STORAGE NAME: h1525c.EIS
DATE: 3/31/2025
1
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
BILL ANALYSIS
This bill analysis was prepared by nonpartisan committee staff and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
BILL #: CS/HB 1525
TITLE: Prearranged Transportation Services
SPONSOR(S): Busatta
COMPANION BILL: SB 1696 (Calatayud)
LINKED BILLS: None
RELATED BILLS: None
Committee References
Criminal Justice
16 Y, 0 N, As CS
Economic Infrastructure
16 Y, 0 N
Judiciary
SUMMARY
Effect of the Bill:
The bill prohibits a person from willfully impersonating a transportation network company (TNC) driver by
engaging in specified conduct. Under the bill, a violation of the prohibition is a generally a second degree
misdemeanor, however, a person commits a third degree felony if he or she willfully impersonates a TNC driver
during the commission of, or to facilitate the commission of, a separate felony offense.
Additionally, the bill clarifies that services purchased from a TNC do not qualify as privately owned or operated bus
transit systems and that a TNC is not a transportation service provider, and thus TNCs are not subject to specified
regulations.
Fiscal or Economic Impact:
The bill may have an indeterminate positive impact on jail and prison beds by creating a new misdemeanor and
felony offense for impersonating a TNC driver, which may result in increased jail and prison admissions. The bill
may have an indeterminate positive impact on the private sector by exempting TNCs from specified requirements
related to safety inspections and driver training.
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE BILL:
The bill creates a criminal offense related to the impersonation of a transportation network company (TNC) driver.
Under the bill, a person commits a second degree misdemeanor
1 if he or she willfully impersonates a TNC driver
by:
Making a false statement;
Displaying counterfeit signage or emblems of a trade dress, trademark, brand, or logo of a TNC; or
Engaging in any other act that falsely represents that he or she represents a TNC or is responding to a
passenger ride request for a TNC. (Section 1)
Additionally, a person who willfully impersonates a TNC driver during the commission of, or to facilitate the
commission of, a separate felony offense commits a third degree felony.
2 (Section 1)
The bill clarifies that services purchased from a TNC do not qualify as “privately owned or operated bus transit
systems,” and thus are not subject to specified regulations related to transit safety standards, inspections, and
system safety reviews. (Section 2)
The bill amends the definition of “transportation service provider” to specify that such service providers:
1
A second degree misdemeanor is punishable by up to 60 days in county jail and a $500 fine. Ss. 775.082 and 775.083, F.S.
2
A third degree felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Ss. 775.082, F.S., 775.083, F.S., or 775.084,
F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
2
Are organizations or entities that contract with local governments to provide paratransit service to
persons with disabilities using a dedicated fleet of vehicles operated by its employees or directly
contracted drivers who meet paratransit service standards; and
Do not include TNCs as defined in s. 627.748(1), F.S. (Section 3)
Finally, the bill changes the current requirement for transportation service providers to provide training to each
driver of a motor vehicle used to provide paratransit service to persons with disabilities, which must meet
requirements established by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, to instead require such transportation
service providers to provide each driver with access to third-party training materials that meet such requirements.
(Section 3)
The effective date of the bill is July 1, 2025. (Section 4)
FISCAL OR ECONOMIC IMPACT:
STATE GOVERNMENT:
The bill may have an indeterminate positive impact on prison beds by creating a felony offense related to
impersonating a TNC driver, which may result in more offenders being sentenced to prison.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
The bill may have an indeterminate positive impact on jail beds by creating a misdemeanor offense related to
impersonating a TNC driver, which may result in more offenders being sentenced to jail.
PRIVATE SECTOR:
The bill may have an indeterminate positive impact on the private sector by exempting TNCs from specified
requirements related to safety inspections and driver training, which may reduce expenses incurred by TNCs that
are currently complying with such requirements.
RELEVANT INFORMATION
SUBJECT OVERVIEW:
Transportation Network Companies
In 2017, the Legislature established a regulatory framework for transportation network companies.
3 A
“transportation network company” or “TNC” is an entity operating in this state using a digital network to connect a
rider to a TNC driver, who provides prearranged rides. Specifically, a TNC:
Does not own, control, operate, direct, or manage the TNC vehicles or TNC drivers that connect to its digital
network, except where agreed to by written contract.
Is not a taxicab association.
Is not an individual, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity that arranges medical
transportation for individuals qualifying for Medicaid or Medicare pursuant to a contract with the state or a
managed care organization.
4
A TNC driver receives connections to potential riders and related services from a TNC and in return for
compensation, uses a TNC vehicle to offer or provide a prearranged ride to a rider after being connected through a
digital network.
5 A TNC or TNC driver is not a common carrier, contract carrier, or motor carrier and does not
provide taxicab service, and is not required to register a TNC vehicle as a commercial motor vehicle or a for-hire
3
S. 627.748, F.S.
4
However, a TNC may provide prearranged rides to individuals who qualify for Medicaid or Medicare if it meets specified
requirements under s. 627.748, F.S.
5
S. 627.748(1)(g), F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
3
vehicle.
6 A TNC’s digital network must display the TNC driver’s photograph and the TNC vehicle’s license plate
number before the rider enters the TNC vehicle.
7
Transit Safety Standards
Section 341.061, F.S., requires the Department of Transportation (Department) to adopt rules establishing
minimum equipment and operational safety standards for the following entities:
Governmentally owned bus transit systems and privately owned or operated bus transit systems operating
in this state that are financed wholly or partly by state funds;
Bus transit systems created pursuant to chapter 427, F.S., including school buses and other forms of public
transportation; and
Privately owned or operated bus transit systems under contract with any of the above systems.
Such bus transit system standards must be developed jointly by the Department and representatives of the transit
systems. Accordingly, each bus transit system must:
Develop a transit safety program plan that complies with established standards;
Certify to the Department that such plan complies with established standards; and
Implement and comply with the plan during the operation of the transit system.
8
Additionally, as part of the safety plan, each bus transit system must:
Require all transit buses operated by the system to be inspected at least annually in accordance with
established standards;
Ensure that qualified personnel of the bus transit system, or public or private entities qualified by the bus
transit system, perform safety inspections; and
Annually certify in writing to the department that it has complied with the adopted safety program plan
and safety inspections.
9,10
Transportation Service Providers
A “transportation service provider” is an organization or entity that contracts with a local government to provide
paratransit service to persons with disabilities.
11 In part, for contracts entered into or renewed on or after October
1, 2024, a transportation service provider must agree to provide training to each driver of a motor vehicle used to
provide paratransit service to persons with disabilities which, at a minimum, meets requirements established by
the Agency for Persons with Disabilities
12 for training and professional development of staff providing direct
services to clients of the agency.
13
6
S. 627.748(2), F.S.
7
S. 627.748(5), F.S.
8
S. 341.061(2)(a), F.S.
9
S. 341.061(2)(b), F.S.
10
The Department may conduct a review of any bus transit system that does not comply with specified safety program plan
regulations, which may result in adverse findings and required corrective actions. The system operator must suspend an
affected system service until corrective action is taken if continued operation of the system, or a portion thereof, poses an
immediate danger to public safety, and the Department itself may require such affected system service to be suspended if the
system operator fails to take corrective action or fails to suspend service when immediate danger to the public exists. S.
341.061(2)(c), F.S.
11
S. 427.02(1), F.S.
12
State of Florida, APD - Agency for Persons with Disabilities (last visited Mar. 19, 2025).
13
S. 427.02(2)(a), F.S. JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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BILL HISTORY
COMMITTEE REFERENCE ACTION DATE
STAFF
DIRECTOR/
POLICY CHIEF
ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY
Criminal Justice Subcommittee 16 Y, 0 N, As CS 3/19/2025 Hall Butcher
THE CHANGES ADOPTED BY THE
COMMITTEE:
Clarified that a person commits a third degree felony if he or she
impersonates a transportation network company driver during the
commission of, or to facilitate the commission of, a separate felony offense.
Made technical changes.
Economic Infrastructure
Subcommittee
16 Y, 0 N 3/31/2025 Bauldree Keating
Judiciary Committee
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THIS BILL ANALYSIS HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCORPORATE ALL OF THE CHANGES DESCRIBED ABOVE.
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