Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Date:03/17/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:02:04 PM to 07:34 PM
Baumgardner
X
Fischer
*
Place:HCR 0107
Frangas
X
King S.
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Looper
*
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:
SB09-175
HB09-1230
SB09-002
SB09-031
SB09-148
SB09-222
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to Finance
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


02:05 PM -- Senate Bill 09-175

Representative McFadyen called the meeting to order. A quorum was present. Representative Pommer, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-175, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would extend authority for the Department of Revenue to sell license plates. Representative Pommer responded to questions from committee members.

02:07 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify regarding the bill.


02:08 PM --
Ms. Lisa Van Bramer, representing Colorado Kids 1st, testified in support of the bill.
BILL:SB09-175
TIME: 02:10:00 PM
MOVED:McNulty
MOTION:Moved an amendment to strike Section 6 of the bill. The motion failed on a 5-6 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Baumgardner
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Fischer
No
Frangas
No
King S.
Yes
Looper
Yes
McNulty
Yes
Merrifield
No
Primavera
No
Vaad
Yes
Green
No
McFadyen
No
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

02:13 PM

Representative Fischer moved Amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and responded to questions from committee members.

090317AttachA.pdf

02:15 PM

Ms. Maren Rubino, representing the Department of Revenue, responded to questions from committee members regarding Amendment L.001.
BILL:SB09-175
TIME: 02:19:00 PM
MOVED:Fischer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:McFadyen
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:SB09-175
TIME: 02:19:56 PM
MOVED:Green
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-175, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on an 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Looper
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Frangas
Yes
King S.
Yes
Looper
Yes
McNulty
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Vaad
Yes
Green
Yes
McFadyen
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS








02:20 PM -- House Bill 09-1230

Representative Summers, prime sponsor of House Bill 09-1230, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would make statutory changes to existing law regarding vehicle registration and titling. The bill was last considered by the committee on March 5, 2009. Representative Summers provided a handout on the bill, Amendment L.003, and Amendment L.005 (Attachments B, C, and D).

090317AttachB.pdf 090317AttachC.pdf 090317AttachD.pdf

02:26 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify regarding the bill.

02:27 PM --
Mr. Matt Tynan, representing Tynan's, and Mr. Jim Fynes, representing Phil Long Denver Jeep Chrysler, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Fynes discussed challenges related to current titling processes for automobile sales. Mr. Tynan and Mr. Fynes responded to questions from committee members.

02:39 PM --
Ms. Tammy McCoy, representing the Colorado Auto Dealers Association, was recognized by Representative McFadyen as being in support of the bill and did not offer testimony.

02:40 PM --
Mr. Billy Long, representing Murray Motor Imports, testified in support of the bill.

02:42 PM --
Mr. Jack Arrowsmith, representing the Colorado County Clerks Association, discussed the merits of the bill.
BILL:HB09-1230
TIME: 02:44:04 PM
MOVED:McNulty
MOTION:Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment C). 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:HB09-1230
TIME: 02:44:50 PM
MOVED:McNulty
MOTION:Moved amendment L.005 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Baumgardner
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:HB09-1230
TIME: 02:45:13 PM
MOVED:McNulty
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1230, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on an 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:King S.
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Frangas
Yes
King S.
Yes
Looper
Yes
McNulty
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Vaad
Yes
Green
Yes
McFadyen
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:46 PM -- Senate Bill 09-002

Representative Peniston, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-002, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would increase the motor vehicle registration fee from $1 to $2. Representative Peniston responded to questions from committee members.

02:50 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify regarding the bill.

02:50 PM --
Dr. Ned Calonge, representing the Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Calonge discussed state funding to support emergency medical services. He also recognized emergency medical service professionals present in the committee room. Dr. Calonge responded to questions from committee members. Dr. Randy Kuykendall, representing the Department of Public Health and Environment, discussed current funding needs for emergency services.

03:01 PM

Representative Vaad discussed the history of emergency medical services funding and the bill's use of Highway Users Tax Fund revenues.


03:07 PM

Representative Looper asked Dr. Kuykendall to discuss record keeping requirements for emergency services professionals.

03:08 PM --
Mr. Jon Montano, representing the Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

03:11 PM --
Chief Dan Noonan, representing the Colorado State Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council, testified in support of the bill.

03:15 PM --
Mr. Eric Schmidt, representing the Northwest Regional EMS/Trauma Advisory Council, testified in support of the bill.

03:17 PM --
Mr. Tom Candlin, representing the Regional EMS/Trauma Advisory Council, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Candlin discussed the history of funding for emergency services. Mr. Candlin responded to questions from committee members.

03:27 PM --
Chief Chris Riley, representing the Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association, testified in support of the bill. Chief Riley discussed call volume increases over the past twenty years.
BILL:SB09-002
TIME: 03:42:00 PM
MOVED:Looper
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-002 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a 10-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Frangas
Yes
King S.
Yes
Looper
Yes
McNulty
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Vaad
No
Green
Yes
McFadyen
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:44 PM

The committee recessed.


04:00 PM -- Senate Bill 09-031

Representative McFadyen called the committee back to order. Representative Riesberg, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-031, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would create the Clean Technology Discovery Evaluation Grant Program in the Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

04:03 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify regarding the bill.

04:04 PM --
Commissioner Jim Bensberg, representing El Paso County, and Commander Jim Reid, representing the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, testified in opposition to the bill. Commissioner Bensberg and Commander Reid responded to questions from committee members.

04:17 PM

Representative Looper asked Commander Reid to discuss the existing waste tire disposal and recycling program.

04:17 PM --
Mr. Rick Welle, representing Front Range Tire Recycle, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Welle discussed the bill's financial impact upon his business. Mr. Welle responded to questions from committee members.

04:28 PM -- Mr. Daniel Zielinski, representing the Rubber Manufacturing Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Zielinski responded to questions from committee members and provided a handout displaying photographs of tire dump sites (Attachment E).

090317AttachE.pdf

04:39 PM

Representative King asked Mr. Zielinski to comment on how helpful Colorado state agencies are for waste tire recycling.

04:51 PM

Representative King asked Mr. Zielinski to comment on national expertise related to tire recycling and disposal.

04:52 PM --
Mr. Sam Forbes, representing the Peerless Tyre Company, testified in opposition to the bill.

05:00 PM --
Mr. Mike Lyons, representing Big O Tires, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Lyons responded to questions from committee members.

05:03 PM --
Mr. Patrick Carey, representing Discount Tire Company, testified in opposition to the bill.

05:06 PM

The committee recessed.

05:07 PM

The committee returned to order.

05:07 PM --
Mr. Tom Clark, representing the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Clark discussed clean technology development and its impact on the Colorado economy. He responded to questions from committee members.

05:16 PM --
Mr. David Allen, representing the University of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Allen discussed technology transfer and responded to questions from committee members.

05:24 PM --
Mr. Douglas Henston, representing Solix Biofuels, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Henston responded to questions from committee members.

05:34 PM --
Mr. David Hiller, representing the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hiller provided a handout to the committee regarding the bill (Attachment F). He further discussed potential technology developments related to waste tire recycling.

090317AttachF.pdf

05:45 PM

Representative Frangas asked Mr. Hiller to comment on needed steps to develop smart-grid technology.

05:54 PM

Representative McFadyen stated that the bill would be laid over to a later date.

05:55 PM

Representative Riesberg provided closing comments on the bill.

06:03 PM -- Senate Bill 09-148

Representative Merrifield, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-148, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would change existing traffic laws that address interaction between bicyclists and motor vehicles. Representative Merrifield responded to questions from committee members.

06:11 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify regarding the bill.






06:12 PM --
Mr. Richard Hughes, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Hughes stated that local governments should control traffic regulations that the bill would change. Mr. Hughes responded to questions from committee members.


06:24 PM --
Mr. Jim Alderden, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Alderden discussed challenges with the bill related to enforcement. Mr. Aldermen discussed various sections of the bill and discussed implications for law enforcement officials.

06:38 PM

Representative Merrifield stated that an amendment will be offered to address several of Mr. Alderden's concerns with the bill. Copies of Amendment L.006 were provided to the committee members (Attachment G).

090317AttachG.pdf

06:39 PM --
Mr. R.J. Hicks, representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Hicks discussed safety concerns the motor carriers have with the bill. Mr. Hicks encouraged the committee, or a commission, to investigate vehicle and bicyclist safety on Colorado highways and roads. Representative Merrifield responded to Mr. Hicks' testimony.

06:51 PM

Representative Primavera asked if the bill's passing requirements would require motor carrier trucks to cross over the double line road divider in order to pass a bicyclist.

06:57 PM --
Mr. Dan Grunig, representing Bicycle Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

07:02 PM

Representative Merrifield responded to statements from committee members that the bill may permit large trucks to cross the center line of a road or highway. Representative Primavera asked Mr. Grunig to comment on other states' laws specific to bicycle and motor vehicle interaction.
BILL:SB09-148
TIME: 07:13:08 PM
MOVED:Merrifield
MOTION:Moved amendment L.006 (Attachment G). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Green
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:SB09-148
TIME: 07:16:39 PM
MOVED:Looper
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-148 to the Transportation Legislation Review Committee. Representative McFadyen ruled the motion out of order. No vote was taken.
SECONDED:Baumgardner
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:
BILL:SB09-148
TIME: 07:23:00 PM
MOVED:Baumgardner
MOTION:Moved to lay the bill over until May 9, 2009. The motion failed on a 3-8 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Looper
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Fischer
No
Frangas
No
King S.
No
Looper
Yes
McNulty
No
Merrifield
No
Primavera
No
Vaad
Yes
Green
No
McFadyen
No
Not Final YES: 3 NO: 8 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:SB09-148
TIME: 07:24:00 PM
MOVED:Merrifield
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-148, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on an 8-3 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Fischer
VOTE
Baumgardner
No
Fischer
Yes
Frangas
Yes
King S.
Yes
Looper
No
McNulty
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Vaad
No
Green
Yes
McFadyen
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS










07:25 PM -- Senate Bill 09-222

Representative Vaad, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 09-222, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would establish requirements for photo traffic enforcement signs used for traffic signal and non-speeding infractions. Representative Vaad responded to questions from committee members. Representative King asked Representative Vaad to discuss the bill's impact on safety.
BILL:SB09-222
TIME: 07:33:16 PM
MOVED:Vaad
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-222 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on an 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Looper
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Fischer
Yes
Frangas
Yes
King S.
Yes
Looper
Yes
McNulty
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Vaad
Yes
Green
Yes
McFadyen
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS