Senate Committee on Transportation (02/19/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Date:	02/19/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:14 AM to 01:13 PM	Kopp	X
		Renfroe	X
Place:	SCR 352	Romer	X
		Spence	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Veiga	X
	Senator Gibbs	Williams	X
		Gibbs	X
This Report was prepared by
	Geoff Johnson
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB09-161 SB09-175 SB09-003		Referred to Appropriations Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to Appropriations

11:14 AM

Senator Gibbs, Chairman, called the meeting to order.

11:14 AM -- Senate Bill 09-161

Senator Gibbs, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-161, concerning the issuance of Colorado Ski Country special license plates. He commented on the impact of skiing on the Colorado economy.

The following persons testified in regard to Senate Bill 09-161:

11:17 AM -- Melanie Mills, representing Colorado Ski Country USA, commented on the efforts of her organization to create the Ski Country License Plate and supported Senate Bill 09-161.

11:22 AM -- Brent Lessing, representing Colorado Ski Country USA, said that the license plates will provide valuable advertising for the ski industry in the state.


BILL:	SB09-161
TIME:	11:23:36 AM
MOVED:	Gibbs
MOTION:	Moved that Senate Bill 09-161 be referred to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 7-0-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	Renfroe	Yes
	Romer	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Veiga	Yes
	Williams	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes

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

11:26 AM -- Senate Bill 09-175

Senator Sandoval, presented Senate Bill 09-175, concerning the issuance of group special license plates. She commented on the process by which special plates may be created.

The following person testified in regard to Senate Bill 09-175:

11:28 AM -- Lisa Van Bramer, representing Colorado Kids First, commented on the Kids First License Plate and the funds that have been raised through issuance of the plates.


BILL:	SB09-175
TIME:	11:30:15 AM
MOVED:	Veiga
MOTION:	Moved that Senate Bill 09-175 be referred to the Committee of the Whole, and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a 6-0-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	Renfroe	Yes
	Romer	Excused
	Spence	Yes
	Veiga	Yes
	Williams	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:32 AM -- Senate Bill 09-003

Senator Bacon, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-003, concerning the automobile inspection and readjustment program. He commented on ozone standards that are in place in the Denver-metropolitan area. He spoke of requirements to bring the northern Front Range into compliance with the state's air quality standards. He noted that Senate Bill 09-003 allows the state to expand its air quality compliance area and enhances emissions benefits in the state's air quality program area.

The following persons testified in regard to Senate Bill 09-003:

11:38 AM -- Jim Martin, representing the Department of Public Health and Environment, commented on "exceedances" in the Denver-metropolitan area that have pushed the region into a non-attainment status with the federal government. He said that, as a result of this status, the state must submit a plan to the federal government in April of this year regarding compliance with ozone standards. He commented on pollutant levels in the Denver metropolitan area.

11:55 AM -- Marsha Rudolph, representing the Department of Public Health and Environment, commented on proposed emissions control areas in Weld and Larimer counties. She distributed three maps of current and proposed attainment areas (Attachments A through C.)

12:10 PM -- Jim Martin commented further on the location of pollution monitors in the Metropolitan-area and on potential federal sanctions under the federal implementation plan.

12:18 PM -- Barbara Kirkmeyer, representing the Weld County Commission, said that both Larimer and Weld counties are opposed to Senate Bill 09-003. She said that Weld County is not against good health; however, she said that the county should not be held to a higher standard than the rest of the nation in regard to air quality standards. She commented on portions of the air quality attainment area that are not currently meeting the standards that would apply to Weld County. She said that it is not urgent that state take immediate action to expand the attainment area.

12:31 PM -- Bruce Barker, representing the Weld County Attorney's Office, commented on portions of the metro area that are not meeting attainment standards.

12:36 PM -- Evelyn King, representing Citizens in Opposition, reiterated that the Weld County commissioners are opposed to Senate Bill 09-003 and said that it is not necessary that all vehicles be inspected to locate vehicles that should be repaired. She reiterated that there is no urgent need to implement a new attainment area boundary.

12:48 PM -- Craig Sugarman, Loveland, representing himself, said that this issue should be decided at the local level. He opposed Senate Bill 09-003 and said that the bill will not benefit the state or Weld County.

12:50 PM -- Stan Dempsey, representing the Colorado Petroleum Association, supported Senate Bill 09-003 and said that his industry was active in the development of recommendations that are contained in Senate Bill 09-003. He said that his industry has spent $30 million to reduce emissions and clean the air in the region. He added that the process of determining areas to be brought into the emissions control area was fair. He said that the Air Quality Control Commission "should not be second-guessed."

12:54 PM -- Lucinda Smith, representing the City of Fort Collins, said that she manages the air quality program for the city. She stated her support for the enhanced emissions program and for Senate Bill 09-003. She said that it is not the city's objective to "achieve the minimum," but to protect the health of its citizens. She commented on the development of the Air Quality Control Commission's recommendations.

12:59 PM -- Leo Boyle, representing the Old Car Collectors of Colorado, spoke of the impact of Senate Bill 09-003 on car collectors and noted that his organization supports the bill.

01:03 PM -- Jim Martin, commented further on the time frame over which the Air Quality Control Commission's recommendations were developed. He said that Weld County's vehicles are contributing to the region's air quality problems.


BILL:	SB09-003
TIME:	01:07:29 PM
MOVED:	Williams
MOTION:	Moved a prepared amendment to Senate Bill 09-003, (Attachment D), L.007. The motion passed on a 5-2-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	No
	Renfroe	No
	Romer	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Veiga	Yes
	Williams	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes

Not Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	SB09-003
TIME:	01:08:38 PM
MOVED:	Renfroe
MOTION:	Moved a prepared amendment to Senate Bill 09-003 (Attachment E), L.006. The motion failed on a 3-4-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Yes
	Renfroe	Yes
	Romer	No
	Spence	Yes
	Veiga	No
	Williams	No
	Gibbs	No

Not Final YES: 3 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	SB09-003
TIME:	01:12:14 PM
MOVED:	Williams
MOTION:	Moved that Senate Bill 09-003 be referred to the Committee on Appropriations, as amended. The motion passed on a 4-3-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	No
	Renfroe	No
	Romer	Yes
	Spence	No
	Veiga	Yes
	Williams	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes

Final YES: 4 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:13 PM

The committee meeting adjourned.