| 1 | 1 | | 84R11186 JTS-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Eltife S.B. No. 1555 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the regulation of transportation network companies; |
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| 8 | 8 | | requiring an occupational permit. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 14, Occupations Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Chapter 2402 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | CHAPTER 2402. TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 2402.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1) "Department" means the Texas Department of |
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| 15 | 15 | | Licensing and Regulation. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (2) "Transportation network company" means an entity |
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| 17 | 17 | | that: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (A) uses a digital network or software |
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| 19 | 19 | | application service to connect passengers to transportation |
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| 20 | 20 | | network services provided by transportation network drivers; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (B) does not own, control, operate, or manage |
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| 22 | 22 | | vehicles used to provide transportation network services; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | (C) is not a taxicab or for-hire vehicle company. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (3) "Transportation network driver" means an |
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| 25 | 25 | | individual who: |
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| 26 | 26 | | (A) provides transportation network services |
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| 27 | 27 | | using a motor vehicle that is owned, leased, or otherwise |
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| 28 | 28 | | authorized for use by the individual; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (B) is not a taxicab or for-hire vehicle driver. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (4) "Transportation network services" means |
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| 31 | 31 | | transportation of a passenger between points chosen by the |
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| 32 | 32 | | passenger and prearranged with a transportation network driver |
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| 33 | 33 | | through the use of a transportation network company's digital |
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| 34 | 34 | | network or software application. The term includes services |
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| 35 | 35 | | beginning from the acceptance of a request for transportation |
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| 36 | 36 | | received through the transportation network company's digital |
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| 37 | 37 | | network or software application service and terminating when the |
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| 38 | 38 | | passenger exits the transportation network driver's vehicle. |
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| 39 | 39 | | Sec. 2402.002. LICENSE REQUIRED. A person may not operate a |
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| 40 | 40 | | transportation network company in this state without obtaining and |
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| 41 | 41 | | maintaining a license issued by the department. |
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| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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