Background: State law currently provides for the regulation of certain private transportation providers, such as operators of aeroporters, limousines, for-hire vehicles, taxicabs, and charter and excursion buses. Cities, counties, and port districts may license, control, and regulate all for hire vehicles within their respective jurisdictions. The regulation of cities, counties, and port districts may include:

regulating entry into the business of providing for-hire transportation services;
requiring a license to be purchased and the ability to revoke, cancel, or refuse to reissue a license for failure to comply with regulatory requirements;
controlling the rates changed and the manner in which rates are calculated and collected;
regulating the routes and operations of for-hire vehicles, including restricting access to airports;
establishing safety and equipment requirements; and
any other requirements adopted to ensure a safe and reliable for-hire vehicle.

The Department of Licensing (DOL) is the statewide agency that licenses and regulates drivers.

For-hire vehicles with drivers that are at all times logged in to a digital network or software application are defined in state law as commercial transportation services. A corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity, operating in Washington, that uses a digital network or software application to connect passengers to drivers for the purpose of providing a prearranged ride is defined as a commercial transportation services provider. Every vehicle used for commercial transportation services in Washington State must be covered by an automobile insurance policy that specifically covers its services or that covers the vehicle being used. Before a commercial transportation services driver may accept a ride, the motor vehicle liability insurance policy must have limits of $50,000 dollars per person for bodily injury, $100,000 dollars per accident for bodily injury of all persons, and $30,000 dollars for damage to property. To the extent of the law, underinsured liability coverage and personal injury coverage are required. After a driver accepts a requested ride the driver must have a combined single limit liability coverage of $1,000,000, and underinsured motorist coverage of $1,000,000. Commercial transportation services provider drivers, for-hire vehicle operators, limousine chauffeurs, and taxicab operators are exempt from workers' compensation requirements.

Summary of Bill: The definition of commercial transportation services provider is redefined as a transportation network company (TNC). All other instances of commercial transportation services is redefined accordingly.

A TNC who wishes to operate in the state of Washington must obtain a permit from DOL. The permit fee for a TNC to operate in this state is $5,000 per year. A TNC must also:

maintain an agent for service of process within the state;
disclose the fare or fare calculation method on its website and the estimated fare to the rider;
display a photograph of the TNC driver and the license plate of the TNC vehicle before the rider enters the vehicle; and
transmit an electronic receipt to the rider on behalf of the driver that lists the trip's origin and total time and distance, and an itemization of total fare paid.

A motor vehicle that is used for the TNC must:

not be more than 12 years of age;
meet the emissions requirements for motor vehicles; and
have received a safety inspection in the last year of certain vehicle components.

Vehicles used for TNC services are not for-hire vehicles, ride-sharing vehicles, common carriers or motor carriers, limousines, and taxicabs. A TNC driver is not required to register their vehicle as a commercial vehicle or for-hire vehicle. Other than what it stipulated in contract, the TNC is not deemed to control, direct, or manage the TNC vehicles or drivers.

A TNC driver is not an employee of the TNC but an independent contractor. The TNC does not stipulate when a driver must drive, or restrict the driver's ability to engage in another occupation or business or access the network of another TNC. A TNC must adopt a policy or nondiscrimination with respect to riders and drivers. For a person to become a TNC driver they must submit an application to the TNC. A third party must review the TNC driver. The review must include a search with a multistate/multijurisdictional criminal records locator, or a similar database search, and the U.S. Department of Justice national sex offender public website. The driving history research report of the individual must also be reviewed by the third party. A person must not become a TNC driver if:

the person has had more than three moving violations within the previous three years;
they have attempted to elude police, had a reckless driving violation, or drove on a suspended or revoked license;
in the last seven years they have been convicted of a Class A or B felony, a violent offense, a serious violent offense, a most serious offense as defined in law, a sex offense, or they have been convicted of driving under the influence, had a hit-and-run, or any other driver-related crime;
they are a sex offender;
they do not possess a driver's license;
they do not possess proof of automobile liability insurance; or
they are not at least 19 years of age.

It is required that the TNC implement a zero tolerance policy that addresses the use of drugs and alcohol while accessing the TNC network. The TNC must post this policy on its website and the procedures for a rider to report suspicion that their driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A driver's ability to accept trip requests must be suspended while the TNC conducts an investigation.

A TNC driver must not solicit or accept a trip other than a trip arranged through the TNC. Each prearranged ride must be assessed a $0.10 per trip passenger surcharge fee to cover the costs of enforcement and regulation by the state and local municipalities. The surcharge would be deposited into the TNC account created in the custody of the State Treasurer. Within 60 days of the end of each calendar quarter after distribution to DOL for expenses, the funds in the TNC account must be distributed to each municipality or county where the trip originated during the reporting period. Within 30 days of the calendar quarter, the TNC must submit to the DOL the total amount of passenger surcharge fees collected and the percentage of trips that originated in each municipality or unincorporated county.

Individual trip records must be kept by the TNC for at least three years and individual records of the TNC drivers must be kept three years after termination of the relationship between the driver and the TNC. The DOL may audit TNC records no more than annually and the TNC reserves the right to exclude personally-identifying information. All records are designated confidential and are not subject to disclosure to a third party without written consent by the TNC.

The entire field of regulation of transportation network companies is fully occupied and preempted by the state. Local regulations applicable to transportation network companies are limited under the Act.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This would bring TNCs to all of Washington. TNCs make transportation easier and they compliment existing transportation systems. Statewide legislation is a path to offering TNCs a clean uniform framework for providing safe and reliable rides everywhere. TNCs allow people to make money in a way that works for them. The patchwork system currently in existence limits the ability of drivers and riders to take advantage of TNC systems. Local governments will benefit by preempting their own regulations. This is a work in progress. Washington is a technology leader and they are behind in implementing a state-wide regulation. The $0.10 per trip surcharge enables new companies to operate and encourages competition. The flexibility of Lyft allows the option to leave Washington for work in Alaska and come back and work for Lyft in other seasons. There is a vetting process in King County and it is necessary to pay all the applicable fees. It would be much more efficient to have the state regulate this when driving to other cities. This is a way to serve people and help get them where they need to go. There needs to be a unified statewide system. The process today is not functioning. Uber and Lyft provide transportation options to people who drink and, therefore, make the roads safer. Riders rate their drivers and there is an opportunity every time for them to report their experience. To drive a TNC, a driver must file for a business license in Seattle. If not licensed in another city, the system shuts down. The problem is that different cities have different requirements and fees. The regulations are not clear. It is very cumbersome on drivers.

CON: In section 21 of this bill, local laws and ordinances that are more restrictive are repealed. There is inequity in the for-hire vehicle universe. The annual fee is only $5,000 for a multi-billion dollar company. A taxi owner pays more than $1,600 per year in taxes and fees. There is gross inequity in this market. It was at the TNCs motivation to charge the $0.10 surcharge. Drivers are a big part of the formula that make TNCs a success. Before, taxi cab drivers have been a part of the discussion. This bill broadly preempts local governments and there is a concern about local bargaining. Uber and Lyft are currently suing Seattle regarding collective bargaining. The background checks are not annual in this bill. There is no parity for taxicab operators. Regulatory work has been accomplished in King County and Seattle and this should be copied in state law. There is a major concern in that this bill creates another level where the Legislature determines what is required for safety. There should be a medical qualifier for driving a TNC. The requirements at the beginning of this bill are only reactive regarding a passenger and need to be proactive. It is about the quality of the driver and safety. The standard should be the same for TNCs as with other for-hire vehicles. There is a huge cost for implementing these standards in other regulated for hire markets.

OTHER: The City of Seattle is having productive conversations with TNCs. This bill is the start of an evolution for for-hire vehicles and King County is favorable to some of it. Conceptually, this is needed and is important but there are things regarding driver standards and annual vehicle checks that is concerning. This bill focuses on TNCs but there are a variety of business models out there with much different licensing and regulations. There needs to be uniformity. There should be a third background check by Washington State Patrol’s Watch system. The Watch system has the ability to find sex offenders that may not be found in other systems. There is no limitation on how much the state may retain out of the $0.10 cent fee for administration and there should be. The bill falls short of its goals. The Utility and Transportation Commission regulates for hire vehicles and these statutes date back to 1921. The situation is very different today from what it was and, as a result, the state has a patchwork of regulatory structures that deals with it. This piece meal approach creates an uneven playing field and confusion. This bill retroactively eliminates unemployment insurance coverage and needs to be dealt with.