Second Regular Session
              Sixty-ninth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                 INTRODUCED
                                                           
                                                           
 LLS NO. 14-0993.01 Richard Sweetman x4333SENATE BILL 14-170
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Todd and King, 
 
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Kraft-Tharp and Coram, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Senate Committees
 House Committees
 
 
 Judiciary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning the authority of a vehicle that is being used to
            escort a funeral.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
       passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
       applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
       http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.)
       
            The bill expands the statutory definition of "authorized emergency
       vehicle" to include privately owned vehicles that are designated as such
       by the state motor vehicle licensing agency (agency) for the limited
       purpose of escorting funeral processions. If the agency designates a
       vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle for the purpose of escorting
       a funeral procession, the vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle only
       while the vehicle is being used for this purpose.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-1-102, amend (6)
       as follows:
            42-1-102.  Definitions. As used in articles 1 to 4 of this title,
       unless the context otherwise requires:
            (6)  "Authorized emergency vehicle" means such fire
       department vehicles, of the fire department, police vehicles,
       ambulances, and other special-purpose vehicles as that are publicly
       owned and operated by or for a governmental agency to protect and
       preserve life and property in accordance with state laws regulating
       emergency vehicles. said term also means The following vehicles are
       also authorized emergency vehicles if they are equipped and
       operated as emergency vehicles in the manner prescribed by state law:
            (a)  Privately owned vehicles as that are designated by the state
       motor vehicle licensing agency necessary to the preservation of life and
       property; or
            (b)  Privately owned tow trucks that are approved by the public
       utilities commission to respond to vehicle emergencies; and
            (c)  Privately owned vehicles that are authorized by the
       state motor vehicle licensing agency pursuant to section
       42-4-108 (5) to be used for the purpose of escorting funeral
       processions; except that such a vehicle is an "authorized
       emergency vehicle" only while the vehicle is being used for this
       purpose.
            SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-108, amend (5)
       as follows:
            42-4-108.  Public officers to obey provisions - exceptions for
       emergency vehicles. (5) (a)  The state motor vehicle licensing agency
       shall designate any particular vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle
       upon a finding that the designation of that vehicle is necessary to the
       preservation of life or property or to the execution of emergency
       governmental functions. The state motor vehicle licensing agency
       shall also designate a vehicle as an authorized emergency
       vehicle if the vehicle will be used for the purpose of escorting a
       funeral procession; except that such a vehicle is an "authorized
       emergency vehicle" only while the vehicle is being used for this
       purpose.
            (b)  Such The state motor vehicle licensing agency shall
       issue a designation shall be described in paragraph (a) of this
       subsection (5) in writing, and the operator of the vehicle shall be
       carried carry the written designation in the vehicle at all times, but
       failure to carry the written designation shall does not affect the status of
       the vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle.
            SECTION 3.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
       takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
       ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
       6, 2014, if adjournment sine die is on May 7, 2014); except that, if a
       referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the
       state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act
       within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect
       unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
       November 2014 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
       official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.