Motorcycle Operator Safety Training fund in jeopardy!

[KFinn]

The Audit Committee killed this bill yesterday afternoon. Thanks to those who came out to support the MOST program.

Fantastic News!!

[THoward]

Thank you to those that showed up to support MOST. While Jim is absolutely correct that the bill was killed yesterday, our battle is not over. From the indications in the room yesterday, we will have a bill introduced next session. We have a lot of work to do to keep this program. It is easier to keep a program and fix it, than to lose one and try to recreate another. I will keep you posted as to what goes on. If any of you have an interest in following this or working with ABATE and CDOT on this program, please PM me, I'll let you know what you can do to help.

Thanks again!!!

[UglyDogRacing]

The state legislature has once again introduced a bill to kill the MOST program-

SB12-089 - CONCERNING THE REPEAL OF THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM

Introduced January 19, 2012 - Assigned to transportation Committee

Bill Summary: The bill repeals the motorcycle operator safety training program administered by the office of transportation safety in the department of transportation and repeals all license and registration fees imposed to fund the program.
...
Senate Transportation Committee Members:

Evie Hudak, Chair
Suzanne Williams, Vice-Chair
Scott Renfroe (Senate Sponsor)
Nancy Spence (Senate Co-Sponsor)
Steve King
Linda Newell
Gail Schwartz

http://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLI...ile=089_01.pdf

Please visit the ABATE of Colorado website www.abateofcolo.org > Legislative > Alerts for more information.

Please sign the online petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/colo...e-most-program

[THoward]

We have a hearing date for SB 12-089. It is scheduled for Transportation committee hearing Tuesday Feb 14 at 2 PM, room scr 352. The committee convenes at 2:00 PM. If ANYONE can attend...PLEASE be there.

A couple other points for you to think about. Forget the making training affordable.
*What about the small bit of motorcycle awareness CDOT puts out every April and May? This program is part of the MOST program. That will completely go away.
*What about the money that was collected from motorcyclists during 2011? That money is slated to be appropriated to the MOST program July 1st 2012. If the program is repealed what are they going to do with it? They will not refund each and every one of us $4. They'll dump it in to some other fund.
* Will DMV accept the MSF cards to waive the license? No...because there will be no entity making sure that rider coaches are certified. So we will go back to waiting 3 months to get a test for endorsements.
* Colorado will be the first state in the nation to repeal a motorcycle safety program. All the other states are ramping up their programs.

I by no means am a safety-crat. I do however believe in making us (motorcyclists) safer when we ride. Eliminating this program will be a huge injustice to the riders of Colorado!!!

[Ninja2]

Terry, unfortunately, I am unable to make this one. As always, thank you so much for all the work you do. I wish we can keep MOST program.

I hope there will be good turnout, incl. members of the CSC. Even for non-supporters of the MOST program, I think this is a great opportunity to show that there is a substantial amount of motorcyclists out there and that we care. And, if nothing else, see the Legislature in action, which was a new experience to me when I sat in for the hearing.

[Foolds]

Signed

[Cap'n Crunch]

Signed the petition. Thanks terry.

[spideyrdr]

I've signed the petition. I will forever support safety programs for motorcyclists in the hopes that it will keep even one rider from becoming a statistic.

[UglyDogRacing]

GOOD NEWS!!!

I am happy to announce that Senate Bill SB12-809, that would have abolished the Colorado MOST Program, was killed in the Colorado Senate Transportation Committee tonight.

The bill to abolish the MOST Program was sponsored by Senator Scott Renfroe and Rep Chris Holbert and during today's committee meeting they were supported in their efforts to kill the MOST Program by representatives from the Colorado Coalition of Clubs, (Tiger and Diablo) as well Colleen Boyle from T3RG who supported the abolishment / termination of the MOST Training Program.

Speaking in support of continuing the MOST Program were various ABATE members including Training Director; Ben Hochberg, and State Coordinator; Terry Howard, (all of ABATE), as well as Christi Little; new member coordinator for the Colorado SportBike Club, Erick Erickson of Iron Buffalo, one of the MOST program originators; Jerry Abboud, CDOT Deputy Director; Herman Stockinger, Bob Frank, and others, all spoke in support of continuing the MOST Program.

Tonight's wonderful and well deserved result was the culmination of a lot of meetings and work, some internal to CDOT, as well as others that the training community directly participated in. This information was instrumental in getting the correct and real information to the Senate Transportation Committee.

With that combined effort we were successful in getting the proposed legislation killed.

.

[FZRguy]

Great news!

[THoward]

A huge thank you to all of you that heped us out. We can make a difference in our government!!



ABATE of Colorado
4725 Paris St Suite #250, Denver, CO, 80239
303-789-3264 (office) | 303-789-2915 (fax) www.abateofcolo.org

ABATE of Colorado News Release – Repeal of Colorado’s Motorcycle Operator’s Safety Training (MOST) Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2012
Contact: Kirk Fry, Legislative Affairs Officer (legislative@abateofcolo.org) / Terry Howard, State Coordinator (statecoord@abateofcolo.org)



Victory for Colorado Motorcyclists

ABATE of Colorado reports that February 21, 2012, SB12-089, Repeal the Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (M.O.S.T.) Program has been postponed indefinitely on a vote of 4-3.
There have been issues with the MOST program over the past few years and ABATE tried unsuccessfully to remedy the issue in 2010, with SB10-40. As a result of SB10-40 being introduced ultimately a Legislative Audit of the program was ordered. The Audit didn’t reveal much that was not already known. The Audit contained several recommendations including one to repeal the program.
In November of 2011, ABATE attended the Legislative Audit Committee hearing to review the audit findings and to decide if legislation should be drafted to repeal the program. Members of the committee were split on whether the program should be fixed or go away. Both motions (1) to draft repeal legislation and (2) to legislate ‘fixes’ ended in tie votes so nothing further was done at that time.
When the 2012 legislative session began in January, Senator Renfroe renewed efforts to repeal the program. The repeal of the program would be a huge injustice to the riders of Colorado. ABATE of Colorado members, Colorado Sportbike Club members, Motorcycle Roadracing Association members, CDOT, Powersports Dealers Association, the American Motorcyclist Association, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Motorcycle Riders Foundation and most of the rider education community in Colorado rallied their efforts to defeat this legislation.
Job well done to those that participated and thank you for your efforts!!
The MOST program still needs a lot of work and CDOT along with stakeholder input has a list of initiatives to implement in the program. We look forward to working with CDOT in the coming months to make the MOST program a more effective and viable program to benefit the riders of Colorado.