Item 3: Ratification of IGR Committee Actions and Direction on Legislative Policy

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SB 0291 Relating Clause: Relating to reporting vehicle accidents. Title: Requires filing of accident report when accident involves pedestrian or bicyclist. Creates offense of failure of pedestrian or bicyclist to make accident report. Punishes by maximum fine of $360. Sponsored by: Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary for Bicycle Transportation Alliance URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0200.dir/sb0291.intro.pdf ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Lee Shoemaker PWE 1/27/2009 Pri 3 Yes V. C7 Oppose Comments: Under this bill, bicyclists and pedestrians will have the same crash reporting requirements as drivers, passengers in cars, and owners of vehicles. Drivers currently have to report crashes with injury, fatality, or $1,500 in property damage. E. Cushman EPD 1/29/2009 Pri3 Yes V. C7 Oppose Comments: **Oppose as written; neutral if properly amended** We recommend that the bill be amended to remove Section 1(3). If this is done, we would be neutral on the bill. Current Oregon law requires that involved drivers file accident reports if the accident either (1) results in death or injury to any person, or (2) the property damage to any person's property exceeds $1500. Section 1(3) of this bill would require that a driver file an accident report for *any* accident involving a bicycle or pedestrian which occurred on a street or premises open to the public (e.g., store parking lots) whether or not there was *any* property damage or injury. This means that if a driver going 2 mph bumps a bicycle in a parking lot, even if there is no damage or injury, the driver must file an accident report. If the same driver runs into another car and causes $1400 damage, s/he does not have to file an accident report. This increased reporting will result in a significant increase in workload (and expense) for DMV in processing these reports. In addition, the driver will now have a reported accident on his/her driving record, potentially increasing his/her insurance premium. The law already requires a report if the accident involves *any* injury to the bicyclist or pedestrian, regardless of severity. We feel that the requirement included in Section 1(3) of this bill is unnecessary for any public safety purpose, and will simply place an additional unfunded workload on DMV. SB 0292 Relating Clause: Relating to use of State Highway Fund moneys. Title: Increases allocation of State Highway Fund moneys for footpaths and bicycle trails. Sponsored by: Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary for Bicycle Transportation Alliance URL:http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0200.dir/sb0292.intro.pdf ContactRespondentDept Updated Priority Policy Poli Numb Recommendation Eric Jones Eric Jones PW-ADM 1/22/2009 Pri 3 Yes III. A Neutral Comments: The intent of this bill, sponsored on behalf of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, is to increase the amount of State Highway Trust Fund (SHTF) revenues spent on bike trails, curb cuts and access ramps. The bill proposes to accomplish this objective by increasing the minimum expenditure by a county or a city for those purposes to 2% a year, from the current 1% a year. 25