Senate Committee on Transportation (05/01/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Date:	05/01/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	03:48 PM to 05:10 PM	King S.	*
		Newell	X
Place:	SCR 352	Renfroe	X
		Schwartz	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Spence	X
	Senator Hudak	Williams S.	X
		Hudak	X
This Report was prepared by
	Kori Donaldson
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Confirmation Hearings: Transportation Commission Confirmation Hearing: Waste Tire Advisory Committee SJR 12-037 HB12-1038		Refer to the Full Senate Refer to the Full Senate Refer to the Full Senate Referred to Appropriations

03:48 PM -- Confirmation Hearings: Transportation Commission

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Ms. Heather Barry, Ms. Kathleen Gilliland, Mr. Leslie Gruen, and Mr. Edward Peterson, appointees to the Transportation Commission, came to the table to introduce themselves and describe their interest in serving on the commission. Committee members received a copy of the appointment letters and each appointee's application to the commission (Attachment A). Ms. Barry addressed a question from the committee about discretionary funding for transportation projects within her district. She explained that the commission works to prioritize issues state wide, rather than each commissioner working to prioritize projects within an individual district. Mr. Gruen said that he and Ms. Barry are the only reappointees to the Transportation Commission. Mr. Gruen addressed an earlier question about discretionary funding for transportation projects. Mr. Peterson and Ms. Gilliland talked about funding priorities and the work of the commission.

Attachment A can be viewed at State Archives

04:03 PM

Mr. Gruen addressed questions from the committee about how he communicates with members of his transportation district. In response to a question, Mr. Gruen explained that he tries to communicate the positive efforts the commission makes in his district. Ms. Barry also provided a response to the earlier question about establishing good communication with members of each commissioner's transportation district. Ms. Gilliland and Mr. Peterson also provided input on this topic.


BILL:	Confirmation Hearings: Transportation Commission
TIME:	04:12:49 PM
MOVED:	Williams S.
MOTION:	Refer the reappointment of Heather M. Barry and Leslie W. Gruen and the appointment of Kathleen R. Gilliland and Edward James Peterson to the Transportation Commission to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	King S.	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Renfroe	Yes
	Schwartz	Excused
	Spence	Yes
	Williams S.	Yes
	Hudak	Yes

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

04:13 PM -- Confirmation Hearing: Waste Tire Advisory Committee

The committee discussed the appointment of Mr. Trent Peterson to the Waste Tire Advisory Committee. Committee members received a copy of the appointment letter and Mr. Peterson's application (Attachment B). Mr. Peterson was not able to attend the committee hearing because of his travel schedule. Senator Williams explained that some committee members met briefly with Mr. Peterson prior to the committee meeting. She described her conversation with Mr. Peterson. The committee briefly discussed waste tire monofills.

Attachment B can be viewed at State Archives


BILL:	Confirmation Hearing: Waste Tire Advisory Committee
TIME:	04:15:13 PM
MOVED:	Williams S.
MOTION:	Refer the appointment of Trent A. Peterson to the Waste Tire Advisory Committee to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	King S.	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Renfroe	Yes
	Schwartz	Excused
	Spence	Yes
	Williams S.	Yes
	Hudak	Yes

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

04:16 PM -- Senate Joint Resolution 12-037

Senator Lois Tochrop, sponsor, presented Senate Joint Resolution 12-037, concerning the need for adequate and reliable long-term sources of funding for the statewide transportation system. Senator Tochtrop distributed prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment C).

04:19 PM -- Mr. RJ Hicks, representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA), testified in support of the resolution and prepared amendment L.001. Mr. Hicks described his experience managing the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) and issues associated with the existing fuel tax. Mr. Hicks described several alternatives to the existing fuel tax for funding the state's transportation system. Mr. Hicks spoke to public-private partnerships and prepared amendment L.001.

04:28 PM -- Mr. Denny McCluskey, representing Colorado Counties, Inc. and the City and County of Broomfield, testified in support of the resolution. Mr. McCluskey said he supports studying ways to fund transportation in the future. Senator Tochtrop, Mr. McCluskey, and members of the committee discussed the need to better educate members of the General Assembly and their constituents about transportation-related issues facing the state. Discussion continued on the topic of funding for transportation.

04:40 PM -- Mr. Tony Lombard, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the resolution. Mr. Lombard provided background about how the resolution was developed.


BILL:	SJR 12-037
TIME:	04:42:38 PM
MOVED:	Williams S.
MOTION:	Adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	King S.
	Newell
	Renfroe
	Schwartz
	Spence
	Williams S.
	Hudak

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SJR 12-037
TIME:	04:43:03 PM
MOVED:	Williams S.
MOTION:	Refer Senate Joint Resolution 12-037 to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 6-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	King S.	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Renfroe	No
	Schwartz	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Williams S.	Yes
	Hudak	Yes

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

04:43 PM -- House Bill 12-1038

Senator Suzanne Williams, sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1038, which was recommended by the Transportation Legislation Review Committee. The bill establishes a permanent registration for Class A trailers and semitrailers. In order to qualify for the permanent registration, an owner must either be based outside of Colorado, or if the owner is based in Colorado, then the trailer must be at least 10 years old. The new registration is permanent, but expires when the trailer or semtrailer transfers ownership. Senator Williams distributed information about fees assessed for the registration of commercial semitrailers in other states (Attachment D). Senator Williams addressed questions from the committee about the prepared fiscal note.

04:50 PM -- Mr. RJ Hicks, representing the CMCA, testified in support of the bill. Committee members received information about fees assessed for in-state and out-of-state trucks, trailers, and semitrailers (Attachment E). Mr. Hicks explained Attachment E and addressed questions from the committee.

05:02 PM

Mr. Hicks and Senator Williams responded to a question about how the bill was developed.

05:03 PM -- Mr. Greg Fulton, representing the CMCA, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Fulton said the bill will result in significant savings in time and costs for the state and for truckers.


BILL:	HB12-1038
TIME:	05:06:30 PM
MOVED:	Williams S.
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 12-1038 to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	King S.	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Renfroe	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Spence	Excused
	Williams S.	Yes
	Hudak	Yes

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

05:10 PM

The committee adjourned.