Date: 02/23/2006
Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1302
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY
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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.