04/14/1994 05:00 PM House TRA

  Number 009                                                                   
                                                                               
  BRUCE CAMPBELL, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                   
  AND PUBLIC FACILITIES (DOT/PF), stated that HB 544 is the                    
  result of a court challenge to the method which certain                      
  landing fees were adopted.  The plaintiffs prevailed, which                  
  left DOT with the choice of either readopting landing fees                   
  in a manner which met the Administrative Procedures Act, or                  
  having an off-setting fuel tax which would provide the same                  
  revenue the landing fees would.  He added that the air                       
  carriers preferred the latter option and the Finance                         
  Committees approved, so DOT/PF decided to pursue it.                         
                                                                               
  Number 065                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR FOSTER commended Commissioner Campbell for his                         
  accurate recitation of the facts and sequence of events                      
  surrounding the issue, adding that he gets frequent calls                    
  from members of the Air Carriers Association, of which he                    
  was once a member.                                                           
                                                                               
  Number 081                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked Commissioner Campbell about the                  
  wording "motorfuel consumed by user," and asked what that                    
  meant.                                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 090                                                                   
                                                                               
  COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL explained that the section in question                 
  is in the bill because the air carriers wanted an escape.                    
  He added that if the commissioner reinstated landing fees,                   
  the section in question would immediately trigger the                        
  mechanisms for doing away with the tax.                                      
                                                                               
  Number 103                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked if this bill impacts any other                   
  fuels.                                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 105                                                                   
                                                                               
  COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL responded in the negative.                             
                                                                               
  Number 110                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON motioned to move HB 544, with                          
  accompanying fiscal notes and individual recommendations,                    
  out of the House Transportation Committee.                                   
                                                                               
  Number 119                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIR FOSTER asked if there were any objections.  There were                 
  none, and so HB 544 was declared to be moved out of                          
  committee.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:01 p.m. for floor                 
  session.