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TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC UTILITIES & TECHNOLOGY
STANDING COMMITTEE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010, 3:00 P.M.
ROOM 215, SENATE BUILDING, STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX
Members Present: Sen. Steve Urquhart, Chair
Sen. David Hinkins
Sen. Jerry Stevenson
Sen. Peter Knudson
Sen. Kevin Van Tassell
Sen. Brent Goodfellow
Members Excused: Sen. Karen Mayne
Staff Present: Leif Elder, Policy Analyst
Karen C. Allred, Secretary
Public Speakers Present: Mitch Jensen, Attorney, Siegfried and Jensen
Chris Purcell, State Farm Insurance
Steve Sullivan, Robert J. DeBry and Associates
Steve Traynor, State Farm Insurance
Craig Swapp, Attorney, Gregory and Swapp
Al Grey, Attorney, Bear River Mutual Insurance Company
Colonel Scott Olsen, Military Legislative Liaison
Eric Stucki, State Parks and Recreation
David Strayer, University of Utah
Eric Isom, Government Affairs Director, Qwest
Linda Hull, Legislative Director, Utah Department of Transportation
A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.
Sen. Van Tassell assumed the chair.
Acting Chair Van Tassell called the meeting to order at 3:23 p.m.
1. S.B. 62 -- Motor Vehicle Insurance Coverage Amendments
Sen. Urquhart introduced and explained the bill.
Mitch Jensen, Siegfried and Jensen; Steve Sullivan, Robert J. DeBry and Associates; and Craig Swapp, Gregory and Swapp; spoke for the bill.
Chris Purcell, State Farm Insurance; Steven Traynor, State Farm Insurance; and Al Grey, Bear River Insurance Company; spoke against the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Urquhart moved to pass S.B. 62 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed with Sens. Urquhart, Stevenson, Knudson, Van Tassell and Goodfellow voting in favor and Sen. Hinkins voting in opposition.
2. S.B. 142 -- Driver License Amendments
Sen. Stephenson introduced and explained the bill.
Colonel Scott Olsen, Military Legislative Liaison, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Knudson moved to pass S.B. 142 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to place S.B. 142 on the Consent Calendar.
The motion passed unanimously.
3. S.B. 70 -- Motor Vehicle Liability Amendments
Sen. Urquhart introduced and explained the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to adopt the following amendment:
Page 2, Lines 37 through 42 :
37 (b) If owner's or operator's security covering the minor's operation of the motor vehicle
38 is in effect in amounts
{
as required under Section
31A-22-304
}
of at least
$100,000 because of liability for bodily injury or death of one person arising out of
the use of a motor vehicle in any one accident and $300,000 in any one accident
whether arising from bodily injury to or the death of others
, the owner of the motor
vehicle
39 or the person who gave or furnished the motor vehicle to the minor under Subsection (1) is not
40 subject to the liability imposed under Subsection (1).
41 (2) Nothing under Subsection (1) prohibits a cause of action for any direct
negligence
42 on the part of the person furnishing the motor vehicle to the minor.
The motion was withdrawn.
Chris Purcell, State Farm Insurance, and Al Grey, Bear River Insurance Company spoke in favor of the bill.
Steve Sullivan, Robert J. DeBry and Associates and Craig Swapp, Gregory and Swapp, spoke against the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to adopt the following amendment:
Page 2, Lines 37 through 42 :
37 (b) If owner's or operator's security covering the minor's operation of the motor vehicle
38 is in effect in amounts
{
as required under Section
31A-22-304
}
of at least
$100,000 because of liability for bodily injury or death of one person arising out of
the use of a motor vehicle in any one accident and $300,000 in any one accident
whether arising from bodily injury to or the death of others
, the owner of the motor
vehicle
39 or the person who gave or furnished the motor vehicle to the minor under Subsection (1) is not
40 subject to the liability imposed under Subsection (1).
41 (2) Nothing under Subsection (1) prohibits a cause of action for any direct negligence
42 on the part of the person furnishing the motor vehicle to the minor.
The motion failed with Sens. Hinkins, Stevenson, and Goodfellow voting in favor; and Sens. Urquhart, Knudson, and Van Tassell voting in opposition.
MOTION: Sen. Urquhart moved to pass S.B. 70 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed with Sens. Urquhart, Stevenson, Knudson and Van Tassell voting in favor, and Sens. Hinkins and Goodfellow voting in opposition.
Approval of Minutes
MOTION: Sen. Stevenson moved to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2010 meeting.
The motion passed unanimously.
4. S.B. 74 -- State Park Highway Access Amendments
Sen. Hinkins introduced and explained the bill.
Eric Stuki, State Parks and Recreation spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Knudson moved to pass S.B. 74 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
5. S.B. 113 - Wireless Telephone Use Restriction for Minors in Vehicles
Sen. Romero introduced and explained the bill.
David Strayer, Professor, University of Utah spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to pass S.B. 113 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed with Sens. Stevenson, Knudson, Van Tassell, and Goodfellow voting in favor, Sen. Hinkins voting in opposition, and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
6. S.B. 137 - Coordination in Removing, Relocating, or Altering Utilities
Sen. Liljenquist introduced and explained the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Hinkins moved to adopt the following amendment:
Page 4, Lines 90 through 92 :
90 (b) If a public agency provides a utility company with
{
an
opportunity
}
reasonable opportunities
to meet in
91 accordance with Subsection (5)(a), the utility company's failure to meet does not affect the
92 public agency's ability to proceed with the project.
Eric Isom, Government Affairs Director, Qwest, and Linda Hull, Utah Department of Transportation, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION: Sen. Knudson moved to pass S.B. 137 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
MOTION: Sen. Stevenson moved to adjourn.
The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
Acting Chair Van Tassell adjourned the meeting at 4:53 P.M.
Minutes reported by Karen C. Secretary.