Minnesota Session Laws - 2001, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 112-H.F.No. 1596 
                  An act relating to transportation; expanding 
                  definition of small vehicle passenger service to 
                  include certain transportation provided in 
                  wheelchair-accessible vehicles; imposing restrictions 
                  on transfer of former metro mobility vehicles by the 
                  metropolitan council; amending Minnesota Statutes 
                  2000, sections 221.011, subdivision 49; 473.386, by 
                  adding a subdivision. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 221.011, 
        subdivision 49, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 49.  [SMALL VEHICLE PASSENGER SERVICE.] (a) "Small 
        vehicle passenger service" means a service provided by a person 
        engaged in the for-hire transportation of passengers in a 
        vehicle designed to transport seven or fewer persons, including 
        the driver. 
           (b) In the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, 
        subdivision 2, "small vehicle passenger service" also includes 
        for-hire transportation of persons who are certified by the 
        metropolitan council to use special transportation service 
        provided under section 473.386, in a vehicle designed to 
        transport not more than 15 persons including the driver, that is 
        equipped with a wheelchair lift and at least three wheelchair 
        securement positions. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 473.386, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 8.  [TRANSFER OF VEHICLES.] The metropolitan council 
        may transfer to a special transportation service provider or a 
        provider of taxi services the title to a vehicle formerly used 
        to provide special transportation service under this section.  
        If the council transfers title to a provider of taxi services, 
        it may do so only to a provider of taxi services that is 
        licensed by a city whose taxi licensing ordinance requires (1) 
        criminal background checks and annual driving record checks for 
        drivers, and (2) inspection of vehicles at least annually. 
           Sec. 3.  [APPLICATION.] 
           Sections 1 and 2 apply in the counties of Anoka, Carver, 
        Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. 
           Presented to the governor May 14, 2001 
           Signed by the governor May 17, 2001, 10:26 a.m.