FL H0891

Declares taxicab certificates of public convenience and necessity and taxicab permits issued by the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission are private property of the holder and may be transferred by pledge, sale, assignment, sublease, devise, or other means.

Requires advance commission approval for most transfers, with the proposed transferee first qualifying under commission rules; transfers by devise or intestate succession require conditional qualification within 120 days.

Creates the Driver Ownership Program to assist eligible taxicab drivers in acquiring certificates and permits within existing population caps and limits.

Restricts Driver Ownership Program certificates and permits to be nontransferable except to other eligible drivers after at least 5 years of active and continuous use.

Defines "eligible taxicab driver" as someone with a valid commission-issued driver's license, 3 years of continuous full-time taxicab operation in Hillsborough County (minimum 40 hours per week, 48 weeks per year), and no violations of chapter 2001-299 or commission rules.