File #: Int 1301-2016    Version: * Name: Benefits for taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Transportation
On agenda: 10/13/2016
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to benefits for taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers
Sponsors: Corey D. Johnson, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Brad S. Lander, Stephen T. Levin, Margaret S. Chin, Helen K. Rosenthal, Inez D. Barron, Costa G. Constantinides, Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
Council Member Sponsors: 9
Summary: This bill would require the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) to establish a program to provide taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers with benefits, such as health care services and disability insurance. In order to fund the program, the TLC would establish a surcharge not to exceed ten cents that would be added to all taxi and for-hire vehicle fares. Medallion owners and for-hire base owners would be responsible for submitting payments to the TLC. Before the program takes effect, the TLC would be required to conduct a study assessing the feasibility and cost of providing certain benefits to drivers and report its findings to the Council.
Indexes: Agency Rule-making Required, Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1301, 2. October 13, 2016 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2017*Corey D. Johnson City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/13/2016*Corey D. Johnson City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/13/2016*Corey D. Johnson City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 1301

 

By Council Members Johnson, Rodriguez, Lander, Levin, Chin, Rosenthal, Barron, Constantinides and Salamanca

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to benefits for taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 5 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York section is amended to add a new section 19-547 to read as follows:

§ 19-547 Benefits. a. For the purpose of this section, the term “benefits” may include, but need not be limited to, primary medical care, specialty medical care, mental health care, vision services, disability insurance, sick time insurance, unemployment insurance, and supplemental workers’ compensation insurance.

                     b. The commission shall establish a program to provide benefits to taxi and for-hire drivers. Such program may be administered by the city or an entity with experience in benefits administration. The commission shall establish by rule eligibility for such services and coverage.

                     c. To pay the costs of providing benefits and expenses in carrying out the powers and duties under this section, the commission shall ascertain by reasonable estimate the total funding necessary to carry out such operations. Based upon its estimation of operating costs, the commission shall establish by rule a proposed uniform surcharge to be added to each taxicab and for-hire vehicle fare; provided, however, that such surcharge shall not exceed ten cents.

                     d. Each medallion owner leasing their taxicab to an eligible driver and each for-hire vehicle base, black car base, and luxury limousine base dispatching an eligible driver shall be liable for payment to the commission of an amount equal to the product of (i) the surcharge due pursuant to this section and (ii) all trips performed by eligible drivers, regardless of whether such surcharge was billed or charged. Such payments shall be submitted to the commission in such a manner as prescribed by rule.

                     § 2. The Taxi and Limousine Commission shall conduct a study regarding benefits for taxi and for-hire drivers, including, but not limited to, primary medical care, specialty medical care, mental health care, vision services, disability insurance, sick time insurance, unemployment insurance, and supplemental workers’ compensation insurance. For each such benefit, the commission shall assess the feasibility and cost of offering such benefit and the potential utility to taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers. The commission shall submit the results of such study to the speaker of the council, including an explanation of why or why not each such benefit will be included in program established pursuant to section one of this local law, no later than 120 days after this local law’s enactment.

                     § 3. This local law takes effect 270 days after its enactment, except that the Taxi and Limousine Commission shall take all measures as are necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the promulgation of rules, prior to such date.

 

KET 10/6/16 4:52PM

LS 1420/2014