Int. No. 1052
By The Speaker (Council Member Johnson) and Council Members Rodriguez, Lander and Rose
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 is amended by adding a new section 19-548 to read as follows:
§ 19-548 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 pay insurance, unemployment insurance and supplemental workers’ compensation insurance.
b. The commission shall establish a program to offer benefits to taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers. Such program shall 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 determine, 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 uniform surcharge to be added to each taxicab and for-hire vehicle fare.
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 uniform surcharge established pursuant to this section and (ii) the total number of 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, in consultation with the department of health and mental hygiene, 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 pay insurance, unemployment insurance and supplemental workers’ compensation insurance. For each such benefit, the commission, in consultation with the department of health and mental hygiene, 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 the 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 it becomes law, 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/JJD
LS 1420/Int. 1301-2016
LS 83
8/3/18 4:00pm