House Committee on Transportation & Energy (02/16/2005)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Date:	02/16/2005	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:37 PM to 04:41 PM	Borodkin	X
		Cadman	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Green	*
		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	*
		Pommer	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB05-1218 HB05-1178 HB05-1187 HB05-1203		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:34 PM -- House Bill 05-1218

Representative Brophy introduced House Bill 05-1218 which permits bicyclists to ride 2 abreast when traffic will not be impeded, and also authorizes bicyclists to indicate a right turn by extending the right arm horizontally. He distributed two handouts, excerpts from the Colorado Bicycle Manual, page 7 (Attachment A) and Chapter 11 - Uniform Vehicle Codes: Rules of the Road - Pt. 2 (Attachment B). He responded to committee questions.

The following people testified:

01:57 PM -- Terry Campbell, representing the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), testified in opposition to the bill. He thanked Representative Brophy for his hard work on the bill. Mr. Campbell indicated that the CSP is mostly concerned about the crosswalk provisions of the bill. He responded to committee questions.

02:22 PM -- Michael Williams, representing BIKEPAC of Colorado, a motorcycle association, spoke in opposition to one provision of the bill. He said that his association does not support the hand signal being imposed by the bill.

02:24 PM -- Neal Cohen, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He noted that he and his wife are avid bicyclists, and described the impact of the bill on riding. He responded to committee questions.

02:28 PM -- Dan Grunig, representing Bicycle Colorado, Executive Director, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Grunig recounted statistics about the number of states that have implemented similar hand signals mentioned in the bill. He believes that this legislation will make it safer for bicyclists across Colorado. Mr. Grunig explained current bicycle laws, including the safety nature of crosswalks. He responded to committee questions.

02:37 PM -- Shellie Roy, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She responded to committee questions and reviewed provisions of the bill.

03:00 PM -- Mick Ireland, Pitkin County Commissioner, representing himself, testified in support of this bill. He noted that current law creates an immunity for drivers who strike a bicyclist in a crosswalk area. He responded to committee questions.

03:10 PM -- Sam Weaver, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He responded to committee questions.


BILL:	HB05-1218
TIME:	03:15:36 PM
MOVED:	Larson
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.001 (Attachment C). Rep. Pommer indicated that amendment did not fit under the title of the bill.
SECONDED:	Hefley
		VOTE
	Borodkin
	Cadman
	Green
	Hefley
	Knoedler
	Larson
	Lindstrom
	Ragsdale
	Welker
	McFadyen
	Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:	HB05-1218
TIME:	03:17:43 PM
MOVED:	McFadyen
MOTION:	Referred House Bill 05-1218 to the Committee of the Whole, unamended, with a favorable recommendation. Committee members commented on the bill. The motion passed on a 7-4 vote.
SECONDED:	Knoedler
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Cadman	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	No
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	No
	Lindstrom	No
	Ragsdale	No
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:21 PM -- House Bill 05-1178

Representative Rose introduced HB 05-1178 which would prohibit the operation of a toy vehicle on any roadway in the state. The bill also defines "toy vehicle." He responded to committee questions.

There was no testimony.


BILL:	HB05-1178
TIME:	03:24:32 PM
MOVED:	Larson
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.001 (Attachment D). He explained the amendment. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Lindstrom
		VOTE
	Borodkin
	Cadman
	Green
	Hefley
	Knoedler
	Larson
	Lindstrom
	Ragsdale
	Welker
	McFadyen
	Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB05-1178
TIME:	03:26:12 PM
MOVED:	Larson
MOTION:	Moved to the Committee of the Whole, as amended, with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 10-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:	McFadyen
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Cadman	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	Yes
	Knoedler	Excused
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:28 PM -- House Bill 05-1187

Representative Larson explained HB 05-1187 which requires motor vehicle drivers to yield the right-of-way to stationary authorized emergency vehicles. He provided Amendment L.001 (Attachment E) for the committee's review. He responded to committee questions.

The following people testified:

03:31 PM -- Terry Campbell, representing the CSP and the Colorado Chiefs of Police Association, spoke in support of the bill.

03:33 PM -- Barry Smith, representing Eagle County Emergency Management System, testified in support of the bill. He responded to committee questions.

03:41 PM -- Terry Campbell, representing the CSP and the Colorado Chief's of Police Association, returned at the request of Representative Larson to respond to committee questions on the bill.

03:44 PM -- Tim Comrue, representing the Eagle County Sheriff's Office, Deputy of the Eagle County Sheriff's Office, testified in support of the bill. He responded to committee questions. Representative Cadman commented on how these new traffic laws can be conveyed to the public, so drivers know what new laws have been enacted. Representative Hefley indicated that she, and another committee member, who are both originally from other states, thought that this proposed legislation was already in law. She indicated that when she took driver's education, she was taught to driver away from emergency vehicles to allow them to safely conduct their business.

04:00 PM -- John O'Hayre, Special Districts Association and the Colorado Fire Chiefs Association, testified in support of the bill.

04:09 PM -- Peg Ackerman, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

04:10 PM -- Kim Robbins, representing Colorado District Attorney's Council, testified in support of the bill.

04:11 PM -- Evan Goulding, representing the Special District Association, testified in support of the bill. He commented on the issues surrounding the varying speed limits that are associated with this bill.


BILL:	HB05-1187
TIME:	04:14:24 PM
MOVED:	Larson
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Borodkin
	Cadman
	Green
	Hefley
	Knoedler
	Larson
	Lindstrom
	Ragsdale
	Welker
	McFadyen
	Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB05-1187
TIME:	04:16:11 PM
MOVED:	Knoedler
MOTION:	Referred HB 05-1187 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended, with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 11-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Borodkin
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Cadman	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:17 PM -- House Bill 05-1203

Representative Riesberg introduced HB 05-1203 which concerns the equitable distribution by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) of high cost support mechanism funding to eligible providers. The bill defines terms (i.e., "distributed equitably" and "nondiscriminatory and competitively neutral basis") related to the distribution.

The following people testified:

04:21 PM -- Barry Hjort, representing the Colorado Telecommunications Association, testified in support of the bill. He responded to committee questions. The committee continued discussion as to why Qwest and the Public Utilities Commission was not present to testify.


BILL:	HB05-1203
TIME:	04:38:42 PM
MOVED:	Lindstrom
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Borodkin
	Cadman
	Green
	Hefley
	Knoedler
	Larson
	Lindstrom
	Ragsdale
	Welker
	McFadyen
	Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB05-1203
TIME:	04:40:10 PM
MOVED:	Borodkin
MOTION:	Referred HB 05-1203, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
SECONDED:	Larson
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Cadman	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS