Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Date:03/12/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:09:55 AM to 10:38 AM
Cooke
X
Garcia
X
Place:SCR 352
Todd
X
Scott
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Baumgardner
X
Senator Baumgardner
This Report was prepared by
Mistia Zuckerman
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB15-179
HB15-1209
HB15-1134		Postponed Indefinitely
Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar

09:55 AM -- SB 15-179

Senator Baumgardner, Chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was present. The committee heard witness testimony on Senate Bill 15-179 on March 3, 2015, the bill was amended and laid over for action only. The bill requires the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to conduct an economic impact and opportunity study of the 250-mile portion of the U.S. Highway 50 that runs between the junction with U.S. Highway 285 and the Kansas border. Specifically, CDOT is directed to study the extent to which various potential safety improvements are likely to increase the efficiency, capacity, and usage of the highway. The report is due to the transportation committees of the General Assembly and to be posted on the CDOT website by December 1, 2015. Senator Garcia discussed the fiscal note.


09:56 AM

Senator Garcia provided closing comments on the bill.
BILL:SB15-179
TIME: 09:56:37 AM
MOVED:Garcia
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-179, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 2-3. (Attachment A)
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
No
Garcia
Yes
Todd
Yes
Scott
No
Baumgardner
No
Final YES: 2 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
150312 AttachA.pdf150312 AttachA.pdf
BILL:SB15-179
TIME: 10:02:35 AM
MOVED:Scott
MOTION:Postpone Senate Bill 15-179 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Garcia
Todd
Scott
Baumgardner
Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:



10:03 AM -- HB 15-1209

Senator Scott, prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1209. The bill updates state law to better reflect the actual organizational structure of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) by eliminating the highway operations and maintenance division, and incorporating its duties and functions into the highway maintenance division which the bill creates as a statutory division under the CDOT. The bill also clarifies powers and duties of the CDOT's executive director and chief engineer, and establishes the powers and duties of the director of the division of highway maintenance. Finally, the bill clarifies that annual reports will be filed with the highway maintenance division.

10:05 AM -- Andy Karsian, representing CDOT, testified in support of the bill. He said that the bill simply matches the statutory language with the organizational structure within CDOT, specifically concerning CDOT's chief engineer and highway maintenance division.

10:09 AM

Senator Scott and Mr. Karsian responded to questions from the committee regarding CDOT's organizational structure and if the bill would require that CDOT hire additional staff.
BILL:HB15-1209
TIME: 10:11:42 AM
MOVED:Scott
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1209 to the Committee of the Whole and that it be added to the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Todd
Yes
Scott
Yes
Baumgardner
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:12 AM -- HB 15-1134

Senator Cooke, prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1134. 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. Senator Cooke said that extending the exemption from emissions inspection to the sixth model year is a pro-business approach.

10:15 AM -- Greg Fulton, representing CMCA, testified in support of the bill. He discussed how diesel engines have become much cleaner and said that it is important to relax regulations when conditions have changed. He said that this bill would eliminate unnecessary testing and create a cost savings. He responded to questions from the committee regarding the age of trucks on the road.


10:22 AM -- Scott Bentz, representing CMCA, testified in support of the bill. He said that a 1998 truck that is idling has the same amount of emissions as 80 brand new idling trucks. He discussed how modern engines have monitors that constantly check the engine's emissions and force it to shut down if it is out of compliance. He also said that a modern engine is very difficult to tamper with.

10:26 AM

The committee took a brief recess.

10:27 AM

The committee came back to order. Senator Cooke provided closing comments. Committee discussion ensued regarding where the bill should be routed. Senator Cooke initially moved to send the bill to appropriations. Senator Todd offered a substitute motion to send the bill to the Committee of the Whole.
BILL:HB15-1134
TIME: 10:27:32 AM
MOVED:Cooke
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1134 to the Committee on Appropriations.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Garcia
Todd
Scott
Baumgardner
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:

BILL:HB15-1134
TIME: 10:29:33 AM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1134 to the Committee of the Whole and placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Todd
Yes
Scott
Yes
Baumgardner
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:38 AM

The committee adjourned.