Gov. Kay Ivey joined drivers from Uber, Lyft and others for a State House rally today to urge the Legislature to enact statewide regulations for ride-sharing companies.

Alabama is one of only six states that does not have statewide regulations for the on-demand ride services, advocates for the bill said. They say the lack of uniform regulations means people in many parts of the state don't have access to drivers for ride-sharing.

"Having consistent rules statewide for ride-sharing is just a sensible way to give Alabamians access to safe, consistent and efficient transportation options," Ivey said.

Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook and Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, are sponsoring the bill. They sponsored it last year, but it did not pass.

The two lawmakers said statewide regulations would create jobs for drivers and expand on-demand services to rural areas where people without cars have limited access to transportation.

Supporters of the bill formed a "Ride for Alabama" coalition that organized today's rally on the State House steps.

According to information distributed at the rally, 15 Alabama cities have regulations that allow ride-sharing companies to operate.

Those listed were Auburn, Birmingham, Daphne, Gardendale, Gulf Shores, Homewood, Hoover, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Tuscaloosa, Trussville and Vestavia Hills.

The bill setting statewide regulations would prohibit cities from imposing taxes and licensing requirements on the companies, their drivers or vehicles.

Greg Cochran, director of advocacy and public affairs for the Alabama League of Municipalities, said cities need to know the businesses that work in their communities and serve their residents.

Cochran said cities should be able to do background checks on drivers, make sure vehicles are properly maintained and take other steps to protect public safety, as it does with the taxi business.

The League of Municipalities is working with the ride-sharing industry to change the bill to allow city licensing and regulations, Cochran said.

Nick Juliano, public affairs manager for Uber, said it's impractical for companies to adopt and follow regulations from hundreds of different cities and towns.

"It could be that we apply for a license in a city, but then we're not licensed in the suburbs, we're not licensed in the exurbs, and those other municipalities can go out and pass something that conflicts and is different," Juliano said.

Juliano said Georgia enacted statewide regulations in 2015. Uber was operating statewide there a year-and-half later, he said.

J.T. Griffin, chief government affairs officer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, wrote a letter to Ivey in support of the legislation.

Alabama law refers to companies like Uber and Lyft as transportation network companies, or TNCs. They connect riders and drivers through a digital network with a smart phone app. The drivers use their personal cars and pay a fee to the company.

The bill would require TNCs to obtain a permit from the Public Service Commission. They would have to do criminal background checks and driving history checks on drivers, or have a third party do so.

The companies would collect a 1 percent fee on each fare, which they would submit to the Public Service Commission.