Bill 683.

Summary.

The bill proposes to recognize the rights of people who use or request public passenger transport in the Republic of Panama and to establish duties for users, providers, and authorities. It covers collective and selective services, including the Panama Metro, Metro Bus, authorized buses and school minibuses, and taxis. It defines users, transport categories, providers, and competent authorities. For the latter, it identifies primarily the Transit and Land Transport Authority (Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre), and, for the Metro, Metro de Panamá, SA. Its application would follow principles of service continuity, universal accessibility, dignified and safe treatment, fair and stable fares, and priority for vulnerable groups. Contingency plans would maintain minimum service during disruptions.

Users would be entitled to regular service frequencies and schedules, safe vehicles, continuity, and official fares set on technical grounds, without charges above authorized fares or unlawful surcharges. They would also receive respectful treatment, assistance in accessing vehicles and stations, priority seating, and visible information about routes, schedules, fares, and service channels. They could file complaints and learn the response and measures taken. The bill provides particular attention for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility, older adults, pregnant women, children, and students. Users, in turn, would have to pay the fare, follow service rules and respect other passengers, yield priority seats, care for vehicles and facilities, supervise minors in their charge, and comply with health measures established by the authorities.

Concession holders, operating companies, and drivers would have to maintain authorized routes, hours, and frequencies, implement contingency plans, and drive under traffic rules. They would be required to avoid overcrowding and dangerous maneuvers, carry current documents and insurance, assist passengers affected by incidents, and provide nondiscriminatory treatment. They would have to observe stops, assigned taxi stands and shifts, keep vehicles mechanically sound and clean, provide safety equipment, and make priority seats available. They would also have to display fares, identification, routes, and complaint channels, comply with resolutions of the Transit and Land Transport Authority, and cooperate with inspections and investigations.

The State would plan service coverage, including rural areas and remote communities, and integrate the different transport modes. The competent authority would set fares through technical studies; the Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), through the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas), would arrange subsidies or support when needed to maintain stable fares. Authorities would inspect vehicles, routes, schedules, and operator conduct, respond to interruptions, improve accessible stops and stations, develop road safety education programs, and provide participation mechanisms. The article concerning these duties also names the Ministry of Government (Ministerio de Gobierno), municipalities, and the state company administering the Panama Metro.

A provider’s failure to comply could lead, through the applicable administrative sanctions procedure and with the right to present a defense and appeal, to warnings, fines, suspension of a license or permit, removal of a plate or immobilization, and cancellation of an operating certificate or concession. Implementing regulations would specify the scale of fines; their proceeds would fund transport improvements and road safety education. Officials who fail to meet their duties could face administrative, civil, or criminal liability. Failure to process complaints, or negligent oversight and sanctioning, would constitute serious misconduct.

The Transit and Land Transport Authority, in coordination with operators, would administer a Public Transport User Complaints Service System with a telephone line, digital platform, offices, and complaint facilities in vehicles or stations. Each complaint would receive a case number and acknowledgment; the authority would investigate, could adopt interim measures, and would issue a reasoned decision within the period set by regulation. It would protect complainants’ data, prohibit retaliation, and keep public statistics on complaints. The Panama Ombudsman’s Office (Defensoría del Pueblo de Panamá) could intervene in cases of systematic violations and mediate collective disputes; user organizations could submit proposals to the Transit and Land Transport Authority.

The Executive Branch would have to issue implementing regulations within no more than seis (6) meses after promulgation. Providers would have tres (3) meses after entry into force to adjust notices, priority seating, and critical safety conditions, while the Transit and Land Transport Authority would conduct inspections, guidance, and public information efforts. The text provides for entry into force upon promulgation in the Official Gazette (Gaceta Oficial) and contains no express amendment to another instrument. Its provisions concern the Transit and Land Transport Authority, the Executive Branch, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Government, and the Panama Ombudsman’s Office, as well as users, carriers, rail operators, bus companies, taxi drivers, and organizations of persons with disabilities.