Mar. 06, 2015
HARRISBURG – By a unanimous vote, the House advanced legislation, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Killion (R-Delaware), that would allow commuter ridesharing arrangements by private operators without the need for cumbersome state regulation.
House Bill 140 would enable private companies to arrange and promote vanpooling without being subject to regulation by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). Unlike transportation network companies, such as Uber and Lyft, which transport commuters for profit and are therefore regulated by the PUC, Killion’s legislation would allow an employer, public agency, nonprofit organization or entity to lease a ridesharing vehicle from a private company for the purpose of transporting employees, round trip, to and from work.
Under House Bill 140, the driver of a private ridesharing vehicle would not be able to profit or be engaged in transportation as a business and must be traveling to the same location as the passengers. The vehicle, which must not exceed a gross weight of 10,000 pounds, must be driven by an unpaid volunteer who may transport no more than 15 adults — no school-age children. The company from which a vehicle is leased would be responsible for all maintenance and insurance on the vehicle.
“This is true commuter ridesharing that would enable employers to provide low-cost round trip transportation for their employees while exempting them from needless state regulation,” said Killion. “This legislation has many benefits. In addition to providing job access to workers who might not otherwise have transportation to and from work, my bill would also reduce traffic congestion, wear and tear on our roads, fuel consumption and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.”
House Bill 140 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Thomas Killion
168th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
RepKillion.com / Facebook.com/RepKillion