JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon signed four bills into law on Thursday, including one that creates insurance coverage requirements for ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft.
SB 947, which was sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, creates insurance coverage requirements between a so-called transportation network company and its drivers who use personal vehicles to transport passengers. The new law takes effect April 1, 2017.
“This was a common-sense approach that needed to be done,” Parson said. “Missourians need to feel that there is adequate insurance to protect them and their families when they take transportation like this. It just made sense. I’m glad my colleagues in both the House and the Senate voted for this, and that the governor signed the bill.”
The bill requires both the company and the driver to maintain primary automobile insurance and provides additional protections for consumers by requiring higher minimum insurance requirements, Nixon said in a prepared statement.
“This is an important measure that will protect drivers, passengers and the pedestrians by ensuring Missouri’s insurance laws keep up with the emergence of ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft,” he continued.
Other provisions in the law require minimum insurance of at least $1 million for death, bodily injury and property damage when the driver is on the way to pick up a fare or transporting the fare, and mandates that the company’s insurance applies if a driver’s insurance has lapsed or does not provide enough coverage.
In other legislative action Thursday, Nixon also signed:
• Senate Concurrent Resolution 50, which designated September as “Suicide Prevention Awareness Month” and encourages Missourians to participate in activities to raise awareness for suicide prevention
• House Concurrent Resolution 73 designating the month of May as “Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month” and the month of October as “Brachial Plexus Awareness Month;” and
• House Bill 2194, which includes a number of provisions relating to insurance regulations, including a provision specifying that when an insurer transfers an auto or homeowner policy among affiliated insurers within an insurance company holding system, the insurer accepting the transfer must provide notice to the insured that their coverage is with a new insurance company.
