87(R) HB 113 - Enrolled version - Bill Text
 
 
  H.B.  No.  113
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to peer-to-peer car sharing programs.
               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
               SECTION  1.    Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 113 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 113. PEER-TO-PEER CAR SHARING PROGRAMS
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
               Sec.  113.0001.    DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
                           (1)    "Agreement" means the terms and conditions
  applicable to an owner and driver that govern the use of a shared
  vehicle through a peer-to-peer car sharing program. The term does
  not include a rental agreement as defined by Section 91.001.
                           (2)    "Car sharing period" means the period of time
  beginning with the delivery period or, if there is no delivery
  period, the start time and ending at the termination time.
                           (3)    "Delivery period" means the period of time during
  which a shared vehicle is being delivered to the location of the
  start time, if applicable, under the agreement.
                           (4)    "Driver" means an individual who has been
  authorized to drive the shared vehicle by the vehicle's owner under
  an agreement.
                           (5)    "Owner" means the registered owner, or a person or
  entity designated by the registered owner, of a vehicle made
  available for sharing to drivers through a peer-to-peer car sharing
  program.
                           (6)    "Peer-to-peer car sharing" means the authorized
  use of a vehicle by an individual other than the vehicle's owner
  through a peer-to-peer car sharing program. The term does not
  include the use of a private passenger vehicle from a rental company
  under the terms of a rental agreement as those terms are defined by
  Section 91.001.
                           (7)    "Peer-to-peer car sharing program" means a
  business platform that connects owners with drivers to enable
  vehicle sharing for financial consideration. The term does not
  include:
                                       (A)    a service provider who is solely providing
  hardware or software as a service to a person or entity that is not
  effectuating payment of financial consideration for use of a shared
  vehicle; and
                                       (B)    a rental company as defined by Section
  91.001.
                           (8)    "Shared vehicle" means a vehicle that is available
  for sharing through a peer-to-peer car sharing program. The term
  does not include the use of a private passenger vehicle from a
  rental company under the terms of a rental agreement as those terms
  are defined by Section 91.001.
                           (9)    "Start time" means the time when the shared
  vehicle becomes subject to the control of the driver at or after the
  time the reservation of a shared vehicle is scheduled to begin under
  the agreement.
                           (10)    "Termination time" means the earliest of:
                                       (A)    the expiration of the period of time
  established for the use of a shared vehicle according to the
  agreement if the shared vehicle is returned to the location
  specified in the agreement;
                                       (B)    the time when the shared vehicle is returned
  to a location as alternatively agreed on by the owner and driver as
  communicated through a peer-to-peer car sharing program and which
  alternatively agreed on location is thereby incorporated into the
  agreement; or
                                       (C)    the time when the owner or owner's authorized
  designee takes possession and control of the shared vehicle.
               Sec.  113.0002.    APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter
  applies to automobile insurance policies in this state, including
  policies issued by a Lloyd's plan, a reciprocal or interinsurance
  exchange, or a county mutual insurance company.
               Sec.  113.0003.    CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER. Nothing in this
  chapter may be construed to:
                           (1)    limit the liability of a peer-to-peer car sharing
  program for any act or omission of the program itself that results
  in injury to a person as a result of the use of a shared vehicle
  through the program;
                           (2)    limit the ability of a peer-to-peer car sharing
  program to, by contract, seek indemnification from the owner or