Section 39-14.3-3 - [Effective 8/1/2024] Certificate required for nemt operations(a) No person shall operate a vehicle in the provision of non-emergency medical transportation in this state until the person shall have obtained an NEMT certificate of operating authority from the division certifying that the applicant is fit, willing, and able to provide such service to passengers. The certificate shall be issued only after submission to the division of a written application for it, accompanied by a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125), and after a public hearing has been conducted on the application. Certificates issued under this chapter shall be renewed before the close of business on December 31 of each calendar year. The renewal fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100) and shall be submitted with the renewal form. All revenues received under this section shall be deposited as general revenues.(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the division shall have the authority to automatically grant such a certificate to any applicant who has previously held a public motor vehicle certificate, issued under § 39-14.1-3 ("PMV certificate"), and has utilized that certificate solely to provide non-emergency medical transportation prior to the establishment of this chapter. In such instances, the division may administratively convert such a PMV certificate to an NEMT certificate without the need for an additional application fee to be paid or an application hearing to be held. The division shall establish a mechanism for all such certificate conversion requests to be made no later than August 1, 2024. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to mean that such converted certificates are exempt from the annual renewal process listed in subsection (a) of this section.(c) Non-emergency medical transportation services provided by RIPTA and by licensed ambulance companies shall be exempt from this chapter.(d) Taxicab companies certificated and authorized by the division under chapter 14 of title 39 shall be permitted to provide non-emergency medical transportation services without the need to apply for an NEMT certificate as required in subsection (a) of this section; provided, however, that taxicabs shall not provide services beyond the authority conferred through its division-issued certificate of public convenience and the requirements set forth in chapter 14 of title 39.(e) Transportation network companies authorized by the division under chapter 14.2 of title 39 shall be exempt from this chapter, provided, that non-emergency medical transportation conducted by such companies shall be provided in accordance with policies established by EOHHS.(f) No for-hire transportation services authorized by the division under chapters 13 or 14.1 of title 39 shall be authorized to provide non-emergency medical transportation services, without first having obtained an NEMT certificate as required in subsection (a) of this section.R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14.3-3
Added by 2024 Pub. Laws, ch. 259,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2024.