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Minutes for SB167 - Committee on Transportation
Short Title
Classifying certain public utility motor vehicles as authorized emergency vehicles without a designation by county commissioners.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 17, 2021
Staff briefed the Committee on the contents of the bill. (Attachment 6 )
Chairman Proehl recognized Senator Ethan Corson. (Attachment 7) Senator Corson said he had heard from utility and telecommunications workers about the dangers and near misses they face while doing their jobs on Kansas roadways. He referenced an incident in Topeka where an Evergy service vehicle was rear-ended by a distracted driver. He said this bill will add utility and telecommunications vehicles engaged in emergency repairs to the classification of emergency vehicles.
The next proponent was David Galvan who spoke from testimony submitted by John Garretson. (Attachment 8) Mr. Galvan said adding utility vehicles to the emergency vehicle classification may help reduce a bit of the risk workers face and give them a greater sense of security. He referenced the "Move Over" law that covers police, firefighters, paramedics and others. He said in 20 other states they specifically include utility vehicles in their "Move Over" laws.
Chairman Proehl drew the Committee's attention to Written testimony submitted in support of SB167 by Laura Lutz. (Attachment 9)
The Chairman recognized Ed Klumpp who stood in opposition to this bill as proposed. (Attachment 10) According to Mr. Klumpp, after reviewing Senate testimony it appeared the concern was not in response to a repair site but rather the risks presented by drivers not respecting the need to provide additional space and to slow down when passing utility vehicles in the roadway. He said they believe the solution is to replicate KSA 8-15,112 to cover the utility vehicles listed in this bill.
Wendi Stark provided Neutral Testimony. (Attachment 11) She said the Senate expanded the bill to include telecommunications and other wireless communication providers and those vehicles would not be required to go through the process of designation by the Board of County Commissioners as authorized emergency vehicles.
The Chairman drew the Committee's attention to Written Neutral Testimony submitted by Jay Hall, Legislative Policy Director and General Counsel, Kansas Association of Counties. (Attachment 12)
There were no other proponents, opponents or neutrals so the Chairman closed the hearing on SB167.
