Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 175, sec. 228 — MA Code / Part I / Title XXII / Chapter 175 / Section 228
Transportation network drivers; insurance requirements
Status: in_force

Section 228. (a) As used in this section, the words ''digital network'', ''division'', ''pre-arranged ride'' and ''transportation network company'' shall have the same definitions as set forth in section 1 of chapter 159A1/2 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (b) The insurance requirements in this section shall constitute adequate insurance for transportation network drivers and shall satisfy the financial responsibility requirement for a motor vehicle established by section 34A of chapter 90 and section 113L; provided, however, that the insurance requirements in this section shall only satisfy the financial responsibility requirements for a motor vehicle established by said section 34A of said chapter 90 and said section 113L with respect to the provision of transportation network services in a vehicle operated by a transportation network driver. A transportation network driver shall also comply with said section 34A of said chapter 90 and said section 113L and maintain insurance coverage for the vehicle during those periods of time when the vehicle is being operated, but is not providing transportation network services. (c) A transportation network driver who is logged onto the transportation network company's digital network and is available to receive transportation requests, but is not engaged in a pre-arranged ride shall have automobile liability insurance that provides per occurrence, per vehicle coverage amounting to at least $50,000 of coverage per individual for bodily injury, $100,000 of total coverage for bodily injury, $30,000 of coverage for property damage, uninsured motorist coverage, to the extent required by said section 113L, and personal injury protection, to the extent required by section 34A of chapter 90. The insurance may be held by the transportation network driver, the transportation network company or a combination thereof. (d) When a transportation network driver is engaged in a pre-arranged ride, the driver shall have automobile liability insurance that provides at least $1,000,000 in per occurrence, per vehicle coverage for death, bodily injury and property damage, uninsured motorist coverage, to the extent required by section 113L, and personal injury protection, to the extent required by section 34A of chapter 90. The insurance may be held by the transportation network driver, the transportation network company, or a combination thereof. (e) In every instance where insurance maintained by a transportation network driver to fulfill the insurance requirements in subsections (c) and (d) has lapsed, failed to provide the required coverage, denied a claim for the required coverage or otherwise ceased to exist, insurance maintained by a transportation network company shall provide the coverage required by said subsections (c) and (d), beginning with the first dollar of a claim, and shall have the duty to investigate and defend that claim. (f) Coverage under an automobile insurance policy maintained by the transportation network company shall not be dependent on a personal automobile insurer first denying a claim nor shall a personal automobile insurer be required to first deny a claim. (g) Insurance required by this section shall be placed with an insurer authorized to do business in the commonwealth or, if such coverage is not available, from any admitted carrier, then with a surplus lines insurer eligible pursuant to section 168. (h) Insurers that write automobile insurance may exclude any and all coverage afforded under the policy issued to an owner or operator of a vehicle for any loss or injury that occurs while a driver is providing transportation network services or while a driver provides a pre-arranged ride. This right to exclude all coverage may apply to any coverage included in an automobile insurance policy including, but not limited to: (i) liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage; (ii) personal injury protection coverage as defined in section 34A of chapter 90; (iii) uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage; (iv) medical payments coverage; (v) comprehensive physical damage coverage; and (vi) collision physical damage coverage. Such exclusions shall apply notwithstanding any requirement of said section 34A of said chapter 90 and section 113L. Nothing in this section implies or requires that a personal automobile insurance policy provide coverage while the transportation network driver is logged on to the transportation network company's digital network, while the transportation network driver is engaged in a pre-arranged ride or while the transportation network driver otherwise uses a vehicle to transport riders for compensation. Nothing shall preclude an insurer from providing coverage for the transportation network driver's vehicle if the insurer so chooses to do so by contract or endorsement. Automobile insurers that exclude the coverage described in this section shall not have a duty to defend or indemnify any claim expressly excluded by a policy. Nothing in this section shall invalidate or limit an exclusion contained in a policy, including any policy in use or approved for use in the commonwealth before the enactment of this section that excludes coverage for vehicles used to carry persons or property for a charge or available for hire by the public. An automobile insurer that defends or indemnifies a claim against a transportation network driver that is excluded under the terms of its policy shall have a right of contribution against other insurers that provide automobile insurance to the same transportation network driver in satisfaction of the coverage requirements of this section at the time of loss. (i) The commissioner of insurance, in consultation with the division of transportation network companies established in section 23 of chapter 25, shall issue an annual report concerning the coverage minimums required for transportation network vehicles during the period of time where the transportation network driver is logged onto the digital network but is not engaged in a pre-arranged ride. The report shall include, at a minimum: (i) an examination, based on actuarial data, of whether the existing coverage requirements provide adequate protection for riders, transportation network drivers and the general public; (ii) whether it is presently feasible for a transportation network company to obtain an insurance policy providing coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence, per vehicle during the relevant time period; (iii) if such a policy is available, whether the coverage minimums should be raised so that all transportation network vehicles carry $1,000,000 of coverage per occurrence, per vehicle, at all times while operating as a transportation network company; (iv) whether a strategy can be developed to raise the coverage requirements during this period through the use of admitted motor vehicle insurance carriers, the surplus lines market and technological innovations in the insurance industry such as the use of telematics to improve risk assessment; and (v) any recommended action by the division of insurance, the division of transportation network companies established in said section 23 of said chapter 25, the legislature or other government entity that would encourage the insurance market to provide policies with higher insurance limits while transportation network companies are not engaged in a pre-arranged ride. The commissioner of insurance shall file an annual report detailing any recommendations together with actuarial analysis with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the chairs of the joint committee on financial services not later than February 15.

Section 228. (a) As used in this section, the words ''digital network'', ''division'', ''pre-arranged ride'' and ''transportation network company'' shall have the same definitions as set forth in section 1 of chapter 159A1/2 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(b) The insurance requirements in this section shall constitute adequate insurance for transportation network drivers and shall satisfy the financial responsibility requirement for a motor vehicle established by section 34A of chapter 90 and section 113L; provided, however, that the insurance requirements in this section shall only satisfy the financial responsibility requirements for a motor vehicle established by said section 34A of said chapter 90 and said section 113L with respect to the provision of transportation network services in a vehicle operated by a transportation network driver. A transportation network driver shall also comply with said section 34A of said chapter 90 and said section 113L and maintain insurance coverage for the vehicle during those periods of time when the vehicle is being operated, but is not providing transportation network services.

(c) A transportation network driver who is logged onto the transportation network company's digital network and is available to receive transportation requests, but is not engaged in a pre-arranged ride shall have automobile liability insurance that provides per occurrence, per vehicle coverage amounting to at least $50,000 of coverage per individual for bodily injury, $100,000 of total coverage for bodily injury, $30,000 of coverage for property damage, uninsured motorist coverage, to the extent required by said section 113L, and personal injury protection, to the extent required by section 34A of chapter 90. The insurance may be held by the transportation network driver, the transportation network company or a combination thereof.

(d) When a transportation network driver is engaged in a pre-arranged ride, the driver shall have automobile liability insurance that provides at least $1,000,000 in per occurrence, per vehicle coverage for death, bodily injury and property damage, uninsured motorist coverage, to the extent required by section 113L, and personal injury protection, to the extent required by section 34A of chapter 90. The insurance may be held by the transportation network driver, the transportation network company, or a combination thereof.

(e) In every instance where insurance maintained by a transportation network driver to fulfill the insurance requirements in subsections (c) and (d) has lapsed, failed to provide the required coverage, denied a claim for the required coverage or otherwise ceased to exist, insurance maintained by a transportation network company shall provide the coverage required by said subsections (c) and (d), beginning with the first dollar of a claim, and shall have the duty to investigate and defend that claim.

(f) Coverage under an automobile insurance policy maintained by the transportation network company shall not be dependent on a personal automobile insurer first denying a claim nor shall a personal automobile insurer be required to first deny a claim.

(g) Insurance required by this section shall be placed with an insurer authorized to do business in the commonwealth or, if such coverage is not available, from any admitted carrier, then with a surplus lines insurer eligible pursuant to section 168.

(h) Insurers that write automobile insurance may exclude any and all coverage afforded under the policy issued to an owner or operator of a vehicle for any loss or injury that occurs while a driver is providing transportation network services or while a driver provides a pre-arranged ride. This right to exclude all coverage may apply to any coverage included in an automobile insurance policy including, but not limited to: (i) liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage; (ii) personal injury protection coverage as defined in section 34A of chapter 90; (iii) uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage; (iv) medical payments coverage; (v) comprehensive physical damage coverage; and (vi) collision physical damage coverage.

Such exclusions shall apply notwithstanding any requirement of said section 34A of said chapter 90 and section 113L. Nothing in this section implies or requires that a personal automobile insurance policy provide coverage while the transportation network driver is logged on to the transportation network company's digital network, while the transportation network driver is engaged in a pre-arranged ride or while the transportation network driver otherwise uses a vehicle to transport riders for compensation.

Nothing shall preclude an insurer from providing coverage for the transportation network driver's vehicle if the insurer so chooses to do so by contract or endorsement.

Automobile insurers that exclude the coverage described in this section shall not have a duty to defend or indemnify any claim expressly excluded by a policy. Nothing in this section shall invalidate or limit an exclusion contained in a policy, including any policy in use or approved for use in the commonwealth before the enactment of this section that excludes coverage for vehicles used to carry persons or property for a charge or available for hire by the public. An automobile insurer that defends or indemnifies a claim against a transportation network driver that is excluded under the terms of its policy shall have a right of contribution against other insurers that provide automobile insurance to the same transportation network driver in satisfaction of the coverage requirements of this section at the time of loss.

(i) The commissioner of insurance, in consultation with the division of transportation network companies established in section 23 of chapter 25, shall issue an annual report concerning the coverage minimums required for transportation network vehicles during the period of time where the transportation network driver is logged onto the digital network but is not engaged in a pre-arranged ride. The report shall include, at a minimum: (i) an examination, based on actuarial data, of whether the existing coverage requirements provide adequate protection for riders, transportation network drivers and the general public; (ii) whether it is presently feasible for a transportation network company to obtain an insurance policy providing coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence, per vehicle during the relevant time period; (iii) if such a policy is available, whether the coverage minimums should be raised so that all transportation network vehicles carry $1,000,000 of coverage per occurrence, per vehicle, at all times while operating as a transportation network company; (iv) whether a strategy can be developed to raise the coverage requirements during this period through the use of admitted motor vehicle insurance carriers, the surplus lines market and technological innovations in the insurance industry such as the use of telematics to improve risk assessment; and (v) any recommended action by the division of insurance, the division of transportation network companies established in said section 23 of said chapter 25, the legislature or other government entity that would encourage the insurance market to provide policies with higher insurance limits while transportation network companies are not engaged in a pre-arranged ride.

The commissioner of insurance shall file an annual report detailing any recommendations together with actuarial analysis with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the chairs of the joint committee on financial services not later than February 15.