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MINUTES OF THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION
STANDING COMMITTEE
Room C450, State Capitol, Utah State Capitol Complex
January 28, 2009

MEMBERS PRESENT:        Rep. Bradley M. Daw, Chair
                    Rep. Julie Fisher, Vice Chair
                    Rep. Steven D. Clark
                    Rep. Tim M. Cosgrove
                    Rep. Janice M. Fisher
                    Rep. Wayne A. Harper                
                    Rep. Lynn N. Hemingway
                    Rep. Kory M. Holdaway
                    Rep. Steven R. Mascaro
                    Rep. Ronda R. Menlove
                    Rep. Michael T. Morley
                    Rep. F. Jay Seegmiller
                    Rep. C. Brent Wallis

MEMBERS EXCUSED:        Rep. Bradley G. Last                
                        
STAFF PRESENT:            Leif Elder, Policy Analyst
                    Karen Mitchell, Committee Secretary

Note: A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes .


Chair Daw called the meeting to order at 8:11 a.m.

H.C.R. 1    Concurrent Resolution on Certification of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles (Rep. J. Draxler)

Rep. Draxler introduced the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:    Cheryl Heying, Director, Department of Air Quality
            Mat Carlile, Department of Air Quality
            Howard H. Johnson, Mayor Lehi City
            Brian Bremner, Garfield County
            David Lifferth, Eagle Mountain
            Rep. Eric Hutchings
            Robin Riggs, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce

MOTION:    Rep. Mascaro moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed         unanimously, with Rep. Harper, Rep. Holdaway, and Rep. Morley absent for the         vote.



H.B. 24    Traffic Accident Clearance Amendments (Rep. E. Hutchings)

Rep. Hutchings introduced the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill:    Linda Hull, UDOT
            Chris Purcell, State Farm Insurance
            Heather Jackson, Mayor Eagle Mountain
            Debbie Johnson, DPS

MOTION:    Rep. Clark moved to amend the bill as follows:


1.    Page 1, Lines 21 through 23 :    

             21          .    increases the property damage limit from $1,000 to
{   $2,000   }        $1,500       for requiring an operator

             22      of a vehicle to give notice of an accident to the nearest office of a law enforcement
             23      agency;

2.    Page 1, Line 26 through Page 2, Line 29 :    

             26          .    authorizes
{   the Department of Transportation or   } a law enforcement agency        with jurisdiction       to remove

             27      a vehicle, cargo, or other personal property that has been damaged or spilled within
             28      the right-of-way of a roadway on the state highway system, is blocking the roadway, or is
             29      endangering public safety;

3.    Page 2, Lines 30 through 36 :    

             30          .    provides that the Department of Transportation
  or a law enforcement agency       shall not be held responsible for any

             31      damages or claims that result from
  exercising the authority or       the failure to exercise the authority to remove a

             32      vehicle, cargo, or personal property;
  and      

             33          
{   .    requires the owner and carrier, if any, of the vehicle, cargo, or personal property

             34      removed or disposed of to reimburse the Department of Transportation or other law
             35      enforcement agency for all costs incurred in removing and subsequently disposing
             36      of the property; and  
}


4.    Page 2, Lines 56 through 57 :    

             56          (i) move the vehicle as soon as possible off the roadway or freeway main lines,
             57      shoulders, medians, or adjacent areas to
{   a   }        the nearest safe       location on an exit

ramp shoulder, a frontage road,



5.    Page 3, Lines 76 through 79 :    

             76          (3) The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident shall immediately and by the
             77      quickest means of communication available give notice or cause to give notice of the accident
             78      to the nearest office of a law enforcement agency if the accident resulted in property damage to
             79      an apparent extent of [$1,000]
{   $2,000   }        $1,500       or more.



6.    Page 4, Lines 98 through 100 :    

             98          (1) As a result of a motor vehicle accident,
{   the Department of Transportation or   } a law

             99      enforcement agency
  with jurisdiction       may, without the consent of the owner or carrier, remove a vehicle, cargo,

             100      or other personal property that:

7.    Page 4, Lines 105 through 111 :    

             105          (2) The Department of Transportation or a law enforcement agency shall not be held
             106      responsible for any damages or claims that result from
  exercising any authority or       the failure to exercise any authority

             107      granted under this section provided they are acting in good faith.
             108          
{   (3) The owner and carrier, if any, of the vehicle, cargo, or personal property removed

             109      or disposed of in accordance with this section shall reimburse the Department of
             110      Transportation or other law enforcement agency for all costs incurred in the removal and
             111      subsequent disposition of the vehicle, cargo, or personal property.  
}


The motion to amend passed unanimously, with Rep. Holdaway absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Clark moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously,         with Rep. Holdaway absent for the vote.

Chair Daw relinquished the Chair to Vice Chair Julie Fisher.

H.B. 73    Vehicle Operator Turn off Requirements (Rep. F. Hunsaker)

Rep. Hunsaker introduced the bill to the committee.



Spoke to the bill:    Linda Hull, UDOT

MOTION:    Rep. Menlove moved to delete in title and body H.B. 73 and replace it with 1st         Substitute H.B. 73. The motion passed unanimously, with Rep. Hemingway, Rep.         Holdaway, and Rep. Daw absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Morley moved to amend 1st Sub. H.B. 73 as follows:

8.    Page 3, Lines 57 through 61 :    

             57          (b) An operator of a motor vehicle is exempt from the requirement under Subsection
             58      (3)(a) to turn off the roadway and permit the vehicles following behind the operator's vehicle to
             59      pass if the operator is operating:
             60          (i) a commercial vehicle as defined in Section 72-9-102 ;
{   or   }

             61          (ii) any vehicle used in the routine maintenance and operations of a roadway
  ; or

    (iii) a public transit vehicle used for public transportation purposes  
.


The motion to amend passed unanimously, with Rep. Daw absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Holdaway moved to pass the bill out favorably. The vote failed with Rep.         Clark, Rep. Holdaway, Rep. Mascaro, Rep. Morley, and Rep. Julie Fisher voting         in favor. Rep. Daw and Rep. Menlove were absent for the vote.

H.B. 104    Driver License Hearing Amendments (Rep. R. Greenwood)

This bill was not considered .

H.B. 225    Driver License Amendments (Rep. C. Wimmer)

This bill was not considered.

MOTION:    Rep. Wallis moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously, with         Rep. Daw and Rep. Menlove absent for the vote.

Vice Chair Fisher adjourned the meeting at 9:51 a.m.




_________________________________
     Rep. Bradley M. Daw, Chair