NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9568
SPONSOR: Berger TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
electric scooter service platforms to maintain insurance coverage
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation establishes a statewide requirement that electric
scooter service platforms maintain liability insurance coverage for
scooters made available to the public through 'a digital network.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new Article 34-E to the Vehicle and Traffic Law,
§ 1290 defines key terms, including "digital network," "electric scooter
service platform," and "trip."
§ 1291 requires electric scooter service platforms to maintain liability
insurance coverage for scooters' offered for public use. The section
establishes minimum coverage amounts, specifieS the scope of coverage
during a trip accessed through a digital network, requires that coverage
be primary, and sets forth requirements for producing proof of insur-
ance.
Section 2 provides the effective date and authorizes necessary rulemak-
ing.
JUSTIFICATION:
Electric scooter usage has increased dramatically in recent years,
offering new transportation options but also introducing new challenges
regarding public safety, proper street placement, and liability when
accidents occur. Currently, .there is no uniform statewide requirement
ensuring that electric scooter service platforms maintain insurance
coverage for injuries or property damage arising from scooter use.
This legislation addresses that gap by requiring electric scooter
service platforms to carry liability insurance covering operators,
pedestrians, and property owners during the duration of a scooter trip.
By establishing clear insurance requirements, this bill promotes
accountability, protects the public, and provides greater certainty for
individuals harmed in scooter-related incidents.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:;
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9568
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BERGER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
electric scooter service platforms to maintain insurance coverage
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
2 article 34-E to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE 34-E
4 ELECTRIC SCOOTER SERVICE PLATFORM INSURANCE
5 Section 1290. Definitions.
6 1291. Liability insurance.
7 § 1290. Definitions. For the purposes of this article, the following
8 terms shall have the following meanings:
9 1. "Digital network" means any electronic system or service offered or
10 utilized by an electric scooter service platform that through the use of
11 an app accessed through a phone, tablet, computer, or a digital token,
12 digital key, or substantially similar technology, enables the unlocking,
13 access, operation, docking, charging, and payment for use of a scooter.
14 2. "Electric scooter service platform" means a person, corporation,
15 partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity operating in New York
16 state that owns, leases, or controls more than two electric scooters and
17 provides them for use by the public, where access to and operation of
18 such scooters is through using a digital network.
19 3. "Trip" means the lawful operation of an electric scooter owned or
20 controlled by an electric scooter service platform, subsequent to
21 accessing such electric scooter through a digital network.
22 § 1291. Liability insurance. 1. No electric scooter, as defined in
23 section one hundred fourteen-e of this chapter shall be offered for use
24 through an electric scooter service platform unless it is covered by a
25 policy of insurance, in such language and form as shall be determined
26 and established by the superintendent of financial services. An electric
27 scooter service platform, through a group policy, shall maintain insur-
28 ance that provides financial responsibility coverage upon the operator
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14018-03-5
A. 9568 2
1 accessing a scooter through a digital network and throughout the dura-
2 tion of the operator's trip.
3 2. Such policy shall offer coverage of no less than twenty-five thou-
4 sand dollars per occurrence in the event of an accident involving an
5 app-based electric scooter service platform vehicle. Such coverage shall
6 be primary over any other coverage. It may be provided individually or
7 on a group basis by an authorized insurance company or through a duly
8 licensed excess line broker.
9 3. Such policy shall provide for coverage against loss from the
10 liability imposed by law for medical payments because of bodily injury
11 to or death of any person; and injury to or destruction of property
12 arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use, or operation of an elec-
13 tric scooter owned or controlled by an electric scooter service platform
14 while the operator has accessed an electric scooter through a digital
15 network and throughout the duration of the operator's trip. Such policy
16 shall not provide personal injury protection pursuant to article fifty-
17 one of the insurance law.
18 4. Proof of insurance as required by this section shall be produced
19 and displayed by an electric scooter service platform upon the request
20 of any person having authority to enforce the provisions of this chap-
21 ter. The failure to produce such proof upon the request of any such
22 person shall not be an offense but shall be presumptive evidence that
23 such electric scooter is being operated without having such insurance in
24 force and effect.
25 5. Proof of insurance as required by this section shall be produced
26 and displayed by the owner or operator of such electric scooter to any
27 person who has suffered or claims to have suffered either injury or
28 property damage as a result of the operation of such electric scooter,
29 if such insurance coverage was required under the circumstances of such
30 operation. It shall be an affirmative defense to any prosecution for a
31 violation of this subdivision that such proof was so produced or
32 displayed within twenty-four hours of receiving notice of such injury or
33 damage, or the claim of such injury or damage.
34 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
35 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
36 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
37 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
38 completed on or before such effective date.
