Bill Summary for Bill Number HB10-1232

Date: 02/22/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1232

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment C). The motion Moved to refer House Bill 10-1232, as amended, to	PASS Pass Without Objection PASS

01:37 PM -- House Bill 10-1232

Representative Baumgardner, sponsor of House Bill 10-1232, concerning school vehicles, explained the bill to the committee.

01:39 PM

The following people testified:

01:41 PM -- Kanoe Cockett, representing Littleton Public Schools, testified on the bill and raised concerns about increasing the length of a school bus. She stated that using a longer school bus which seat more children could result in issues of evacuating the bus in the case of an emergency and create difficulty for the driver to manage the number of students on the bus. She also discussed facility costs, emission standards for longer buses, and the redesigning the service bays where buses are serviced. She also shared a written copy of her testimony for the record (Attachment A). She noted that she could be supportive of the bill with the passage of amendment L.001 (Attachment B).

01:44 PM

Representative McNulty asked if the sponsor is in agreement with amendment L.001. Representative Baumgardner stated that he would rather keep the bill as it is. Representative Benefield explained that she gave the sponsor the amendment a week ago and they discussed her concerns at that time.

01:47 PM -- Bruce Little, representing the Colorado Department of Education, testified in support of the bill. He explained that the definition under current law for school bus includes standard school buses, multi-use buses, in addition to sport utility vehicles and that House Bill 10-1232 clarifies the definition.

01:50 PM

Representative Middleton asked Mr. Little to clarify the department's position on including buses that are longer than 45 feet. Mr. Little responded that the Commissioner supports permitting school districts to have school buses longer than 45 feet. He explained that the department has rules that require school districts who purchase longer vehicles to also provide training to those who will be operating those vehicles.

01:52 PM -- Louis Doughty, representing Leg-Up and the Colorado State Pupil Transportation Association (CSPTA), testified in support of the bill and discussed the issue of permitting longer school buses.

01:56 PM -- Wayne Davy, also representing Leg-Up and CSPTA, testified on the bill and discussed his experience in the transportation industry. He explained that the bill is permissive and does not require that school districts purchase longer school buses.

01:59 PM

Representative Benefield discussed amendment L.001 and explained why she is bringing the amendment. She noted the different elements that a driver must consider when driving, and discussed the capacity limits of buses that are 40 feet in length and can hold 77 students and buses that are 45 feet in length and can hold 91 students.

02:02 PM

Representative Middleton asked Representative Benefield if she believes that the differing opinions on the length of the school bus it is a matter of metropolitan versus rural districts. Representative Benefield stated that she believe regardless of geographic location, having 90 children on one school bus is too many students for one bus driver to manage.

Representative McNulty stated that the bill is permissive and does not mandate school districts to purchase larger school buses.


BILL:	HB10-1232
TIME:	02:05:16 PM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed on a 8-4-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Excused
	McNulty	No
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	No
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	No
	Tipton	No
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Not Final YES: 8 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB10-1232
TIME:	02:05:55 PM
MOVED:	Benefield
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Solano
		VOTE
	Benefield
	Massey	Excused
	McNulty
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Scanlan
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Tipton
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB10-1232
TIME:	02:07:10 PM
MOVED:	McNulty
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 10-1232, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Excused
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS