Transportation network companies: insurance coverage.

Existing law, the Passenger Charter-party Carriers' Act, provides for the regulation of charter-party carriers of passengers by the Public Utilities Commission, and makes it unlawful for a charter-party carrier to operate without first obtaining a permit or certificate, from the commission, except as specified. The act requires a charter-party carrier to, among other things, comply with specified vehicle identification and accident liability protection requirements. A violation of the act is generally a misdemeanor, punishable by a specified fine or term of imprisonment, or both, depending on the violation. This bill would amend the Passenger Charter-party Carriers' Act to enact specified requirements for liability insurance coverage for transportation network companies, as defined, and their participating drivers. These requirements would become operative on July 1, 2015. The bill would describe 2 distinct time periods and would specify the insurance requirements for each of those time periods and alternative methods of compliance with those requirements. The bill would require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to be provided for specified time periods. The bill would, in the event a driver's insurance policy ceases to exist or has been canceled, or under certain other circumstances, require a transportation network company's insurance policy to provide the required coverage. The bill, beginning July 1, 2015, would provide that a participating driver's or vehicle owner's personal automobile insurance policy does not provide coverage to the participating driver, vehicle owner, or any 3rd party unless the policy so provides. The bill, beginning July 1, 2015, would require certain written disclosures by transportation network companies to their participating drivers on the insurance coverage provided by the company and to advise that the driver's personal automobile insurance policy will not provide coverage. The bill would authorize a personal automobile insurer to offer such coverage at its discretion to cover private vehicles, as specified. The bill would require participating drivers to carry proof of insurance coverage, as specified. The bill would require the commission and the Department of Insurance to collaborate on a study of transportation network company insurance, as specified, and would prohibit a transportation network company from disclosing the personally identifiable information of a passenger, except as specified. The bill would specify the Legislature's intent relating to expediting the approval of transportation network company insurance products, and would set forth related legislative findings and declarations. Because a violation of the bill's provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.