What's happening
This bill requires fingerprint-based background checks, including state and federal criminal history records, for all for-hire vehicle license applicants.
Why it matters
Expands and standardizes background checks. By mandating both state and federal fingerprint-based criminal history checks, the bill creates a tougher and more consistent vetting process for all applicants, regardless of the type of for-hire vehicle (taxi, limo, paratransit, commuter van, etc.).
Covers business ownership structures. The requirement applies not just to individual drivers, but also to key individuals in partnerships and corporations (such as general partners, officers, and major shareholders), aiming to address potential risks from those in positions of control or influence over for-hire vehicle businesses.
Shifts some costs to applicants. Applicants themselves are responsible for paying the fees associated with the fingerprinting and background check process, which could affect the financial barrier to entry for new drivers and operators.
Addresses public safety and trust. By adding federal background checks, the bill seeks to reduce the risk of hiring individuals with serious or out-of-state offenses that might not appear in state records, potentially increasing passenger safety and public confidence in for-hire transportation services.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Require Background Checks for Drivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3425
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring background checks for for-hire vehicle licenses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new article 17-D to read as follows:
ARTICLE 17-D
BACKGROUND CHECK FOR FOR-HIRE VEHICLE LICENSES Section 499-m. Background check for for-hire vehicle licenses.
§ 499-m. Background check for for-hire vehicle licenses. Prior to the issuance of a taxicab, limousine, commuter van, paratransit or for-hire vehicle license, the applicant for such license shall be fingerprinted by the licensing authority authorized to issue such license for the purpose of securing criminal history records from both the state division of criminal justice services and the federal bureau of investigation. The applicant shall pay any processing fee required by the state division of criminal justice services and the federal bureau of investigation. Fingerprints shall be taken of the individual owner if the applicant is a sole proprietorship; the general partners if the applicant is a partnership; the officers, principals, and stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation if the applicant is a corporation.
§ 2. Subdivision l of section 19-504 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 115 of the city of New York for the year 1993, is amended and a new subdivision r is added to read as follows:
l. Prior to the issuance of a commuter van license, the applicant shall be fingerprinted for the purpose of securing criminal history
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08361-01-7
A. 3425 2
records from both the state division of criminal justice services and the federal bureau of investigation. The applicant shall pay any processing fee required by the state division of criminal justice services and the federal bureau of investigation. Fingerprints shall be taken of the individual owner if the applicant is a sole proprietorship; the general partners if the applicant is a partnership; the officers, principals, and stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation if the applicant is a corporation.
r. Prior to the issuance of a taxicab, limousine, paratransit or forhire vehicle license, the applicant shall be fingerprinted for the purpose of securing criminal history records from both the state division of criminal justice services and the federal bureau of investigation. The applicant shall pay any processing fee required by the state division of criminal justice services and the federal bureau of investigation. Fingerprints shall be taken of the individual owner if the applicant is a sole proprietorship; the general partners if the applicant is a partnership; the officers, principals, and stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation if the applicant is a corporation.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.