Florida Senate - 2025                                    SB 1680
       
       
        
       By Senator Smith
       
       
       
       
       
       17-00803A-25                                          20251680__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to deactivation from transportation
    3         network company digital networks; amending s. 627.748,
    4         F.S.; defining the term “deactivation”; specifying
    5         circumstances when deactivation may occur; requiring a
    6         transportation network company (TNC) to establish and
    7         maintain a deactivation policy; specifying
    8         requirements for such policy; requiring TNCs to
    9         contract with a nonprofit organization for a specified
   10         purpose; requiring TNCs to review an appeal and make a
   11         determination on the appeal within a certain
   12         timeframe; requiring TNCs to make a certain assessment
   13         when making such determination; authorizing
   14         deactivated drivers to appeal deactivation before a
   15         specified third-party arbitrator; specifying the
   16         manner of selecting the arbitrator if a TNC and a
   17         deactivated driver cannot agree; providing
   18         construction; providing an effective date.
   19          
   20  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   21  
   22         Section 1. Present paragraphs (a) through (h) of subsection
   23  (1) of section 627.748, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
   24  paragraphs (b) through (i), respectively, a new paragraph (a) is
   25  added to that subsection, and subsection (19) is added to that
   26  section, to read:
   27         627.748 Transportation network companies.—
   28         (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
   29         (a) “Deactivation” means a process by which a TNC driver is
   30  no longer authorized to accept rides through the digital network
   31  and having his or her access to the TNC digital network revoked.
   32         (19) DEACTIVATION.—Deactivation may occur when a TNC driver
   33  receives poor rider ratings, violates the TNC’s safety or other
   34  policies, or fails to meet vehicle or insurance requirements. A
   35  TNC must establish and maintain a clear, written deactivation
   36  policy. This policy must provide TNC drivers with the
   37  opportunity to appeal deactivation. The TNC must contract with a
   38  nonprofit organization that has experience working with diverse
   39  populations to assist drivers in navigating the appeals process.
   40  The TNC must review any appeal by the TNC driver and issue a
   41  determination on deactivation within 30 days after receiving the
   42  appeal. In making this determination, the TNC must assess
   43  whether the evidence shows that the driver more than likely
   44  violated the TNC’s policies. Deactivated drivers may appeal any
   45  deactivation before a mutually agreed upon third-party
   46  arbitrator who is a member in good standing of the American
   47  Arbitration Association (AAA) or its successor. If the TNC and
   48  the deactivated driver cannot agree on an arbitrator, the
   49  parties must obtain a list of five arbitrators recommended by
   50  the AAA. To select the arbitrator, the TNC and the deactivated
   51  driver shall alternate eliminating one name from the list until
   52  only one remains, who will serve as the arbitrator. This
   53  subsection does not prohibit a TNC driver from bringing a cause
   54  of action against the TNC in a court of competent jurisdiction
   55  regarding the circumstances of a deactivation.
   56         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.