Transportation network companies: insurance coverage.

Under existing law, the Passenger Charter-party Carriers' Act, the Public Utilities Commission has adopted rules and regulations relating to public safety risks in the operation of transportation services utilizing transportation network companies. Those regulations define a transportation network company as an organization operating in California that provides prearranged transportation services for compensation using an online-enabled platform to connect passengers with drivers using their personal vehicles. Existing regulations of the commission require, among other things, a transportation network company to acquire a commercial liability insurance policy for incidents involving transportation network company vehicles and drivers in transit to or during a transportation network company trip. This bill would more broadly define "transportation network company" by excluding the requirement that a transportation network company trip be prearranged and would provide that the Public Utilities Commission shall require a transportation network company to have in effect a primary commercial motor vehicle liability insurance policy to cover the vehicles of its participating drivers, as part of its agreement with those drivers, with respect to personal injury liability, property damage liability, and personal injury protection liability benefits available to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and others, as specified.