Budget Amendment ID: FY2014-S3-499

TRP 499

Taxi Industry Competition

Messrs. Tarr and Hedlund moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-

SECTION 62.  (a)The secretary of transportation, in consultation with the registrar, the director of consumer affairs and business regulation and the secretary of administration, shall conduct an auction or sale for the lease of not more than 300 state taxicab licenses; provided however that not more than 60 state taxicab licenses shall be leased in any year.  The annual lease price shall not be greater than $50,000 and the lease payments shall not last beyond 5 years.

(b)  The secretary shall promulgate regulations for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this section including, without limitation, regulations that:

(1) prescribe the method and form of application which an applicant for licensure shall follow and complete before consideration;

(2) prescribe the information to be furnished by an applicant or licensee;

(3) require all licensees to operate with drivers licensed by a city or town as provided for by the city or town and chapter 159A;

(4) require all licensees to treat every licensed driver  as an employee under chapter 149;

(5)  require all licensees to maintain a policy of liability insurance that insures the safety of passengers, including but not limited to the amount or limit of at least one hundred thousand dollars on account of injury to or death of any one person, and, subject to the limits as respects injury to or death of one person; at least three hundred thousand dollars on account of any one accident resulting in injury to or death of more than one person;

(6) allow holders of state taxicab licenses to pick up and drop off passengers in multiple cities or towns in the commonwealth;

(7)  provide for minimum standards of vehicle fuel efficiency and encourage the applications of persons who will place the license in alternative fuel vehicles or hybrid vehicles;

(7) encourage the applications of minority, women owned, and veteran persons;

(8) encourage the applications of applicants who will place the license in a vehicle that is equipped with a lift, ramp, or any other device, arrangement or alteration, capable of transporting persons with physical disabilities;

(9) require state taxicab licensees to pay an annual fee;

(10) allow for the removal of a state taxicab license from any holder for failure to comply with the laws of the commonwealth and the regulations adopted by the department;

(11) limit any holder of a state taxicab license to less than 4 state taxicab licenses; provided, however, that a holder may have 4 or more licenses if the department does not receive sufficient competition and deems it in the best interest of the commonwealth for said holder to maintain 4 or more licenses

(12) address regional priorities and equity in the state taxicab market.

(c) The department shall deposit all moneys received pursuant to this section in the general fund; provided, however, that 10 per cent of moneys received shall be distributed to the city or town of the principal place of business of the state taxicab license, as determined by regulations established by the department.