SB 17-180

Senate Bill 17-180, which has been signed into law, aims to make it easier for the Public Utilities Commission to enforce rules on motor carriers. The bill allows the commission to impose fines more quickly and without needing to prove that violations were intentional. It also creates a fund using collected penalties to help cover legal costs related to enforcing these regulations. Additionally, the bill states that if a company doesn’t pay its fines, their operating permit can be revoked right away. This affects motor carriers who transport passengers, towed vehicles, and household goods in Colorado. Since it has been signed, the law is now in effect.

Official Summary

The public utilities commission (commission) in the department of regulatory agencies (department) regulates motor carriers through the issuance of permits. The bill streamlines the commission's enforcement of motor carrier permits as follows: Section 2 of the bill clarifies language concerning the imposition of civil penalties for violations of motor carrier regulations, including the civil penalties applicable for subsequent violations. Section 2 also relieves the commission of the obligation to prove that a violation was intentional. Section 3 creates a legal services offset fund (fund) to supplement the money appropriated to the department for legal representation of commission staff by the department of law in commission matters concerning the enforcement of motor carrier regulations. Section 3 requires that the state treasurer transfer any money in excess of $250,000 in the fund to the general fund and sets an alternative maximum reserve for the fund, distinct from the maximum reserve generally applicable to cash funds, of $250,000. Section 1 requires the commission to transfer all penalties collected for violations of motor carrier regulations to the fund. Sections 4, 5, and 6 clarify that a permittee's motor carrier permit is immediately revoked for failure to pay a civil penalty. These sections apply to permittees that are motor carriers of passengers, motor carriers of towed motor vehicles, and motor carriers of household goods, respectively.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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