Senate bill passes to legalize services like Uber and Lyft
The New York State Senate on Monday passed a bill seeking to legalize ride-hailing services, bringing Uber and Lyft one step closer to Syracuse and the rest of the state.
The bill, S.4159 which was sponsored by Sen. James Seward (R), establishes a regulatory framework for ride-hailing services upstate. The bill passed by a vote of 53 to 5.
The debate over ride-hailing services has dragged on over the last year in New York state, which is one of the final states in the United States to not have some form of statewide regulatory framework for the services. Ride-hailing services have been operating in New York City for years, but remain illegal in the rest of the state.
“This bill delivers economic, environmental and public safety benefits, and is long overdue,” Seward said in a press release.
The bill now moves onto the Assembly. Last June, the Senate pushed through a similar bill on the last day of the 2016 legislative session that would have established a statewide regulatory framework for the services. However, its Assembly equivalent eventually stalled. The two houses ended up disagreeing over how much insurance coverage should be required for ride-hailing services drivers.
The new bill establishes a Transportation Network Company Accessibility Task Force that will include ride-hailing service drivers in workers’ compensation insurance offered through the existing Black Car Fund, an injury compensation fund that gives benefits to drivers in NYC.
Seward’s bill also requires criminal and driving history background checks for drivers, passenger notifications of driver information and trip charges and the adoption of “non-discrimination and zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policies.”
S.4159 also subjects ride-hailing service rides in upstate to a 2 percent tax and does not subject rides to the 4 percent sales tax, according to the press release. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent proposal for legalizing ride-hailing services statewide includes a 5.5 percent tax on rides.
Revenue from the taxes proposed in Seward’s bill would be used for infrastructure projects in the state, per the press release.
“Business executives, college students, and everyone in between utilize ride-sharing apps when visiting cities around the nation and upstate New York riders should not be left at the curb,” Seward said.
Members of the Syracuse community have previously expressed support for bringing Uber and Lyft to the area. Former Syracuse University Student Association President Aysha Seedat was outspoken with her support for ride-hailing services in upstate during the 2015-16 school year, drafting a letter to send to the Assembly before the 2016 legislative session. Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner has also called for the services in the state.