Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-294

Date: 04/23/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-294

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved that Senate Bill 09-294 be referred to the C	PASS

11:18 AM

Senator Gibbs, Chairman, called the meeting to order.

11:18 AM -- Senate Bill 09-294

Senator Romer, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-294, concerning applications for the issuance of a certificate of public convenience and necessity to provide taxi service that relates to counties with a population of at least seventy thousand. He commented on unintended consequences of past legislation relating to the regulation of taxi cabs.

The following persons testified in regard to Senate Bill 09-294:

11:21 AM -- Richard Fanyo, representing Yellow Cab, supported Senate Bill 09-294. He said that, historically, applicants for taxi service must show a public need for the additional service. He commented on the interpretation of prior legislation relating to the regulation of taxi cabs by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). He commented at length on the operation of supply and demand in the taxi cab industry.

11:41 AM -- Bill Mitchell, representing the Denver Convention and Visitors Bureau, supported Senate Bill 09-294, and commented on taxi service during the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He discussed research regarding the industry that was conducted by his office. He said that there is currently an oversupply of taxi cabs in Denver and that this surplus could hurt the quality of taxi service in Denver.

11:48 AM -- Chuck Ford, representing tow truck operators, said that the towing industry is regulated by the PUC. He said that the PUC staff is currently overburdened and is unable to conduct the investigative work that should be conducted. He stated concerns that the proposal will add an additional burden to staff of the PUC, and that this burden could result in fee increases on other industries.


BILL:	SB09-294
TIME:	11:56:36 AM
MOVED:	Romer
MOTION:	Moved that Senate Bill 09-294 be referred to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 5-0-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kopp	Excused
	Renfroe	Excused
	Romer	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Veiga	Yes
	Williams	Yes
	Gibbs	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:57 AM

The committee meeting adjourned.