Brownback signs bill regulating ride-hailing companies

A screenshot of Lawrence from popular ride-hailing application Uber.

? Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed a compromise on regulations that ride-hailing company Uber says will allow it to stay in the state.

Brownback signed the bill Friday in a ceremony on the Capitol grounds. The Legislature approved the measure Tuesday.

Uber announced earlier this month that it had ceased operations in Kansas after the Legislature overrode the governor’s veto on an earlier regulations package the company opposed.

Uber’s Kansas general manager, Kenny Tsai, said in a statement the company looks forward to contributing to state’s economy.

Under the new law, Uber and other ride-hailing companies are allowed to do their own private background checks on subcontracted drivers, but they also can be sued by the attorney general if drivers are found to have criminal backgrounds.