Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY
Date:03/09/2005
ATTENDANCE
Time:02:05 PM to 04:33 PM
Borodkin
X
Cadman
E
Place:HCR 0112
Green
X
Hefley
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Knoedler
X
Representative Pommer
Larson
X
Lindstrom
X
This Report was prepared by
Ragsdale
X
Brad Denning
Welker
X
McFadyen
X
Pommer
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB05-009
SB05-029
HB05-1235
SB05-061		Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Postponed Indefinitely
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


02:05 PM -- Senate Bill 05-009

Representative Stafford, prime sponsor, explained Senate Bill 05-009 regarding an increase in the fine related to the illicit disposal of human waste containers along state highways. She explained that the bill was discussed during the interim by the Transportation Legislation Review Committee. She responded to committee questions.

02:08 PM -- Herman Stockinger, representing the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), along with Randy Dobyns and Byron Rogers, also of CDOT, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Stockinger responded to committee questions. Mr. Dobyns and Mr. Rogers recounted their experiences with this issue. They noted that the human waste containers present a real health hazard to CDOT workers.



02:18 PM -- Greg Fulton, representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the association believes this is an important bill.
BILL:SB05-009
TIME: 02:20:55 PM
MOVED:Larson
MOTION:Referred SB 05-009 to the COW, unamended, with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 9-0-2 vote.
SECONDED:Knoedler
VOTE
Borodkin
Yes
Cadman
Excused
Green
Yes
Hefley
Yes
Knoedler
Yes
Larson
Yes
Lindstrom
Yes
Ragsdale
Yes
Welker
Yes
McFadyen
Excused
Pommer
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:23 PM -- Senate Bill 05-029

Representative Knoedler, prime sponsor, introduced Senate Bill 05-029 which adds additional authority to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) over motor vehicle carriers exempt from regulation as a public utility.

The following people testified:

02:24 PM -- Terry Willert, representing the PUC, stated that he was present to respond to committee questions. He responded to committee questions.



02:30 PM

Representative Knoedler responded to committee questions about a second reading amendment.
BILL:SB05-029
TIME: 02:31:26 PM
MOVED:Knoedler
MOTION:Moved Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). He explained the amendment. Representative Larson asked for the PUC witness, Terry Willert, to return to the table to respond to questions about this amendment. The motion failed on a 4-6-1 vote.
SECONDED:Welker
VOTE
Borodkin
No
Cadman
Excused
Green
No
Hefley
Yes
Knoedler
Yes
Larson
No
Lindstrom
No
Ragsdale
No
Welker
Yes
McFadyen
No
Pommer
Yes
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 6 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:SB05-029
TIME: 02:45:37 PM
MOVED:Knoedler
MOTION:Referred SB 05-009 to the Committee of the Whole, unamended, with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 10-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Borodkin
Yes
Cadman
Excused
Green
Yes
Hefley
Yes
Knoedler
Yes
Larson
Yes
Lindstrom
Yes
Ragsdale
Yes
Welker
Yes
McFadyen
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




02:46 PM -- House Bill 05-1235

Representative Lundberg provided an update on this bill which was laid over from the February 24, 2005 House Transportation meeting. HB 05-1235 pertains to driver education requirements for a minor to obtain an instruction permit. He explained Amendment L.001.

The following people testified:

02:49 PM -- Ronnie White, representing the Department of Revenue (DOR), testified in opposition to the bill. She indicated that the DOR approved courses are instructor driven and the DOR has been satisfied with the course successes. She responded to committee questions.
BILL:HB05-1235
TIME: 03:06:06 PM
MOVED:Knoedler
MOTION:Moved Amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The amendment passed without objection.
SECONDED:Larson
VOTE
Borodkin
Cadman
Excused
Green
Hefley
Knoedler
Larson
Lindstrom
Ragsdale
Welker
McFadyen
Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB05-1235
TIME: 03:06:40 PM
MOVED:Knoedler
MOTION:Moved to refer HB 05-1235, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion failed on a 5-5 tie vote.
SECONDED:Hefley
VOTE
Borodkin
No
Cadman
Excused
Green
No
Hefley
Yes
Knoedler
Yes
Larson
Yes
Lindstrom
Yes
Ragsdale
No
Welker
Yes
McFadyen
No
Pommer
No
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 5 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE
BILL:HB05-1235
TIME: 03:10:26 PM
MOVED:McFadyen
MOTION:Moved to postpone indefinitely HB 05-1235. The motion passed on a 6-4-1 vote.
SECONDED:Ragsdale
VOTE
Borodkin
Yes
Cadman
Excused
Green
Yes
Hefley
No
Knoedler
No
Larson
No
Lindstrom
Yes
Ragsdale
Yes
Welker
No
McFadyen
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




03:11 PM -- Senate Bill 05-061

Representative Ragsdale, prime sponsor, explained Senate Bill 05-061 which would reduce the minimum percentage of vehicular service, from 50 percent to 35 percent, provided by qualified private businesses within the Regional Transportation District (RTD). She responded to committee questions.

The following people testified:

03:15 PM -- Doug Gies, Laidlaw Transit Services (Laidlaw), one of the private contractors providing services to RTD, testified in opposition to the bill. He indicated that he would be providing a handout in the future to the committee about the cost efficiencies of privatization.

03:29 PM -- Bob Briggs, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Briggs indicated that he originally carried the bill to increase the minimum percentage of vehicular service to 50 percent. He believes privatization reduces RTD's operating costs. Former Representative Briggs read a letter (Attachment C) to the committee. He responded to committee questions.


03:35 PM

Rep. Pommer asked Mr. Briggs why other transit agencies around the state don't have similar legislation pertaining to their percentage of privatization. Mr. Briggs indicated that he did not know the answer to this question, other than the district may have been created by the state legislature. Mr. Briggs continued to respond to questions.

03:42 PM -- Bill Jones, representing the Amalgamated Transit Union, general counsel, testified in support of the bill. He indicated that Laidlaw is the most responsible private contractor for RTD. Some of the other private companies have greater maintenance issues with their own fleets. He provided a handout of headlines (Attachment D) related to the problems created by requiring RTD to meet a minimum percentage of 50 percent. He commented on the RTD cost model. He responded to committee questions.


04:06 PM

Rep. Green asked about the costs of health care for RTD employees.

04:09 PM -- Doug Gries returned to the table to answer questions. Rep. Knoedler asked what Laidlaw's business plan is and how much subsidies Laidlaw receives from RTD.



04:12 PM -- Julio Rivera, representing the Amalgamated Transit Union, testified in support of the bill. He stated that he was originally employed by RTD. Mr. Rivera said that all the union's members support the bill. He believes that this bill provides RTD more flexibility.
BILL:SB05-061
TIME: 04:15:30 PM
MOVED:Larson
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment after line 18, page, 2 "RTD shall perform a comparative study of the fiscal impacts relative to private carrier costs, including but not limited to... versus the district's costs, wages, benefits,...and report to House and Senate Transportation Committees....no later than January 1, 2006." The motion failed on a 4-6-1 vote.
SECONDED:Hefley
VOTE
Borodkin
No
Cadman
Excused
Green
No
Hefley
Yes
Knoedler
Yes
Larson
Yes
Lindstrom
No
Ragsdale
No
Welker
Yes
McFadyen
No
Pommer
No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 6 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:SB05-061
TIME: 04:26:41 PM
MOVED:Ragsdale
MOTION:Moved to refer SB 05-061 to the Committee of the Whole, unamended, with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 6-4-1 vote.
SECONDED:McFadyen
VOTE
Borodkin
Yes
Cadman
Excused
Green
Yes
Hefley
No
Knoedler
No
Larson
No
Lindstrom
Yes
Ragsdale
Yes
Welker
No
McFadyen
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS