Senate Committee on Transportation (03/21/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Date:	03/21/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:08 PM to 03:42 PM	Hagedorn	E
		Isgar	X
Place:	SCR 352	May R.	X
		Spence	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Wiens	X
	Senator Takis	Williams	E
		Takis	X
This Report was prepared by
	Lauren Sisneros
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB06-1107 HB06-1108		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

02:08 PM -- Call to Order

Senator Takis, chair, called the meeting to order.

02:08 PM -- House Bill 06-1107

Senator Shaffer, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of House Bill 06-1107, concerning the requirements pertaining to the issuance of instruction permits to minors. The bill requires the parent of guardian who cosigns the application for a minor's instruction permit to sign a log certifying that the driver has completed at least 50 hours of actual driving experience before a driver's license may be issued. HB 06-1107 also requires a person driving with an instruction permit to be accompanied by the person who signs the affidavit of liability. Finally, the bill requires a person between the ages of 15 and 16, who is driving under an instruction permit, to be accompanied by a responsible adult, but provides some alternatives if the adult does not hole a valid Colorado's driver's license. Senator Shaffer distributed prepared amendment L.005 (Attachment A). In addition, a handout was distributed showing teen drivers and passengers killed in crashes by police reported alcohol use (Attachment B). Senator Shaffer answered questions from committee members and stated that the bill would go into effect July 1, 2006. Senator Shaffer also distributed a handout that compares HB 06-1107 and Senate Bill 06-083, concerning the authorization for an alternate person to supervise a holder of a driver's permit issued to a minor who is under 16 years of age (Attachment C).

The following persons testified:

02:26 PM -- Susan McLeod, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. McLoed shared a personal story of the death of her daughter involved in a car accident. She stated that she feels that minor drivers should be instructed by individuals who hold a Colorado license.

02:30 PM -- Rebecca Ellsworth, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Ellsworth shared a personal story of the death of her son involved in a car accident.

02:35 PM -- Don Moseman, representing the Colorado State Patrol, testified in support of the bill. He stated there are significant differences of driving laws amongst other states. In addition, he stated that HB 06-1107 will enhance parents ability to educate their children on driving laws. Mr. Moseman mentioned that the Colorado State Patrol will soon offer a course for parents or guardians that teach them how to instruct their minor driver.

02:39 PM

Terry Campbell, Colorado State Patrol, came to the table to answer questions. He stated that the Colorado State Patrol currently offers the Alive at 25 Program for minor drivers.

02:41 PM

Mr. Moseman answered questions from committee members and stated that many minor drivers are not aware of current graduated drivers licensing (GDL) laws, specifically passenger restrictions.

02:46 PM

Representative Benefield, house sponsor for the bill, came to the table to answer questions from committee members. She stated that the permit test that minor drivers must take to obtain their instruction permit, does not make a driver proficient in driving laws.

02:48 PM -- Roni White, representing the Department of Revenue (DOR), testified in support of the bill. Ms. White answered questions from committee members.

02:50 PM -- Michael Williams, representing Bikepac of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He explained prepared amendment L.005 (Attachment A), which addresses motorcycles.

02:52 PM

Senator Shaffer made closing comments for HB 06-1107.


BILL:	HB06-1107
TIME:	02:55:59 PM
MOVED:	May R.
MOTION:	Moved prepared amendment L.005 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hagedorn
	Isgar
	May R.
	Spence
	Wiens
	Williams
	Takis
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB06-1107
TIME:	02:56:24 PM
MOVED:	May R.
MOTION:	Moved a conceptual amendment to remove "Colorado" before "driver's license" throughout the bill. The motion passed on a 4 to 1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hagedorn	Excused
	Isgar	Yes
	May R.	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Wiens	Yes
	Williams	Excused
	Takis	No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB06-1107
TIME:	03:05:34 PM
MOVED:	Wiens
MOTION:	Moved a conceptual amendment to insert "valid driver's license issued in the United States" in all parts of the bill that address driver's licences. Senator Wiens withdrew his motion.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hagedorn
	Isgar
	May R.
	Spence
	Wiens
	Williams
	Takis
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: WITHDRAWN

Senator Shaffer responded to the conceptual amendment and stated it is not necessary to specify that the driver's license is issued in the United States.


BILL:	HB06-1107
TIME:	03:08:53 PM
MOVED:	May R.
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1107, as amended, to the Committee of Whole. The motion passed on a 5 to 0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hagedorn	Excused
	Isgar	Yes
	May R.	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Wiens	Yes
	Williams	Excused
	Takis	Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:10 PM -- House Bill 06-1108

Senator Shaffer, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of House Bill 06-1108, concerning a requirement that courts order minors under eighteen years of age who are convicted of traffic violations other than traffic infractions to attend a driver improvement school. Under current law, the may require any driver who violates laws related to the regulation of vehicles and traffic to attend and satisfactorily complete a course of instruction at any designated driver improvement school located in the country of the defendant's residence. HB 06-1108 requires the courts to order minors under 18 years of age, who have been convicted of violating regulations of vehicles and traffic or other law regulating the operation of vehicles on highways, except for a traffic infraction to:

attend and complete a driving course, approved by the court and the Department of Revenue (DOR), at any designated driver improvement school that provides instruction in Colorado traffic laws, the recognition of hazardous traffic situations, and traffic accident prevention; and
pay, or have the minor's parent pay, the cost to attend the driver improvement school.

03:15 PM

Representative Benefield, house sponsor for the bill, came to the table to answer questions. She stated that the driver improvement schools are chosen at the discretion of the judge.

03:18 PM

Senator Shaffer answered questions from committee members and distributed a handout summarizing generic examples of non-traffic infraction offenses that would be covered by HB 06-1108 (Attachment D).

The following persons testified:

03:24 PM -- Don Moseman, representing the Colorado State Patrol, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Moseman answered questions from committee member and stated that most judges already require minor drivers who violate driving laws to attend a driver improvement course, however; HB 06-1108 will require all judges to do so. Mr. Moseman also discussed the penalty assessment notice which is issued and states that parents of minor driver's must appear in court with the minor driver.

03:30 PM -- Rebecca Ellsworth, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Ellsworth shared a personal story of the death of her son involved in a car accident.

03:32 PM -- Suzanne McLeod, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She explained that students who attend the Alive at 25 program have expressed positive feedback.

03:37 PM -- Roni White, representing the Department of Revenue (DOR), testified in support of the bill.

03:38 PM -- Vicki Newell, representing the Colorado Parent-Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill. She stated that under the age of 18 years is a prime age for learning.

03:39 PM

Senator Shaffer made closing comments for HB 06-1108. He explained prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment E).


BILL:	HB06-1108
TIME:	03:41:06 PM
MOVED:	May R.
MOTION:	Moved prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hagedorn
	Isgar
	May R.
	Spence
	Wiens
	Williams
	Takis
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB06-1108
TIME:	03:41:23 PM
MOVED:	May R.
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1108, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 5 to 0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hagedorn	Excused
	Isgar	Yes
	May R.	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Wiens	Yes
	Williams	Excused
	Takis	Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:42 PM

The committee recessed.