Towing company regulation.

14LSO-0204.L2

FISCAL NOTE

The proposed bill will have an indeterminable, but significant fiscal impact of an expenditure increase on the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT).  The WYDOT notes the following factors related to the bill's fiscal impact:

1.   Proposed W.S. 31-5-1701, Subsection (b) requires the adoption of rules and regulations. The agency would be required to comply with the processes necessary for adoption of new rules and regulations as specified in the Rules Handbook maintained and promulgated by the Wyoming Attorney General's Office.   This additional process would be managed by the commercial carrier section of Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP).

2.    For each and every time a call out is made with a tow carrier, the involved trooper would be required to verify the proper licensing of the tow operator, his/her position on a list of qualified operators who have complied with the requisite criminal background check, and their inclusion on the list of operators who have the requisite training or experience to comply with the statutory requirements this proposed legislation would require.

3.    Troopers working the road daily would be required to determine if tow carriers observed on the state highway system are violating subsection (b) (xvi), by soliciting, running the roads, or wreck chasing.

Assumptions:

The annual number of WHP-generated wrecker call-outs, statewide:

2011  -  9,743            2012  -  8,734            2013  -  9757

As of January 2014, the WHP has 123 small wreckers and 63 large wreckers on their rotational list.  The WYDOT also notes that this proposed legislation would impact local governments, sheriff departments, and police departments per subsection (d).

The proposed bill may also increase revenues (currently indeterminable) distributed to public schools with any assessed penalties per subsection (b)(viii) and (ix) and Article 7, Section 5 of the Wyoming Constitution. 

NOTICE-AGENCY ESTIMATE OF ADMINISTRATIVE IMPACT REQUESTED

This bill has administrative impact that appears to increase (or decrease) duties or responsibilities of one or more state agencies and may impact agency spending or staffing requirements. As introduced, the bill does not modify any state agency budget or current personnel authorizations.

The following state agencies will be asked to provide their estimate of the administrative fiscal impact prior to the first committee meeting held to consider the bill:

Wyoming Department of Transportation

Prepared by:    Michael Swank, LSO                         Phone:     777-7881

(Information provided by Perry Jones, Major Wyoming Highway Patrol and Kevin Hibbard of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, 777-4318 and 777-4026)