THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY KIRKLAND, PAYTON, KORTZ, MUNDY, McGEEHAN, D. COSTA, BRENNAN, K. BOYLE AND THOMAS, APRIL 1, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, APRIL 1, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, in taxicabs and limousines in first

class cities, further providing for definitions and for

certificate of public convenience required.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 5701 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:

§ 5701.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

* * *

"Bus."  

(1)  Either of the following:

(i)  a motor vehicle designed to transport 16 or more

passengers, including the driver; or

(ii)  a motor vehicle, other than a taxicab or

limousine, designed to transport not more than 15

passengers, including the driver, and used for the

transportation of persons for compensation.

(2)  The term does not include a vehicle used in a

ridesharing arrangement, as defined in the act of December

14, 1982 (P.L.1211, No.279), entitled "An act providing for

ridesharing arrangements and providing that certain laws

shall be inapplicable to ridesharing arrangements," or a

school bus.

* * *

"Limousine."  A motor vehicle designed for carrying no more

than nine passengers, exclusive of the driver, and used for the

transportation of persons for compensation.

* * *

Section 2.  Section 5741 of Title 53 is amended by adding a

subsection to read:

§ 5741.  Certificate of public convenience required.

* * *

(g)  Exemption from limousine regulations.--

(1)  All limousine operators who, on July 1, 2009, are in

possession of a valid certificate of public convenience

issued by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission shall be

exempt from any rules, regulations or fees imposed by the

authority.

(2)  All buses shall be exempt from any rules,

regulations or fees imposed by the authority.

(3)  Any limousine company that operates solely under the

jurisdiction of the authority may continue to conduct

point-to-point service within a city of the first class only

and may not operate outside of a city of the first class

without first obtaining a valid certificate of public

convenience from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

(4)  The authority may continue to enforce the rules and

regulations of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

pertaining to limousines as set forth in 52 Pa. Code Pt. I

Subpt.B (relating to carriers of passengers or property).

(5)  The authority shall be limited to issuing

certificates of public convenience to taxicabs and limousines

as authorized in this chapter and shall not issue a

certificate of public convenience to any type of motor

vehicle carrier that cannot obtain an equivalent class of

certificate from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.