House Committee on Transportation & Energy (02/23/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Date:	02/23/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:18 AM to 12:34 PM	Balmer	X
		Borodkin	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Green	X
		Knoedler	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Larson	X
	Representative Pommer	Lindstrom	X
		Ragsdale	X
This Report was prepared by		Sullivan	X
	Jamila Rockette	Welker	X
		McFadyen	X
		Pommer	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB06-1302 HB06-1339 HB06-1176 HB06-1325 HB06-1302		Laid Over Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to Appropriations Laid Over

10:19 AM -- House Bill 06-1302

Representative Stengel, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-1302 which eliminates the existing basic emissions program and expands the clean screen program which will target high emitting vehicles.

Representative Stengel distributed amendment L.002 which is a strike below amendment (Attachment A). The bill, with amendment L.002, requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to work with Colorado's emissions program contractor to develop a "high emitter program" that will meet the federal Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) air quality requirements. The program would identify, repair, or remove motor vehicles whose emissions are substantially above the acceptable level of the state's current Automotive Inspection and Readjustment (AIR) Program standards.

The bill further requires the emissions program contractor to increase the number of clean screen remote sensing vans to at least 14 by December 31, 2006, and for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to work with the CDPHE to develop safe locations to accommodate the remote sensing vans. The bill requires the contractor to work with the CDPHE and the Department of Revenue (DOR) to reduce the number of enhanced inspection centers lanes or the number of centers in the program area when the number of remote sensing tests exceeds the number of tests performed at enhanced inspection centers.

Finally, the bill states that the enhanced inspection centers cannot charge a fee to inspect vehicles. The county clerks and recorders of the enhanced or basic emissions program area must collect a $9 emissions inspection fee for every registered motor vehicle at the time of registration. The new high emitter program would cover the same areas as the existing program. The basic emissions program area currently encompasses Larimer, El Paso, and Weld counties. The enhanced program area encompasses Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson and counties.

10:32 AM

Responding to questions from the committee, Representative Stengel discussed air quality standards, the $9 emissions inspection fee, and the future of emissions testing in Colorado.

10:53 AM

Jim Brandon, representing Envirotest Systems which operates the Air Care Colorado emissions testing centers, answered questions for the committee. Mr. Brandon explained the way the new system would work, including how to catch all cars in the attainment area, and how violators would be caught and required to comply. Mr. Brandon stated that this bill is a small step toward the goal of phasing out the testing program and having Colorado in compliance with air quality standards. There was discussion about exempting certain vehicle model years from the testing altogether.

11:24 AM

Chairman Pommer briefly laid over the bill until the committee received the bill's fiscal note.

11:26 AM -- House Bill 06-1339

Representative Garcia, presented House Bill 06-1339 which creates the Denver Broncos special license plate for motor vehicles that do not exceed 16,000 pounds. The bill authorizes the issuance of the plate to individuals who pay the appropriate fees, plus a one-time fee of $25, and have a certificate issued by the Denver Broncos Charities certifying a $30 donation to the Denver Broncos Charities. The bill credits the one-time fee of $25 to the Highway Users Tax Fund.

11:33 AM

Derek Thomas, Marketing Manager for the Denver Broncos, discussed the Denver Broncos Charities and answered questions for the committee. Mr. Thomas also distributed a handout about the Denver Broncos Charities (Attachment B).

11:36 AM

Gregory Staritzky, representing himself, spoke against the bill. Mr. Staritzky stated that he believed the state legislature should be reviewing more substantive issues affecting Colorado.

11:43 AM

Representative Garcia gave his closing remarks.


BILL:	HB06-1339
TIME:	11:43:43 AM
MOVED:	Larson
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 06-1339 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 11-0.
SECONDED:	Knoedler
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Borodkin	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Sullivan	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:47 AM -- House Bill 06-1176

Representative Ragsdale, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-1176 which defines a "kit vehicle" as a passenger-type motor vehicle that is assembled by someone other than a licensed manufacturer and that is from a manufactured kit that includes a prefabricated body and chassis and is accompanied by a manufacturer's statement of origin. The bill also specifies that the year listed on the certificate of the title is the same as the year stated on the kit manufacturer's statement of origin and exempts kit vehicles from the motor vehicle emissions inspection program.

11:49 AM

Keith Hall, representing the Old Car Council (OCC), spoke in support of the bill. Responding to questions from members, Mr. Hall explained that kit cars are sold as pieces of a kit. The buyer assembles the kit and then adds a motor and transmission. Mr. Hall added that most of these cars are replicas of older vehicles, typically from the 1950s and 1960s. He stated that due to the demand from collectors, the original cars are generally very expensive, so the kit vehicles serve as a substitution for those who wish to own the older models. Mr. Hall stated that the emissions standards set for the kit cars are determined by the age of the engine block. He added that the OCC is requesting the exemption from the state emission program because it is difficult to retrofit a new engine into an older car and still have it meet current emission standards.

11:56 AM

PJ Taylor, representing the County Clerks Association, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Taylor stated there are currently 700 kit cars registered in the state and that it would be possible to exempt kit vehicles from the emissions program.

11:58 AM

Representative Ragsdale distributed and explained amendment L.001 (Attachment C).


BILL:	HB06-1176
TIME:	11:58:15 AM
MOVED:	Ragsdale
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	McFadyen
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Borodkin
	Green
	Knoedler
	Larson
	Lindstrom
	Ragsdale
	Sullivan
	Welker
	McFadyen
	Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB06-1176
TIME:	11:59:19 AM
MOVED:	Ragsdale
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 06-1176, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 10-0.
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Borodkin	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Sullivan	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Excused
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:02 PM -- House Bill 06-1325

Representative McFadyen, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-1325 which creates a 15-member Reliable Electricity Infrastructure Task Force. The bill requires the task force to collect information and report to the General Assembly on the following topics:

* Colorado's current and projected demand for electricity through 2020;
* an inventory of the electric transmission structure serving Colorado, and an evaluation of its ability to handle current and projected demand;
* additions or improvements to the transmission system that will be required to meet projected demand;
* the transmission needs related to the implementation of Amendment 37;
* the decision-making process for routing transmission lines;
* the financial resources and time required to build or improve transmission infrastructure in order to meet projected demand;
* the existing and anticipated future impediments to improving Colorado's transmission infrastructure;
* possible policy choices to ensure that Colorado will have a reliable electric grid and a reasonably priced electricity supply; and
* additional transmission issues, including siting and permitting, enhancing interconnection with systems in other states, multi-state planning, project financing and cost recovery, accommodating renewable resources, eminent domain, and revenue sharing among jurisdictions along transmission corridors.

The bill further authorizes the task force to accept gifts, grants, and donations, but specifies that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is not required to solicit such moneys on behalf of the task force. If by June 1, 2006, sufficient moneys have not been raised to cover task force expenses, the PUC must return any of the contributions it received back to donors.

12:10 PM

Fred Stoffel, representing Xcel Energy, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Stoffel stated that Xcel Energy supports the legislation.

12:13 PM

Heidi Wagner, representing the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Wagner stated that the bill is an excellent step toward assessing Colorado's electricity infrastructure needs.


BILL:	HB06-1325
TIME:	12:16:17 PM
MOVED:	McFadyen
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Larson
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Borodkin
	Green
	Knoedler
	Larson
	Lindstrom
	Ragsdale
	Sullivan
	Welker
	McFadyen
	Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB06-1325
TIME:	12:16:59 PM
MOVED:	McFadyen
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 06-1325, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 10-0.
SECONDED:	Knoedler
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Borodkin	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	Excused
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Sullivan	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:17 PM -- House Bill 06-1302

The committee continued hearing House Bill 06-1302 and discussed the fiscal note. Chairman Pommer laid over the bill so that the committee could hear testimony from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and receive clarification on the fiscal note.

12:34 PM

The committee adjourned.