Committee advances telematics bill for state fleet, counsel cites projected savings

The Senate Committee on Government Organization voted to report House Bill 56-13 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. Committee counsel explained the bill adds the term “telematics” to state code, requires the Division of Fleet Management to include telematics services in contracts, mandates reporting of unsafe-driving telematics data and corrective actions, and requires the division to propose a legislative rule and include a cost-benefit analysis in its annual report.

During the explanation counsel referenced a fiscal note. Counsel stated the fiscal note “projects an annual savings per year of fueling, maintenance, and collision at $1,290,000” and also referenced “yearly projected savings, 650 or basically $650,000.” The transcript presents those figures in close succession and the phrasing in the record is not fully clear about whether the dollar amounts represent separate categories or components of a total savings estimate; the committee did not supply an alternate written fiscal note in the hearing record.

The bill requires spending units using alternative telematics services to report data about unsafe driving to the fleet division and requires the division to include telematics-related information, including a cost-benefit analysis, in its annual report. Vice Chair moved the measure to be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it pass; the committee adopted the motion by voice vote.

The bill as described would create a statutory requirement for telematics governance and reporting across state agencies that operate vehicles; the transcript indicates the measure passed the House unanimously prior to committee consideration.