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June 19 and 20, 2003 Best Western Douglas Motel
1450 River Bend Drive
Douglas, Wyoming
Committee Members
Senator Bill Barton and Representative Wayne Johnson, Cochairmen.
Senators Larry Caller, Dick Erb, Gerald Geis and Bill Vasey [Thursday only].
Representatives Bob Brechtel, Stan Cooper, Ross Diercks, David Edwards, Floyd Esquibel, Steve Harshman, Jene Jansen and Tom Walsh.
Karen Ashcraft Byrne, Attorney.
Delbert Eitel.
Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.
All meeting materials and handouts provided to the Committee by the Legislative Service Office (LSO), public officials, lobbyists, and the public are referenced in the Meeting Materials Index, attached to the minutes. These materials are on file at the LSO and are part of the official record of the meeting.
Cochairman Wayne Johnson called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Roll call was taken. The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic. Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.
The committee discussed commercial driver's license regulations and proposed changes mandated by federal law. Deb Ornelas, Department of Transportation, testified generally in accordance with Appendix 3. States must be in compliance with federal law by 2007 or federal funding will be diminished. She also explained the national procedure for tracking license violations. Canada is part of this system and Mexico is in the process of becoming part of the system. The Committee also discussed the requirements for a medical certificate. Senator Geis moved to have the proposed changes drafted and Representative Walsh seconded. The vote was twelve to two with Senator Barton and Representative Diercks voting nay.
The Committee discussed the height and width requirements of vehicles. Senator Barton moved and Senator Geis seconded for the Committee to continue to investigate and pursue recommendations regarding variances. The motion carried nine to five. A subcommittee was formed to study changes in the size, height and weight requirements consisting of Representative Walsh as chairman and Senator Caller and Representative Jansen. Sleeter Dover, Director, Department of Transportation, informed the Committee that he and several other state directors had written a letter to Congress asking that they not enact federal laws regulating trucks. Members of the Wyoming Towing and Recovery Association told the Committee that they have problems with the weight requirements when they are towing disabled or wrecked vehicles. A subcommittee was formed to study a towing permit statutory change similar to the self executing permit used for over sized or over weight vehicles. The subcommittee will consist of Representative Cooper as chairman and Senator Vasey and Representative Brechtel.
HB0183 regarding statutory changes to radioactive materials transportation was discussed. Union Pacific gave the Committee a brochure discussing the railroad's transportation of nuclear waste. Union Pacific transports more nuclear waste than any other railroad in the country. [Appendices 4 and 5]. Senator Vasey moved and Senator Geis seconded to proceed with this legislation as a committee bill. The motion carried unanimously. The Committee wanted to find out how many trucks were transporting hazardous materials. The Department of Transportation will get that information to them.
General Edward Wright testified generally in accordance with Appendix 6. He requested some changes in the tuition relief statute, asked for a state relief act protecting guards on active duty from litigation, money to buy land at Guernsey and more money to maintain the armories around the state. General Wright will determine a strategic plan for the National Guard after he gets results from a survey. There was also concern that the runways at Guernsey are not long enough for the planes being flown. The veterans' burial statute was discussed and any changes to it will be discussed at the fall meeting.
The Committee discussed the concept of the graduated driver's license for beginning drivers. One of the problems with the bill in the 2003 session was an amendment requiring driver's education which is not available in many communities. [Appendices 7 and 8].
Several county assessors stated that they are having difficulties in lowering speed limits because they can't afford an engineering study on the involved roads as required by statute. Senator Geis moved and Representative Brechtel seconded that the Committee draft legislation to solve this problem. The motion was defeated. [Appendices 9, 10 and 11].
The Committee was told that the new law regarding child restraint requirements, effective July 1, 2003, should have some changes. [Appendices 12 and 13]. Staff was directed to look at Nebraska law and work with interested parties in drafting proposed legislative changes exempting childcare vans and cars with out a shoulder strap and possibly changing the requirements from weight and age to height. Twelve members voted for these changes with Senators Barton and Erb voting nay. Colonel Cox, Highway Patrol, said he would have the guidelines for the troopers in enforcing this law at the next meeting.
Cochairman Bill Barton called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
The Committee was given an update of the status and activities of the 2003 newly created Homeland Security Agency. Concerns were raised about the confidentiality of the information. Representative Johnson said he would look into the problem. A power point presentation was given regarding computer-accessed information. A demonstration of PICS [Performance information communication systems] was also given. It is a portable radio communications system that connects different radio systems so people can communicate when their radio systems are not compatible. Training is crucial. The state now has seventeen trained personnel. The unit has a wattage of 45 and a realistic operating range of twenty to thirty miles. The railroads are also involved in helping with homeland security. The petroleum industry has information that might help homeland security and will give it to the agency. [Appendices 14 through 17].
The Committee expressed concern about the problem of persons getting insurance for the purpose of getting a vehicle licensed and then canceling the insurance.
Committee members were given a copy of "2002-2003 Transportation Facts" by the Department of Transportation. [Appendix 18].
The Department of Transportation is concerned about how to regulate a special type of all-purpose vehicle that is built to carry cargo. This hybrid vehicle does not fit within Wyoming's motor code. It was suggested that they be included within the definition of mobile machinery. The Committee was told that at present operators of mobile machinery are not required to have driver's licenses. A motion to have legislation drafted to resolve these problems did not pass. [Appendix 19].
There being no further business, Cochairman Wayne Johnson adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Representative Wayne Johnson,
Cochairman