The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Transportation
BILL: SB 1696
INTRODUCER: Senator Calatayud
SUBJECT: Prearranged Transportation Services
DATE: March 25, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Johnson Vickers TR Favorable
2. CJ
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 1696 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 impersonates a TNC driver during 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 not subject to specified regulations relating to paratransit service contracts. The bill also
modifies training requirements for paratransit drivers to authorize access to third-party training
materials.
The bill may have a fiscal impact on both governmental entities and the private sector. See
Section V., Fiscal Impact Statement for details.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
Transportation Network Companies (TNCs)
A Transportation Network Company (TNC), codified in s. 627.748, F.S., is defined to mean an
entity operating pursuant to a. 627.748, F.S., 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.
REVISED: BILL: SB 1696 Page 2
• 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.
1
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.
2
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 vehicle.
3
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.
4
Transit Safety Standards
Section 341.061, F.S., requires the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) 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 ch. 427, F.S., providing for the transportation
disadvantaged system; 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 FDOT 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 FDOT that such plan complies with established standards; and
• Implement and comply with the plan during the operation of the transit system.
5
Additionally, as part of its 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.
6
1
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.
2
Section 627.748(1)(g), F.S.
3
Section 627.748(2), F.S.
4
Section 627.748(5), F.S.
5
Section 341.061(2)(a), F.S.
6
Section 341.061(2)(b), F.S. BILL: SB 1696 Page 3
Transportation Service Provider Contracts
For purposes of transportation service contracts, the term “transportation service provider” is
defined to mean an organization or entity that contracts with a local government to provide
paratransit service to persons with disabilities.
7
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 for training and professional
development of staff providing direct services to clients of the agency.
8
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates a criminal offense related to the impersonation of a TNC driver. Under the bill, a
person commits a second degree misdemeanor
9
if he or she 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.
Additionally, a person who impersonates a TNC driver during the commission of a separate
felony offense commits a third degree felony.
10
The bill clarifies that services purchased from a TNC which otherwise comply with the TNC
statute, are not considered privately owned or operated bus transit systems for purposes of
FDOT’s transit safety standards. Therefore, TNCs are not subject to specified regulations related
to transit safety standards, inspections, and system safety reviews.
The bill amends the definition of “transportation service provider” as it relates to paratransit
service contracts, specifying that such service providers use a dedicated fleet of vehicles operated
by its employees or directly contracted drivers who meet paratransit service standards. The bill
provides that the term “transportation service provider” does not include a TNC.
The bill amends the current requirement that transportation service providers provide training to
each driver providing paratransit service to persons with disabilities that meet requirements
established by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. The bill requires each transportation
service provider to provide each driver with access to third-party training materials that meet
such requirements.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
7
Section 427.02(1), F.S.
8
Section 427.02(2)(a), F.S.
9
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.
10
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. BILL: SB 1696 Page 4
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
The bill may have an indeterminate positive fiscal 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.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill may create an increase in the need for state prison beds due to creating a felony
offense related to impersonating a TNC driver, which may result in more offenders being
sentenced to prison. However, the number of potential offenders under this new provision
is not known. Therefore, the magnitude of the impact on the prison population cannot be
determined.
The bill may create an increase in the need for county jail beds due to creating a
misdemeanor offense related to impersonating a TNC driver, which may result in more
offenders being sentenced to jail. However, the number of potential offenders under this
new provision is not known. Therefore, the magnitude of the impact on the county jail
population cannot be determined. BILL: SB 1696 Page 5
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
The term “willfully” may need to be added at the end of line 29.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 316.2021, 341.061,
and 427.02.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.