Senate Committee on Transportation (05/02/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Date:	05/02/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:44 PM to 04:14 PM	Hagedorn	X
		Isgar	X
Place:	SCR 356	May R.	X
		Spence	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Wiens	X
	Senator Takis	Williams	X
		Takis	X
This Report was prepared by
	Lauren Sisneros
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB06-1178 HB06-1003 HB06-1302		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to Appropriations

01:45 PM -- House Bill 06-1178

Senator Williams, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of House Bill 06-1178, concerning the motorists insurance identification database (MIDB) program used to identify persons who own motor vehicles that are not insured. The reengrossed bill continues the MIDB program but reduced program responsibilities by eliminating notification letters to uninsured motorists and the requirement that uninsured drivers provide proof of insurance to the Department of Revenue (DOR). The program's remaining functions may either be administered by the DOR or by a contractor chosen by the DOR. The DOR, in consultation with the Division of Insurance, is required to provide a report to the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee by January 1, 2008, analyzing program effectiveness.

The following persons testified:

01:49 PM -- Joan Vecchi and Michael Cooke, representing the Department of Revenue (DOR), testified in support of the bill. Ms Vecchi explained the history of the MIDB and answered questions from committee members. Ms. Cooke stated that there is no coalition between the database and the reduction and uninsured motorists. Ms. Vecchi stated that uninsured motorists is down to 10 percent. Ms. Cooke answered additional questions and stated that .5 million notification letters are sent out annually to uninsured motorists.

02:09 PM

Ms. Cooke responded to Senator Wiens' concerns and stated that citizens should be able to verify with insurance companies and the database should reflect that they are insured. Senator Wiens stated that the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) report indicates that 25 percent of recipients of notification letters obtained insurance after receiving the letter.

02:15 PM

Ms. Cooke explained that Explore Information Services has had the contract for the database since 1999 and the contract expires June 30, 2006. Ms. Cooke stated that there is a cost benefit to using a modified database. In addition, the modified database results in a reduction of 8 FTE to 1 FTE. Ms. Cooke also explained that the a fee reduction is expected in FY 2008.

02:25 PM -- Phillip Casey, representing Explore Information Services, testified in support of the bill. He distributed a handout entitled Colorado Insurance Identification Program(Attachment A). The handout included information regarding:

program enhancements;
Colorado uninsured rate;
recommendations; and
a summary.

Mr. Casey answered questions and stated that the state of Colorado is charged 107,000 a month for the program.

02:37 PM -- Geoff Hier, representing the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hier answered questions from committee members.

02:41 PM

Senator Williams made closing comments for HB 06-1178.


BILL:	HB06-1178
TIME:	02:44:30 PM
MOVED:	Wiens
MOTION:	Moved prepared amendment L.007 (Attachment B). Senator Wiens explained the amendment. The motion failed on a 2 to 5 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hagedorn	No
	Isgar	No
	May R.	No
	Spence	Yes
	Wiens	Yes
	Williams	No
	Takis	No
Not Final YES: 2 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

Senator Wiens explained the amendment and the committee discussed the amendment. Senator Williams asked that the committee to reject L.007 (Attachment D).

02:47 PM

Ms. Cooke, DOR, came to the table to answer questions and stated that if the bill does not pass then the program would go into a one-year wind down and the program would be eliminated unless legislation was passed in the 2007 legislative session that would re-create the program.


BILL:	HB06-1178
TIME:	02:53:57 PM
MOVED:	Williams
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1178 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 5 to 2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hagedorn	Yes
	Isgar	Yes
	May R.	Yes
	Spence	No
	Wiens	No
	Williams	Yes
	Takis	Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:55 PM -- House Bill 06-1003

Senator Williams, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of House Bill 06-1003, concerning private toll roads and toll highways. The reengrossed bill sets out various restrictions, requirements, and authorizations for a corporation forming a toll road company. A corporation constructing a private toll does not have the power to use eminent domain to acquire right-of-way for the toll road or highway. The bill allows the corporation to enter into a public-private initiative with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to enable the construction of a toll road. Such an initiative allows CDOT to use eminent domain only to acquire property for the completion of a toll road that is open to the public and that is incorporated into the comprehensive statewide transportation plan. CDOT is required to comply with all eminent domain laws and rules for state highway projects. Senator Williams distributed prepared amendments L.015 (Attachment C) and L.016 (Attachment D).

The following persons testified:

03:15 PM -- Bob Yunke, representing Environment Defense and the Environment Coalition and Will Coyne, representing Environment Coalition, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Yunke stated that this bill serves Colorado's environment interests as well as CDOT's interests.

03:20 PM -- David Stubbs, representing Land Title Association of Colorado (LTAC), came to the table to provide information concerning the title provisions of the bill. He stated that the map attached to notification letters must be detailed to reference sections of each affected counties.

03:26 PM -- Rick Brown, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

03:30 PM -- William Thomas, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

03:32 PM -- Charles Shaw, representing himself, testified in support of the bill if amended. Mr. Shaw explained that definitions of railroads to not belong in law concerning private toll roads.

03:35 PM -- Marsha Looper, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

03:37 PM -- Jack Cavanaugh, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

03:40 PM -- Carolyn Myers, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. She stated that the railroad provisions should be removed and also explained other concerns of the bill.

03:47 PM -- Chuck Saxton, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

03:48 PM -- Sharon Croghan, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

03:49 PM -- Robert Thomasson, representing the High Plains Coalition for Responsible Transportation, testified in support of the bill.

03:56 PM -- Herman Stockinger, representing CDOT, testified in support of the bill.

03:59 PM -- Mike Miller, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

04:01 PM -- Debra Sherman, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

04:02 PM

Senator Williams made closing comments for HB 06-1003.


BILL:	HB06-1003
TIME:	04:02:41 PM
MOVED:	Williams
MOTION:	Moved prepared amendment L.015 (Attachment C). 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: TIE


BILL:	HB06-1003
TIME:	04:04:25 PM
MOVED:	Williams
MOTION:	Moved prepared amendment L.016 (Attachment D). 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:	HB06-1003
TIME:	04:05:45 PM
MOVED:	Williams
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1003, 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.	Excused
	Spence	Yes
	Wiens	Yes
	Williams	Yes
	Takis	Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:08 PM -- House Bill 06-1302

Senator Gordon, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of the HB 06-1302, concerning auto emissions testing. The reengrossed bill requires the Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE) to work with Colorado's emissions program contractor to develop a "high emitter program" that is acceptable to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The program would identify, repair or scrap motor vehicles whose emissions are substantially above the acceptable level of the state's current Automotive Inspection and Readjustment (AIR) Program standards.

The following persons testified:

04:10 PM -- Doug Lempke, representing Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill.

04:10 PM

Senator Gordon stated that he would offer amendments on the Senate floor.


BILL:	HB06-1302
TIME:	04:12:54 PM
MOVED:	Spence
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1302 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 5 to 0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hagedorn	Yes
	Isgar	Yes
	May R.	Excused
	Spence	Yes
	Wiens	Excused
	Williams	Yes
	Takis	Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:13 PM

The committee recessed.