Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Want your state senator to support ride-booking legislation?
Don’t worry, there’s a petition for that.
On Thursday, Uber launched a statewide petition drive to urge Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner and the Florida Senate to pass ride-booking legislation. The push comes about a week after the Florida House passed a bill (HB 509) that creates a regulatory framework for transportation network companies, like Uber.
“Well over a million Floridians rely on the Uber platform, a bipartisan supermajority in the Florida House of Representatives passed a sensible statewide regulatory framework for ride-sharing, and Governor Scott has expressed his support for a bill that would help Florida maintain its competitive edge,” Uber spokesman Bill Gibbons said. “It’s time for the Florida Senate to act and take up the House ride-sharing legislation on behalf of their constituents.”
The House legislation gives regulatory power to ride-booking services to the state, cutting out local bodies. It also requires auto insurance of at least $1 million for “death, bodily injury and property damage” while the driver is giving a ride.
A Senate bill (SB 1118) sets insurance standards for drivers. That measure passed the Senate banking and insurance committee on Jan. 19.
