House Committee on Transportation & Energy (03/03/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Date:	03/03/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:36 PM to 03:47 PM	Baumgardner	X
		Fischer	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Frangas	X
		King S.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Looper	X
	Representative McFadyen	McNulty	X
		Merrifield	X
This Report was prepared by		Primavera	X
	Kurt Morrison	Vaad	X
		Green	X
		McFadyen	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1246 HB09-1176 HB09-1279		Amended, Referred to Appropriations Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:37 PM -- House Bill 09-1246

Representative Peniston, prime sponsor of House Bill 09-1246, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would require the Department of Revenue to contract with a private business to monitor and evaluate the curriculum and effectiveness of driver improvement classes. Representative Peniston provided copies of Amendment L.001 to the committee (Attachment A). Representative Peniston responded to questions from committee members.

01:46 PM

Representative King asked clarifying questions regarding the fiscal note. Mr. David Porter, Legislative Council Staff, responded to committee questions pertaining to the fiscal impact of the bill.

01:53 PM

Repersentative Green asked for witnesses to testify regarding the bill.

01:54 PM -- Mr. Larry Hudson, representing Transportation Safety Consultants, Inc., testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hudson responded to questions from committee members.

02:01 PM -- Ms. Jackie Martin, representing the Colorado Safety Resource Center, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Martin responded to questions from committe members.

02:10 PM

Ms. Martin responded to Representative King's question on further information pertaining to similar programs in California. Representative Primavera asked for Ms. Martin to explain processes and consequences for underperforming driving schools.

02:18 PM -- Ms. Roni White, representing the Department of Revenue, testified regarding the bill. Ms. White responded to questions from committee members.

02:28 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for amendments to the bill.


BILL:	HB09-1246
TIME:	02:28:54 PM
MOVED:	McFadyen
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Merrifield
		VOTE
	Baumgardner
	Fischer
	Frangas
	King S.
	Looper
	McNulty
	Merrifield
	Primavera
	Vaad
	Green
	McFadyen

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1246
TIME:	02:30:54 PM
MOVED:	Fischer
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1246, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 7-3 roll call vote
SECONDED:	Vaad
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	No
	Fischer	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	King S.	No
	Looper	Excused
	McNulty	No
	Merrifield	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Vaad	Yes
	Green	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:34 PM -- House Bill 09-1176

Representative Green, prime sponsor of House Bill 09-1176, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would require public high schools to teach a prequalification driver awareness program. Representative Green provided a handout, Amendment L.014, and Amendment L.018 to the committee (Attachments B, C, and D). Representative Green responded to questions from committee members. Representative Merrifield asked clarifying questions regarding the bill's provisions.

02:47 PM

Mr. Wayne Tully, representing the Driver Education Association of Colorado, responded to questions from committee members. Mr. Tully provided background information on driver education processes and challenges.

02:57 PM

Representative Fischer asked Mr. Tully for additional information on current driver education laws specific to permits. Mr. Jery Payne, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to Representative Fischer's question. Mr. Payne discussed current state laws.

03:06 PM

Representative King asked Representative Green regarding opposition to the bill.

03:12 PM

Mr. Tully and Representative Green discussed Amendment L.014. Representative McFadyen stated that the bill will be laid over to another date.

03:16 PM -- House Bill 09-1279

Representative Pace, prime sponsor of House Bill 09-1279, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would change procedures for dealing with abandoned motor vehicles. Representative Pace responded to questions from committee members and distributed copies of Amendment L.002 (Attachment E). He further described the merits of Amendment L.002.

03:24 PM

Mr. Jery Payne, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from committee members regarding the bill's language. Representative Pace responded to questions pertaining to liability for damages caused by a tow operator.

03:30 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify regarding the bill.

03:31 PM -- Mr. R.J. Hicks, representing the Colorado Automotive Recyclers, testified regarding the bill. Representative King asked Mr. Hicks to discuss current processes for towing abandoned vehicles.

03:38 PM -- Mr. Bobby Juchem, representing the Colorado State Patrol, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Juchem responded to questions from committee members.

03:40 PM -- Mr. John Connolly and Mr. Robert Mooney, both representing the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Connolly and Mr. Mooney responded to questions from committee members.


BILL:	HB09-1279
TIME:	03:45:33 PM
MOVED:	McNulty
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	King S.
		VOTE
	Baumgardner
	Fischer
	Frangas
	King S.
	Looper
	McNulty
	Merrifield
	Primavera
	Vaad
	Green
	McFadyen

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1279
TIME:	03:45:56 PM
MOVED:	King S.
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1279, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 9-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Frangas
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	No
	Fischer	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	King S.	Yes
	Looper	Yes
	McNulty	No
	Merrifield	Yes
	Primavera	Yes
	Vaad	Yes
	Green	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes

Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:47 PM

The committee adjourned.