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Committee approves lowering some TNC insurance minimums for unoccupied pre‑pickup segments
Summary
The committee reported favorably on CS/SB 1206 with a committee substitute that reduces the insurance limits required while a transportation network company (TNC) driver is en route to pick up a passenger (the ‘dead leg’), lowering coverage for that segment from $1 million to specified lower limits.
The Banking and Insurance Committee on Oct. 12 advanced CS for Senate Bill 1206 in a committee-substitute form that reduces required insurance coverage during portions of a TNC prearranged ride when the rider is not yet in the vehicle.
Sponsor Senator DeSigli said the bill keeps the $1 million coverage in place while a passenger occupies the vehicle and during the portion of a ride after pickup, but reduces the required coverage for the segment when the driver is en route to pick up a passenger and the vehicle carries no rider. Under the bill as amended in committee, the lowered limits for the unoccupied portion are: $50,000 for bodily injury or death per person; $100,000 for bodily injury or death per incident; and $25,000 for property damage.
The committee’s delete‑all amendment clarified the statutory language and emphasized that a TNC must maintain the required coverage unless the driver’s personal insurance policy explicitly covers TNC activities; the amendment reiterated existing statute provisions and applied them to each phase of TNC operations. Supporters from Lyft and the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida waived in support; the Florida Justice Association opposed the bill, saying the reduced limits could leave injured Floridians undercompensated if a prepickup crash causes severe injury or death.
Committee debate explored whether the risk profile differs between the unoccupied prepickup segment and occupied rides and raised questions about enforcement, uninsured-motorist coverage and empirical data. After discussion the committee reported the committee substitute favorably in a roll call vote.
Ending: The bill proceeds with the lowered statutory minimums for unoccupied prepickup segments; committee sponsors said they will continue to seek data and may refine the bill in later stages.
