MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      January 25, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Education was called to order by Chairman Wendell P. Williams at 3:39 p.m., January 25, 1993, in Room 330 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda, Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Mr. Wendell P. Williams, Chairman

      Mrs. Vonne Chowning

      Mr. Tom Collins, Jr.

      Mrs. Marcia de Braga

      Mr. William D. Gregory

      Mr. James W. McGaughey

      Mr. Roy Neighbors

      Mr. Michael A. Schneider

      Mrs. Gene W. Segerblom

      Ms. Sandra Tiffany

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

      Mr. Ken Haller          (excused)

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

      None.

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Donald O. Williams, Research Analyst

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      None.

 

 

Chairman Williams requested committee review and approval of the Standing Rules (Exhibit C).

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN COLLINS MOVED TO ADOPT THE STANDING RULES.

 

      ASSEMBLYWOMAN SEGERBLOM SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Chairman Williams introduced Mr. Donald Williams, Principal Research Analyst for the Legislative Counsel Bureau.  Mr. Williams read from prepared testimony, a brief regarding the major issues pertaining to education (Exhibit D).

 

Mr. Williams pointed out the issue brief was organized in five sections:  the first was a summary of the major issues for the 1993 session; the second part was a review of the 1991 educational legislation; the third was a discussion of proposals to the 1993 legislature by interim study committees, state agencies, and other education interest groups; the fourth section was a description of education activities at the federal level and in other states; and, the last portion of the brief was a list of key contact persons who represented education agencies and interest groups.

 

In his opinion, Mr. Williams considered the most important educational issue to be the continuing growth in enrollment, both at the elementary and secondary levels and in the University System.  Mr. Williams indicated currently the enrollment in K-12 was approximately 222,000 pupils which was an increase of 5.2 percent over the previous school year.  The University System had approximately 66,000 state supported students which represented an increase of 4.5 percent from the previous school year.  Mr. Williams remarked the enrollment in the University System had increased 60 percent over the past ten years and Nevada currently led the nation in higher education enrollment growth.

 

Mr. Williams stated due to the demand which had resulted from the growth in the education system from kindergarten through the university, state financing of enrollment growth would be a major issue this session, even though revenues were expected to be extremely tight.  According to Mr. Williams, elementary and secondary education key issues were the continuation of class size reduction with a 16:1 pupil/teacher ratio in kindergarten through second grade and the need to expand the ratio to include third grade.  Mr. Williams called attention to the concern of serving the state's at-risk pupils, along with the expansion of occupational education.

Mr. Williams informed the committee of an issue which had developed as a recommendation from the Commission on Government Reorganization.  The commission proposed to the governor the state department of education should be moved under a new "super agency" called the Department of Education, Health, and Human Services.

 

Mr. Williams concluded on Wednesday, January 27th, a joint committee meeting would be held with the Senate Human Resources and Facilities Committee to hear a presentation on higher education financing and the restructuring of elementary and secondary education, by Dr. Aimes McGuinness, the Director of Policy Studies for the Education Commission of the States.

 

Chairman Williams reminded the members of the committee of the 5:00 p.m. deadline on Wednesday for drafts of bills for individual legislators; however, issues of concern dealing with education could be submitted as a committee introduction.

 

Mr. Neighbors asked if the funding from the general fund was part of the committee's responsibility, particularly the distributive school fund, or if a report would be available.  Mr. Williams responded it was handled by Ways and Means; however, in the past the department of education presented information on the distributive school fund if it was the preference of the chairman.  Chairman Williams emphasized the committee basically was concerned with policy, yet certain bills would be referred to both committees.  Although the committee would not deal with the financial issues of bills, the committee could strongly suggest to Ways and Means certain issues should be financed.

 

Chairman Williams informed the committee there would be an education committee meeting during the break in Las Vegas at Cashman Field.  On Friday, February 12th, there would be public testimony and on Saturday, February 13th, the committee would hear bills. 

 

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

 

                                    RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

 

 

 

                                                                    

                                    Marilyn Cole, Committee Secretary

     

     

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Assembly Committee on Education

Date:  January 25, 1993

Page:  2