House Committee on Transportation & Energy (02/10/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Date:	02/10/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:33 PM to 03:30 PM	Baumgardner	X
		Fischer	*
Place:	HCR 0107	Frangas	X
		King S.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Looper	X
	Representative McFadyen	McNulty	*
		Merrifield	*
This Report was prepared by		Primavera	X
	Kurt Morrison	Vaad	X
		Green	X
		McFadyen	*
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1096 HB09-1234 HB09-1029		Postponed Indefinitely Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Amended, Referred to Appropriations

01:35 PM -- House Bill 09-1096

Representative Acree, prime sponsor of House Bill 09-1096, discussed the merits of the bill. The bill would allow rehabilitative driving specialists to report a person's ability to drive to licensing authorities, and would specify additional cognitive and physical ability driving requirements. Representative Acree asked that the committee postpone the bill indefinitely.


BILL:	HB09-1096
TIME:	01:38:39 PM
MOVED:	McFadyen
MOTION:	Moved to postpone House Bill 09-1096 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Primavera
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Fischer	Excused
	Frangas	Yes
	King S.	Yes
	Looper	Excused
	McNulty	Excused
	Merrifield	Excused
	Primavera	Yes
	Vaad	Yes
	Green	Yes
	McFadyen	Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 4 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:40 PM -- House Bill 09-1234

Representative Solano and Representative Kerr J., prime sponsors of House Bill 09-1234, testified on the merits of the bill. The bill would make driver license suspensions immediate if a person fails to appear at his or her suspension hearing. Representatives Solano and Kerr responded to questions from the committee members.

01:46 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify regarding the bill.

01:47 PM -- Mr. Mark Couch, representing the Department of Revenue, testified regarding the bill. Mr. Couch provided background information on existing suspension procedures, and responded to questions from committee members.

01:53 PM -- Mr. Stephen Hooper, representing the Department of Revenue, testified regarding the bill. Mr. Hooper provided an explanation on how suspension hearings function, and responded to questions from committee members.

02:03 PM -- Ms. Diane Sueper, representing herself, and Ms. Jacky Kowalsky, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Sueper described an automobile accident in which her husband lost his life. The driver involved in the accident had a suspended license. Ms. Sueper discussed current processes for suspensions, and asked the committee to support the bill.

02:16 PM -- Representative McFadyen asked Mr. Hooper to return to the witness table to respond to questions. Mr. Hooper provided further information on driver license suspensions, as well as related staffing and training needs.

02:27 PM

Representatives Solano and King discussed Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). Mr. Hooper discussed the intent of Amendment L.001 and its impact on the suspension queue. Mr. Hooper responded to further questions from the committee members.

02:40 PM

Representative Looper asked Mr. Hooper clarifying questions pertaining to Amendment L.001.

02:50 PM

Representative McFadyen stated that the bill would be laid over to a later date.

03:00 PM -- House Bill 09-1029

Representative Sonnenberg, prime sponsor of House Bill 09-1029, testified on the merits of the bill. The bill would designate mobile machinery and other equipment operated in interstate commerce as class A personal property for registration purposes. Representative Sonnenberg responded to questions from the committee members and discussed Amendment L.001 (Attachment B).

03:03 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify in opposition to the bill.

03:03 PM -- Ms. Pam Nielsen, representing the County Clerks Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Nielsen discussed the fiscal impact on municipalities, and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment C). Ms. Nielsen responded to questions from committee members.

03:09 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify in support of the bill.

03:09 PM -- Mr. R.J. Hicks, representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Hicks discussed Amendment L.001 and stated its fiscal impact on CMCA members. Mr. Hicks responded to questions from committee members.

03:22 PM

Representative McFadyen closed witness testimony and asked for amendments.


BILL:	HB09-1029
TIME:	03:23:17 PM
MOVED:	Looper
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection
SECONDED:	McNulty
		VOTE
	Baumgardner
	Fischer
	Frangas
	King S.
	Looper
	McNulty
	Merrifield
	Primavera
	Vaad
	Green
	McFadyen

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB09-1029
TIME:	03:27:02 PM
MOVED:	McNulty
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1029, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 7-3 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Baumgardner
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Fischer	No
	Frangas	No
	King S.	Yes
	Looper	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Merrifield	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Vaad	Yes
	Green	Excused
	McFadyen	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:29 PM

The committee adjourned.

01:40 PM -- House Bill 09-1234

Representative Solano and Representative Kerr J., prime sponsors of House Bill 09-1234, testified on the merits of the bill. The bill would make driver license suspensions immediate if a person fails to appear at his or her suspension hearing. Representatives Solano and Kerr responded to questions from the committee members.

01:46 PM

Representative McFadyen asked for witnesses to testify regarding the bill.

01:47 PM -- Mr. Mark Couch, representing the Department of Revenue, testified regarding the bill. Mr. Couch provided background information on existing suspension procedures, and responded to questions from committee members.

01:53 PM -- Mr. Stephen Hooper, representing the Department of Revenue, testified regarding the bill. Mr. Hooper provided an explanation on how suspension hearings function, and responded to questions from committee members.

02:03 PM -- Ms. Diane Sueper, representing herself, and Ms. Jacky Kowalsky, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Sueper described an automobile accident in which her husband lost his life. The driver involved in the accident had a suspended license. Ms. Sueper discussed current processes for suspensions, and asked the committee to support the bill.

02:16 PM -- Representative McFadyen asked Mr. Hooper to return to the witness table to respond to questions. Mr. Hooper provided further information on driver license suspensions, as well as related staffing and training needs.

02:27 PM

Representatives Solano and King discussed Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). Mr. Hooper discussed the intent of Amendment L.001 and its impact on the suspension queue. Mr. Hooper responded to further questions from the committee members.