Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/02/2007 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB130 | |
| SB4 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
9:07:41 AM SENATE BILL NO. 130 "An Act relating to the registration of certain vehicles owned by ranchers, farmers, or dairy workers." This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance Committee. Co-Chair Stedman announced intent to report this bill from Committee at this hearing. 9:08:30 AM DARWIN PETERSON, Staff to Senator Lyda Green, sponsor of the bill, testified that the need for this legislation was brought to Senator Green's attention by a constituent who is also a farmer. State statute provides for licensing classifications for numerous types of vehicles. One such classification is farm vehicles. Mr. Peterson informed that prior to 1978 statute limited the weight of vehicles registered as farm vehicles to no more than 15,000 pounds. At that time the weight limit was increased to 16,000 pounds to acknowledge that vehicles in general were getting larger. This same rationale is the impetus for the proposed increase in this legislation to a 20,000 pound limit. Mr. Peterson reported that many owners of farm vehicles are encountering situations in which new or replacement vehicles would exceed the current weight limit. One farmer has been repairing and refurbishing old vehicles to avoid the higher registration fees imposed on non-farm commercial vehicles. 9:10:54 AM Senator Dyson asked the difference in the licensure fee amounts of farm vehicles and non-farm vehicles. 9:11:05 AM Mr. Peterson replied that the biannual license fee for vehicles registered as farm vehicles is $68. 9:11:27 AM DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, testified via teleconference from an offnet location that the Division has no objection to this bill. The State license fee for commercial vehicles weighing 20,000 pounds or less is $240 biannually. Additional fees are assessed for vehicles registered in some locations by local governments. Senator Dyson asked the term of the license. 9:12:29 AM Mr. Bannock answered that the licenses are valid for two years. 9:12:36 AM Senator Thomas asked if the fees were the same regardless of the number of axles on the vehicle. 9:12:47 AM Mr. Bannock responded that the Division does not consider the number of axles but rather the weight of a vehicle. State statute contains no provisions pertaining to the number of axles. 9:13:13 AM Co-Chair Stedman pointed out the zero fiscal note prepared by the Division and asked if this legislation would incur any costs. 9:13:27 AM Mr. Bannock replied that programming changes would be minimal and would be made internally. Inputting of registration information is done manually whether the amount is 16,000 or 20,000 pounds. Revenue amounts were not adjusted because only approximately 600 vehicles are currently registered under this provision and less than ten percent of that number would be vehicles weighing between 16,000 and 20,000 pounds. 9:14:17 AM Senator Olson understood that this bill would have no fiscal impact to the Division of Motor Vehicles; however, he asked the expense to other departments. He gave the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities as an example, asking about higher maintenance costs resulting from heavier vehicles traversing the roadways. 9:14:53 AM Mr. Bannock could not address this. Senator Olson posed the question to the sponsor. 9:14:59 AM Mr. Peterson conveyed that the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities had reviewed this legislation and expressed no objection to its passage as the fiscal impact would be minimal. 9:15:36 AM Senator Dyson asked if a farmer would testify. 9:15:43 AM Co-Chair Stedman ascertained that no other parties were present to testify either telephonically or in person. 9:15:56 AM Senator Olson asked the opinion of those who would be affected by this bill. 9:16:06 AM Mr. Peterson told of testimony given before the Senate Transportation Committee by the farmer who brought the issue to Senator Green's attention. This farmer utilizes his farm vehicle to travel to Canada to purchase hay for use on his ranch. The Canadian government imposes a fee of $600 per trip for vehicles not registered as farm vehicles. Farm vehicles are assessed no such fee. He was currently traveling in Canada for this purpose and was therefore unavailable to testify at this time. Mr. Peterson continued relaying the testimony presented to the Senate Transportation Committee from another farmer who continually repairs older vehicles that are under the current 16,000 pound weight restriction. These vehicles do not have the updated safety improvements available on newer vehicles. 9:17:24 AM Senator Dyson announced that although the difference between farm vehicle and commercial vehicle license fees is $85 per year, he would support this legislation because of the aforementioned $600 fee, an amount he deemed potentially onerous. 9:17:56 AM Senator Huggins offered a motion to report the bill, 25- LS0755\C, from Committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. There was no objection and SB 130 was REPORTED from Committee with zero fiscal note #1 from the Department of Administration. AT EASE 9:18:30 AM / 9:22:11 AM
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