driver has not tested positive subsequent to a negative result. However, an earlier negative result shall not be accepted as meeting the pre-employment testing requirement for any subsequent employment, or any testing requirements under the program other than periodic testing.
(iv)In the case of a self-employed independent
driver, the test results shall be reported directly to the city or county, which shall notify the taxicab leasing company of record, if any, of positive results. In all other cases, the results shall be reported directly to the employing transportation operator, who may be required to notify the city or county of positive results.
(v)All test results are confidential and shall not be released without the consent of the driver, except as authorized or required by law.
(vi)Self-employed independent drivers shall be responsible for compliance with, and shall pay all costs of, this program with regard to themselves. Employing transportation operators shall be responsible for compliance with, and shall pay all costs of, this program with respect to their employees and potential employees, except that an operator may require employees who test positive to pay the costs of
rehabilitation and of return-to-duty and followup testing.
(vii)Upon the request of a driver applying for a permit, the city or county shall give the driver a list of the consortia certified pursuant to Part 382 (commencing with Section 382.101) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations that the city or county knows offer tests in or near the jurisdiction.
(B)No evidence derived from a positive test result pursuant to the program shall be admissible in a criminal prosecution concerning unlawful possession, sale or distribution of controlled substances.
(c)Each city or county may levy service charges, fees, or assessments in an amount sufficient to pay for the costs of carrying out an ordinance or resolution adopted in regard to taxicab transportation services pursuant to this section.
(d)This section does not prohibit a city or county from adopting additional requirements for a taxicab to operate that is substantially located pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 53075.51 in its jurisdiction.
(e)For purposes of this section, “employment” includes self-employment as an independent driver.
(f)Nothing in this section prohibits a city, county, or city and county from adopting an ordinance that limits the number of taxicab companies or vehicles that may use taxi stand areas or pick up street hails whether or not the taxicab transportation services substantially operates within the jurisdiction.
(a)(1)A city, county, joint powers authority, transit agency, or countywide transportation agency shall not require a taxicab service provider to obtain a business license, service permit, car inspection certification, driver permit, or to comply with any requirement under Section 53075.5, unless the provider is substantially located within the city or county and does not hold another business license, service permit, car inspection certification or driver permit within that county.
(A)A taxicab service provider is substantially located within the jurisdiction where the primary business address of the provider is located or if more than 50 percent of the number of fares by the provider originate within that
jurisdiction.
(B)If no jurisdiction accounts for more than 50 percent of the revenues of the taxicab transportation provider then the jurisdiction which accounts for the majority of the business is done within the county shall be the jurisdiction in which the provider is substantially located.
(C)For purposes of this section, a taxicab service provider may be substantially located in more than one jurisdiction.
(2)Neither subdivision (a) of Section 53075.5 or this subdivision prohibits a city or county from adopting an ordinance that does either of the following:
(A)Limits the number of taxicab service providers that may use taxi stand areas or pickup street hails within that city’s or county’s jurisdiction. If a city or county chooses to limit the
number of taxis that use the stand areas or pick up street hails the city or county shall identify those vehicles with a window sticker and shall not establish additional requirements or costs to the taxis beyond that authorized by Section 53075.5 or this section.
(B)Requires a taxicab service provider to provide services in a manner that provides equal accessibility for all populations within a jurisdiction.
(3)Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an airport operator shall have separate and ultimate authority to regulate taxicab access to the airport and set access fees for taxicabs at the airport.
(4)Nothing in this section or Section 53075.5 shall affect the authority of a jurisdiction to regulate taxi access to an airport it owns or operates and set access fees or requirements.
(b)(1)A joint powers authority, a transit agency, or a countywide transportation agency may regulate and issue permits or licenses to the business of providing taxicab transportation service within the geographical boundaries of the agency as approved by the agency’s board of directors.
(2)A joint powers authority, a transit agency, or a countywide transportation agency may collect, on behalf of a city, county, or city and county in which a taxicab service provider is substantially located, any business license tax imposed by that city, county, or city and county and remit the proceeds of the tax to that jurisdiction pursuant to procedures adopted by the board of directors.
(3)A joint powers authority, a transit agency, or a countywide transportation agency may levy service charges, fees, or
assessments sufficient to pay for the costs of carrying out the regulation of taxicab transportation services pursuant to this section.
(4)If a city or county enters into a joint powers agreement with, or an agreement to administer through, a transit agency or countywide transportation agency in order to consolidate or facilitate the process of applying for taxicab service provider permits pursuant to paragraph (1), the city or county shall maintain the provisions of any ordinance adopted under Section 53075.5 that provides for the enforcement of the regulations developed by the relevant transit agency or countywide transportation agency.
(5)A joint powers authority, transit agency, or countywide transportation agency that elects to fully administer issuance of taxicab service provider permits pursuant to this subdivision shall issue a permit to a taxicab service company that
complies with all provisions of this section, Section 53075.5, and any additional requirement required by the permitting agency, an inspection sticker. The authority or agency shall also issue to a taxicab driver that complies with all provisions of this section, and with all applicable requirements of the permitting agency, a photo permit that the driver is required to display in a place visible to a passenger. A taxicab service provider issued an inspection sticker or photo permit under this subdivision may operate countywide.
(6)A joint powers authority, transit agency, or countywide transportation agency may accept a taxicab service provider permit issued in a different county as valid, and may issue to that provider an inspection sticker or photo permit that authorizes that provider to operate within the county.
(c)A taxicab service provider shall obtain a permit in every
county in which that provider is substantially located as defined in subdivision (a).
(d)A permitted taxicab company may provide prearranged trips anywhere within the county in which it has obtained a permit under subdivision (a) of Section 53075.5 or pursuant to subdivision (b).
(e)A permitted taxicab company shall not prejudice, disadvantage, or require different rates or provide different service to a person because of race, national origin, religion, color, ancestry, physical handicap, medical condition, occupation, marital status or change in marital status, sex, or any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code.
(f)A permitted taxicab service company shall do all of the following:
(1)Maintain reasonable financial
responsibility to conduct taxicab transportation services in accordance with the requirements of an ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 53075.5 or the regulation adopted pursuant to subdivision (b).
(2)Participate in the pull-notice program pursuant to Section 1808.1 of the Vehicle Code to regularly check the driving records of all taxicab drivers, whether employees or contractors.
(3)Maintain a safety education and training program in effect for all taxicab drivers, whether employees or contractors.
(4)Maintain a disabled access education and training program to instruct its taxicab drivers on compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.) and amendments thereto, and state disability rights laws, including making clear that it is illegal to
decline to serve a person with a disability or who has a service animal.
(5)Maintain its motor vehicles used in taxicab transportation services in a safe operating condition and in compliance with the Vehicle Code and with regulations contained in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations relative to motor vehicle safety.
(6)Provide the jurisdiction or agency that has issued a permit under this article an address of an office or terminal where documents supporting the factual matters specified in the showing required by this subdivision may be inspected by the permitting agency.
(7)Provide for a taxi driver fingerprint-based criminal history check and a drug and alcohol testing program pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 53075.5.
(g)(1)It shall be unlawful to operate a taxicab without a valid permit to operate.
(2)The minimum fine for violation of paragraph (1) shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000) and shall be payable to the county or city where the violation occurred.
(h)For purposes of this section:
(1)“City or county” includes a charter city or charter county, but does not include the City and County of San Francisco.
(2)“Permitted taxicab company” means a taxicab service provider who obtains all necessary permits required by this article.
(3)“Taxicab service provider” means a taxicab service company, taxicab transportation company, or taxicab driver.
(i)A taxicab company shall provide documentation substantiating that 50 percent or more of the number of fares are generated from within a specific jurisdiction.
(j)“Prearranged trip” means trip using an online enabled application, dispatch, or Internet Web site.