Hello everyone,
It was another busy week at the Capitol. On Tuesday, the JBC approved the OSPB comeback to use $2.0 million from the MOST Fund and $0.6 million from the Motor Carrier Safety Fund to fund the third and final phase of the Patrol’s Records Utilization Upgrade capital project. The JBC is still working to balance next year’s budget and will continue balancing this week. The JBC also still needs to address the OSPB comeback to restore $5.0 of the $7.2 million General Fund to CATPA. The Long Bill was originally expected to be introduced today, but that has been delayed.
Also on Tuesday, the House Transportation Committee heard SB 053 Colorado Housing & Finance Authority Mortgage POST Officers First Responders. SB 053 expands eligibility for loans through the Colorado Housing & Finance Authority to peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, noncertified deputy sheriffs, emergency communications specialists, and corrections officers regardless of income. CSPA supports SB 053. The House Transportation Committee referred SB 053 to the House floor on a vote of 9 to 4. SB 053 is scheduled to be heard on Second Reading in the House later today.
On Wednesday, the Senate Transportation Committee heard SB 141 Wildlife Collision Prevention. SB 141 creates an optional $5 collision prevention fee during motor vehicle registration to fund wildlife crossing structures and related transportation improvements that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. CSPA supports SB 141. The Senate Transportation Committee referred SB 141 to the Senate Finance Committee on a vote of 7 to 2. SB 141 is calendared to be heard in Senate Finance tomorrow.
Also on Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee heard SB 026 Weight for Vehicles with Child Restraint System. SB 026 is a State Patrol agenda bill that increases the gross vehicle weight rating for certain passenger vehicles required to have a child restraint system from less than 10,000 pounds to less than 16,000 pounds. With the increasing weights of passenger automobiles, it is necessary to amend statute to ensure all passenger vehicles are required to have child restraint systems. CSPA supports SB 026. The House Transportation Committee referred SB 026 to the House floor on a vote of 13 to 0. SB 026 is calendared to be heard on Second Reading in the House later today.
So far, there have been 492 bills introduced – 343 in the House and 149 in the Senate. Only 44 more days until the General Assembly is required to adjourn sine die.
Bill Skewes
Lobbyist