HF586 Bill Summary

• Defines "volunteer driver" as an individual who transports persons or goods on behalf of a nonprofit entity or governmental unit in a private passenger vehicle and receives only reimbursement of actual expenses, not compensation.

• Exempts private passenger vehicles driven by volunteer drivers from being classified as commercial vehicles or vehicles used for hire or compensation under insurance and transportation statutes.

• Extends volunteer driver exemptions to special transportation service regulations, nonemergency medical transportation services, and hours-of-service requirements for passenger transportation.

• Allows agencies authorizing rides by volunteer drivers under medical assistance to initiate background studies when they have reason to believe the volunteer driver poses a risk to passenger safety, with the agency responsible for providing privacy notice and paying for the study.

• Makes technical and conforming corrections throughout Minnesota statutes related to transportation regulations to incorporate the volunteer driver definition and exemptions across multiple chapters.