Date: 07/20/2012
Final
Department of Revenue (DOR) Report
TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
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01:30 PM -- Department of Revenue (DOR) Report
Mr. Mike Dixon and Ms. Maren Rubino, the Department of Revenue (DOR), introduced themselves to the committee. Mr. Dixon presented a departmental update (Attachment F), beginning with changes in the department's organizational chart. He noted that, effective July 1, 2012, the ports of entry moved to the Colorado State Patrol (CSP). Discussion ensued concerning the division's funding and accomplishments for 2011. Representatives Vaad and Ramirez asked for further detail on revenues, including gas taxes. The DOR agreed to follow up with the committee.
Senator Renfroe suggested the committee ask the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to come in and make a presentation about air quality from wild fires and compare that with the emissions testing data. Senator Hudak asked staff to contact the department.
Mr. Dixon continued his presentation, stating that drivers license issuances increased by 15 percent last year. He said he believes the increase is due to renewals since licenses are now renewed every five years rather than every 10 years. Senator King asked about wait times for people that come into an office to obtain a drivers license. Mr. Dixon responded that there was a survey last year which showed that wait times are currently about one hour. The survey was done as part of the "Wait Less" project that is currently in place in the Anthmar and Lakewood offices. The department's intent is to implement the "Wait Less" system in 11 additional offices in the Denver Metro area. Senator King asked why the project is only focused on the Denver Metro area and Mr. Dixon responded that the majority of the volume is in the Denver Metro area, but they will be looking at the rural areas, too. He indicated that "Wait Less" has reduced wait times to 15 minutes for persons who have made an appointment.
Mr. Dixon reviewed the division's strategies to make improvements to its service delivery, including various technology projects. Senator Schwartz asked about the "Offender ID LEAN" project. Mr. Dixon responded that this is a joint Department of Corrections (DOC) and DOR project to get identification to offenders before they leave a correctional facility. There was a fixed site in Canon City, but Mr. Dixon said this location was closed when it proved inefficient. Ms. Laurie Benallo of the DOR came to the table and said that staff of the DOC is now working with offenders when they enter the facility to process on-line renewals, where feasible. She said that if an offender does not have a document or is not otherwise eligible to renew their identification on-line, state law allows them to be obtain a document free of charge upon their release.
02:10 PM
Ms. Maren Rubino provided an overview of Colorado license plates, including new plates created during the 2012 legislative session (Attachment G). She said there were two new military license plates and five new group special license plates added to Colorado's inventory in 2012, and that the department is focused on inventory management and collaborating with the Office of Information Technology, DOC, and county offices to create "print on demand" plates. According to Ms. Rubino, this would create a process for citizens to obtain a temporary permit until the DOC processes the request. Once the programming aspects are resolved, the DOC would send out the plate and registration at the same time.
Representative Priola asked for information about the threshold for removing a license plate from inventory. Ms. Rubino responded that 3,000 license plates must be sold by the time frame included in the plate's enacting legislation. She mentioned that very few license plates have been repealed. Ms. Rubino provided an update on alternative fuel vehicles, including low-speed electric vehicles. The department provided some recommendations for potential legislation around outdated language, which the committee discussed.
02:33 PM
Mr. Greer Bailey of the Petroleum Marketing Association came to the table at Senator Schwartz's request and reviewed fuel and vehicle taxes, including taxes paid on alternative fuel vehicles. According to Mr. Bailey, electric vehicles do not pay fuel taxes currently and there is no statutory authority to allow retailers to collect excise taxes. He continued that compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles currently do pay taxes. Senator Schwartz asked for clarification about whether CNG vehicles are taxed through the decal program or at the pump. Mr. Bailey said he believes that at times CNG vehicle owners may be double taxed. He said he believes the decal program should go away so retailers can assess the taxes uniformly, minimizing confusion.