HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2469

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to motor vehicle insurance.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that transportation network companies are entities that use a digital network or software application service to connect passengers with transportation network company drivers.  The legislature further finds that concerns have been raised about potential gaps in motor vehicle insurance coverage associated with transportation network companies.  In response, by the end of 2015, twenty-nine states enacted legislation to establish insurance requirements covering transportation network company activity, thereby protecting transportation network company drivers, their passengers, and the public.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to close the insurance gaps associated with transportation network companies by establishing motor vehicle insurance requirements for transportation network companies and transportation network company drivers.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 431, article 10C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part   .  transportation network companies

     §431:10C-A  Definitions.  As used in this part:

     "Transportation network company" means an entity that uses a digital network or software application service to connect passengers to transportation network company drivers; provided that the entity:

     (1)  Does not own, control, operate, or manage the vehicles used by transportation network company drivers; and

     (2)  Is not a taxicab association or a for-hire vehicle owner.

     "Transportation network company activity" means the period of time when the transportation network company driver logs onto the transportation network company's digital network or software application service until the moment the transportation network company driver logs off the digital network or software application service or until the ride is complete and the passenger exits the transportation network company driver's vehicle, whichever is later.

     "Transportation network company driver" means an individual who operates a motor vehicle used to transport a passenger between points chosen by the passenger and prearranged through a transportation network company and that is:

     (1)  Owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the individual;

     (2)  Not a taxicab or for-hire vehicle; and

     (3)  Used in transportation network company activity.

     §431:10C-B  Relation to other laws.  Neither a transportation network company nor a transportation network company driver shall be deemed to be a common carrier by motor vehicle, a contract carrier by motor vehicle, a motor carrier as defined in section 271-4, a taxicab, or a for-hire vehicle service.

     §431:10C-C  Duration of fare.  A transportation network company fare shall be deemed to:

     (1)  Commence when a transportation network company driver accepts a request for transportation received through the transportation network company's digital network or software application service;

     (2)  Continue while the transportation network company driver transports the passenger in the transportation network company driver's vehicle; and

     (3)  Conclude when the passenger exits the transportation network company driver's vehicle.

     §431:10C-D  Transportation network company and transportation network company driver; insurance requirements.  (a)  A transportation network company shall disclose in writing to transportation network company drivers, as part of the transportation network company's agreement with those drivers:

     (1)  The insurance coverage and limits of liability that the transportation network company provides while the transportation network company driver uses a vehicle during transportation network company activity; and

     (2)  That the transportation network company driver's personal motor vehicle insurance policy might not provide any required or optional coverage because the transportation network company driver uses a vehicle during transportation network company activity.

     (b)  A transportation network company and any transportation network company driver shall maintain a primary motor vehicle insurance policy that shall be in effect during transportation network company activity.  The primary motor vehicle insurance required under this section shall include:

     (1)  Primary liability coverage of not less than $100,000 per person, with an aggregate limit of $200,000 per accident, for all damages arising out of accidental harm sustained as a result of any one accident and arising out of ownership, maintenance, use, loading, or unloading of a motor vehicle;

     (2)  Primary liability coverage of not less than $50,000 for all damages arising out of damage to or destruction of property including motor vehicles and including the loss of use thereof, but not including property owned by, being transported by, or in the charge of the insured, as a result of any one accident arising out of ownership, maintenance, use, loading, or unloading of the insured vehicle;

     (3)  Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for the transportation network company driver and passengers that shall be equal to the primary liability limits specified in paragraphs (1) and (2);

     (4)  Personal injury protection coverage in an amount that meets the requirements of section 431:10C–103.5 and shall be equal to or greater than the coverage limits for the personal motor vehicle insurance maintained by the vehicle's owner and reported to the transportation network company; and

     (5)  Collision and comprehensive coverage limits for the transportation network company driver's vehicle that shall be equal to or greater than the coverage limits for the personal motor vehicle insurance maintained by the vehicle's owner and reported to the transportation network company.

     (c)  The requirements for the coverage specified in subsection (b) may be satisfied by any of the following:

     (1)  Motor vehicle insurance maintained by a transportation network company driver; provided that the transportation network company verifies that the policy is maintained by the transportation network company driver and is specifically written to cover the transportation network company driver's use of a vehicle in connection with a transportation network company's digital network or software application service;

     (2)  Motor vehicle insurance maintained by a transportation network company; or

     (3)  Any combination of paragraphs (1) and (2).

     (d)  The insurer providing insurance under this section shall have the duty to defend and indemnify the insured.

     (e)  Coverage under a transportation network company insurance policy shall not be dependent on a personal motor vehicle insurance policy first denying a claim nor shall a personal motor vehicle insurance policy, including a personal liability umbrella policy, be required to first deny a claim.

     (f)  In every instance where motor vehicle insurance maintained by a transportation network company driver to fulfill the insurance obligations of this section has lapsed or ceased to exist, the transportation network company shall provide the coverage required by this section beginning with the first dollar of a claim.

     (g)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a personal motor vehicle insurance policy to provide primary or excess coverage during transportation network company activity.  During transportation network company activity, and notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the following shall apply:

     (1)  The transportation network company driver's or the vehicle owner's personal motor vehicle insurance policy shall not be required to provide, nor shall it provide, any coverage to any person or entity unless the policy expressly provides for that coverage during transportation network company activity, with or without a separate charge, or the policy contains an amendment or endorsement to provide coverage for transportation network company activity, for which a separately stated premium is charged; and

     (2)  The transportation network company driver's or the vehicle owner's personal motor vehicle insurance policy shall not have the duty to defend or indemnify for the driver's activities in connection with the transportation network company, unless the policy expressly provides otherwise for transportation network company activity, with or without a separate charge, or the policy contains an amendment or endorsement to provide coverage for transportation network company activity, for which a separately stated premium is charged.

     (h)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a personal motor vehicle insurer may, at its discretion, offer a motor vehicle liability insurance policy, or an amendment or endorsement to an existing policy that covers a private passenger vehicle, station wagon type vehicle, sport utility vehicle, or similar type of vehicle with a passenger capacity of eight persons or less, including the driver, while used in connection with a transportation network company activity if the policy expressly provides for the coverage of transportation network company activity, with or without a separate charge, or the policy contains an amendment or an endorsement to provide coverage for transportation network company activity, for which a separately stated premium may be charged.

     (i)  In a claims coverage investigation, a transportation network company or its insurer shall cooperate with insurers that are involved in the claims coverage investigation to facilitate the exchange of information, including the provision of dates and times at which an accident occurred that involved a transportation network company driver and the precise times that the transportation network company driver logged on and off the transportation network company's digital network or software application service.

     (j)  A transportation network company driver of a transportation network company shall carry proof of insurance coverage as required by this section within the vehicle at all times when the vehicle is being used in transportation network company activity.  In the event of an accident, a transportation network company driver shall provide this insurance coverage information to any other party involved in the accident, and to a police officer, upon request.

     (k)  Notwithstanding any other law affecting whether one or more policies of insurance that may apply with respect to an occurrence is primary or excess, this section shall determine the obligations under insurance policies issued to transportation network companies and, if applicable, transportation network company drivers using a vehicle in connection with a transportation network company activity.

     §431:10C-E  Records.  (a)  A transportation network company shall maintain:

     (1)  Global positioning system records and electronic records of transportation network company activity for each individual trip provided by a transportation network company driver for at least five years from the date each trip was provided; and

     (2)  Transportation network company driver records at least until the five year anniversary of the date on which a transportation network company driver's activation on the transportation network company digital network or software application service has ended.

     (b)  Records maintained under this section shall be made readily available for purposes of a claims coverage investigation pursuant to section 431:10C-D(i) or resolving any other dispute related to transportation network company activity no later than ten days after receipt of a written request for such record."

     SECTION 3.  In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.


     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Motor Vehicle Insurance; Transportation Network Companies; Transportation Network Company Drivers; Insurance Requirements

 

Description:

Establishes motor vehicle insurance requirements for transportation network companies and transportation network company drivers.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.