This bill amends sections 75-311 and 75-342 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes to update the requirements for common carriers and contract carriers, particularly in relation to Medicaid nonemergency medical transportation services. It establishes new burdens of proof for applicants seeking certificates and permits, specifying that the applicant must demonstrate their fitness to perform the proposed service and that the service will meet public demand. Additionally, it requires any protestant to show that existing carriers can meet the proposed need and that the applicant's service would not impair existing operations. The bill also includes provisions for the commission to consult with the Director of Medicaid and Long-Term Care when determining the public interest in authorizing Medicaid transportation services.

Furthermore, the bill deletes several obsolete provisions, including restrictions on holding both a certificate as a common carrier and a permit as a contract carrier for the transportation of household goods. It also removes the requirement for transportation network companies and participating drivers to demonstrate that their service is required by public convenience and necessity to receive authorization from the commission. Instead, the commission is now mandated to grant authorization unless a protestant can prove that existing carriers are adequately meeting the proposed service needs. The original sections being amended are repealed as part of this legislative update.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 75-311, 75-342