5219199 Taxicab Commission, DC - Notice of Proposed Rulemaking- Amending Chapter 10 - Refresher Training
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TAXICAB COMMISSION
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The District of Columbia Taxicab Commission (“Commission”), pursuant to the authority set forth in Sections 8(c) (2), (3), (10), (19), and 14 of the District of Columbia Taxicab Commission Establishment Act of 1985 (“Establishment Act”), effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-97; D.C. Official Code §§ 50-307(c) (2), (3), (10), (19), and 50-313 (2012 Repl. & 2014 Supp.), hereby gives notice of its intent to adopt amendments to Chapter 10 (Public Vehicles for Hire) of Title 31 (Taxicabs and Public Vehicles for Hire) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (“DCMR”).
The proposed rules will establish: (1) requirements for taxicab operator refresher training, (2) requirements for the approval of taxicab companies seeking to provide refresher training courses to operators; and (3) procedures for a taxicab operator seeking to renew a DCTC operator’s license to provide proof of completion of taxicab operator refresher training.
Directions for submitting comments may be found at the end of this notice. The Commission also hereby gives notice of the intent to take final rulemaking action to adopt these proposed rules in not less than thirty (30) days after the publication of this notice of proposed rulemaking in the D.C. Register.
Chapter 10, PUBLIC VEHICLES FOR HIRE, of Title 31, TAXICABS AND PUBLIC VEHICLES FOR HIRE, of the DCMR is amended as follows:
Section 1015 is amended to read as follows:
1015 REFRESHER TRAINING FOR TAXICAB OPERATORS
1015.1 Each taxicab operator filing a renewal application for a DCTC operator’s license shall submit with the application proof of completion of taxicab operator refresher training (“refresher training”) offered by a taxicab company approved under this chapter.
1015.2 A taxicab company with a current and valid certificate of operating authority under Chapter 5 may apply to the Office for approval to provide refresher training by submitting an application in a form approved by the Office.
1015.3 A taxicab company approved to provide refresher training shall offer refresher training to each taxicab operator regardless of whether or not the operator is affiliated or associated with the company.
1015.4 The Office’s approval of a taxicab company to provide refresher training shall be valid for a period of two (2) years. The Office may suspend or revoke an approval if the company:
(a) Fails to produce or submit records or documents as required under § 1015.13;
(b) Fails to adhere to an administrative issuance concerning refresher training; or
(c) Fails to comply with any requirement of this section.
1015.5 A taxicab company approved to provide refresher training may charge each taxicab operator a fee to participate in refresher training, not to exceed twenty dollars ($ 20), which shall be the same amount for all operators who participate, regardless of whether or not the operator is affiliated or associated with the company.
1015.6 A refresher training course shall not exceed two (2) hours in duration.
1015.7 A taxicab company approved to offer refresher training shall:
(a) Provide a suitable location for refresher training within the District which has adequate seating capacity and lighting;
(b) Provide all necessary materials for operators, including any study guides and other materials approved by the Office;
(c) Provide adequate and appropriately trained staff to teach the refresher training course, and to monitor participation for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the requirements of this section; and
(d) Comply with such other requirements for providing refresher training as may be required by the Office in an administrative issuance.
1015.8 The Office shall establish the curriculum for the refresher training course in an administrative issuance which shall be posted on the Office’s website prior to the commencement of any refresher training by an approved taxicab company.
1015.9 A taxicab company approved to provide refresher training shall post a schedule of upcoming training on its website.
1015.10 Each operator participating in refresher training shall be present and attentive throughout the course. An operator who sleeps or causes a disturbance or distraction to other participants may be removed from the course by the taxicab company.
1015.11 A taxicab company which provides refresher training shall not be required to refund any portion of a fee paid by an operator, and shall not issue a certificate of completion to an operator, who does not attend and complete the refresher training course, or who is removed from the course for reasons stated in § 1015. 9.
1015.12 Upon successful completion of a refresher training course by an operator, the taxicab company shall provide the operator with a certificate of completion in a form approved by the Office.
1015.13 A taxicab company approved to provide refresher training shall provide to the Office evidence of completion for each operator who has successfully completed refresher in a form established by Office.
1015.14 A taxicab company approved to provide refresher training shall, upon request, submit to the Office or make available for inspection by the Office:
(a) Records of all taxicab operators who have enrolled in its refresher training course;
(b) Records of all taxicab operators who have successfully completed its refresher training course; and
(c) Any other records demonstrating its compliance with the provisions of this section and any applicable administrative issuance.
1015.15 A taxicab company approved to provide refresher training shall maintain records required under § 1015.12 for a period of five (5) years.
1015.16 Any official, employee, or other individual designated by the Office, may, without notice, be present at and observe a refresher training course offered by a company approved under this section.
1015.17 An operator who submits a fraudulent, counterfeit, or forged certificate of completion shall be subject to the penalties under § 1017.1
Copies of this proposed rulemaking can be obtained at www.dcregs.dc.gov or by contacting Juanda Mixon, Secretary to the Commission, District of Columbia Taxicab Commission, 2041 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, S.E., Suite 204, Washington, D.C. 20020. All persons desiring to file comments on the proposed rulemaking action should submit written comments via e-mail to dctc@dc.gov or by mail to the D.C. Taxicab Commission, 2041 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., S.E., Suite 204, Washington, DC 20020, Attn: Juanda Mixon, Secretary to the Commission, no later than thirty (30) days after the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.
