s_tra_2017a_2017-02-28t14:01:49z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/28/2017

Location: SCR 352

02:26 PM -- SB17-180



Senator Cooke, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-180. This bill modifies the civil penalty authority of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) related to motor carrier oversight. Under current law, civil penalties collected by the PUC for violations of motor carrier regulations are credited to the General Fund. The bill credits these penalties to the newly created Legal Services Offset Fund, which is continuously appropriated to the Department of Law to offset its costs to represent the PUC in actions related to motor carrier violations. The fund balance and interest earnings remain in the fund at the end of each fiscal year, unless the balance exceeds $250,000, in which case the excess is transferred to the General Fund.



The bill also:

• removes the requirement that the PUC prove that a violation of motor carrier regulations was intentional;

• clarifies time frames and applicable penalty amounts related to subsequent motor carrier violations; and

• allows the PUC to immediately revoke a limited regulation, towing carrier, or mover permit if a penalty is not paid on time.

Senator Cooke distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment D).



17SenateTran0228AttachD.pdf



02:31 PM -- R.J. Hicks, representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, testified in support of the bill.



02:34 PM -- Doug Dean and Ron Jack, representing the PUC, testified in support of the bill.



02:39 PM -- Erin Reynolds, representing Legislative Council Staff, testified about the fiscal note for the bill.