Date: 02/11/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1134

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1134 to the Committee on ApproPASS




02:08 PM -- HB 15-1134

Representative Coram, prime sponsor, explained House Bill 15-1134 to the committee. Under current law, heavy-duty diesel vehicles are exempt from emissions inspection and testing until their fourth model year. The bill extends the exemption to the sixth model year if the vehicle's gross weight is at least 26,000 pounds and the vehicle is a 2014 model year or newer. Upon transfer of ownership, the new vehicle owner is required to obtain an emissions inspection and test for the vehicle if the transfer occurs within one year from the expiration of an emissions certificate. An exception is made when the transfer is from lessor to lessee.

02:10 PM -- Doug Decker, representing the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE), spoke neutrally to the bill. He explained that at the national level, new diesel motor vehicle technologies are cleaner and more reliable than in the past. He said that he believed that any rulemaking made to extend emissions inspection exemption time periods should be performed by the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) within CDPHE, and that such rulemaking authority should be delegated to AQCC by the General Assembly. He responded to a committee question on the current statutory rulemaking authority given to the AQCC by the General Assembly.

02:13 PM -- Greg Fulton, representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA), spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Fulton said that CMCA represents 650 companies and 60,000 employees in Colorado. Mr. Fulton stated that the bill is an important measure for CMCA, that it would streamline existing regulations, and that CMCA had participated with CDPHE in the drafting of the bill. He explained that CMCA has concerns with the idea of delegating authority to extend emissions exemptions to the AQCC. He responded to a question on recent changes made by the heavy duty vehicles industry to engine and emissions design in diesel vehicles. He distributed a chart illustrating improvements made to emissions standards in diesel engines over time (Attachment C) and a diesel engine schematic (Attachment D). He responded to additional questions on how much heavy duty diesel vehicles cost, if other states are performing similar extensions on emissions testing, and how many testing centers in Colorado can process heavy duty vehicles.

150211 AttachC.pdf150211 AttachC.pdf150211 AttachD.pdf150211 AttachD.pdf

02:25 PM -- Patrick Reser, representing Cummings Engine Company, spoke in favor of the bill. He referenced the schematic that had been distributed to the committee and stated that diesel engine technology had improved significantly in recent years, heavily reducing nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions and particulate matter emissions. He also referenced the chart that had been distributed, and responded to questions on replacements that can be made to diesel engines to improve efficiency and emissions, if Cummings ever replaces the engines of older trucks, and if new diesel engines have also reduced their carbon dioxide emissions.

02:31 PM -- Adam McCandless, representing McCandless Truck Center, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated that his company has six stores across the state, sells new and used trucks, and also services trucks. He said that existing emissions requirements had placed a burden on his customers. Mr. McCandless stated that the industry had also improved the efficiency of truck design as well as engine design, and that a great deal of improvement had been made since 2007. He responded to questions on the cost of an emissions test for a 26,000 pound vehicle and what a truck that weighs more than 26,000 pounds looks like.

02:37 PM

Representative Coram made his closing comments on the bill, and stated that it is a common sense bill that is an example of industry and regulatory bodies working together to improve how technologies perform and are regulated.

BILL:HB15-1134
TIME: 02:38:28 PM
MOVED:Buck
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1134 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0, with 1 member excused.
SECONDED:Neville P.
VOTE
Buck
Yes
Carver
Yes
Coram
Yes
Esgar
Yes
Kraft-Tharp
Excused
Melton
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Neville P.
Yes
Nordberg
Yes
Sias
Yes
Winter
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:39 PM

The committee was adjourned.