Policy Resolution ETE-21-12

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is committed to equitable transportation for all communities, and is committed toward transportation equity for communities of color;

WHEREAS, underlying systematic and persistent racial discrimination and economic inequality have created disproportionately high transportation deserts in communities of color, restricting their ability to access social and economic opportunities, including job opportunities, education, health care services, and locations such as grocery stores;

WHEREAS, independent drivers, 66% of whom identify as a person of color, and riders seeking safer alternatives to public transit and disproportionately impacting communities of color and low-income communities and reducing driver availability;

WHEREAS, passing through the increased costs to drivers and riders at a time when people may not feel comfortable taking public transit will lower the number of accessible drivers to curb impairment on roadway;

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) recognizes rideshares impact on curbing impaired driving as identified in a 2018 report that Miami Dade DUI arrests were down 65% in part because of ridesharing;

WHEREAS, one ride hailing company’s annual economic survey found that 71% of riders are less likely to drive substance impaired due to the availability of rideshare, and 49% of riders are aged 18 to 34, a key part of the driver age group involved in 49% of alcohol-involved fatal crashes in the US in which the driver was over the legal limit (0.08);

WHEREAS, across the nation, an estimated 30 people die every day from alcohol related impaired driving and roughly 16% of crashes involve drugs other than alcohol, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that impaired driving costs the US $44 billion annually; and

WHEREAS, in one rideshare company, a four-year review of statistical data in Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, San Diego and Madison demonstrates a rise in rideshare volume and a subsequent fall in DUI incidents in these cities, supporting the findings from academic studies.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is committed to supporting and providing an innovative framework to the rideshare industry as a means to curbing impaired driving on our nation’s roadways, and to provide equitable transportation for all communities including communities of color;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL recognizes that in some cases there may be regressive fees levied against rideshare companies that are discriminatory in nature and disproportionately affect communities of color, as such we encourage our legislators to reexamine these types of fees in their state that disproportionately affect communities of color;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the U.S. Congress and/or State Legislatures should create a framework to allow businesses who facilitate work for independent workers to provide portable benefits to those workers while also preserving those individual’s ability to work as independent contractors and enjoy the flexibility and control that comes with it; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials and agencies as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Senator Karla May (MO)
  
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Energy, Transportation, and Environment Policy Committee
  
• Certified by Committee Co-Chairs: Senator Kevin Parker (NY) Senator Sandra Williams  (OH)
  
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 3, 2020
  
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC), President