MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND PROCEDURES

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      April 1, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Elections and Procedures was called to order by Chairman Myrna T. Williams at 3:38 p.m., Tuesday, April 1, 1993, in Room 331 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda, Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Mrs. Myrna T. Williams, Chairman

      Mr. Robert E. Price, Vice Chairman

      Mrs. Jan Evans

      Mr. Val Z. Garner

      Mr. David E. Humke

      Mrs. Joan A. Lambert

      Mr. William A. Petrak

      Mr. Gene T. Porter

      Mr. Scott Scherer

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

      Mr. Joseph E. Dini, Jr.

      Mr. Robert M. Sader

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

      Assemblyman Kathy M. Augustine, District No. 12

      Assemblyman Dean A. Heller, District No. 40

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Mr. Robert Erickson/Research Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau

      Mr. John R. Crossley/Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      Ms. Brett Mullegan/Staff Assistant, Office of Congresswoman Barbara F. Vucanovich

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AJR 16      Urges Congress to pass legislation prohibiting states from imposing income tax on income from pension of nonresidents.

 

Assemblyman Kathy M. Augustine, District No. 12, urged the committee's support of AJR 16 (Exhibit C).  Assemblyman Augustine then introduced Ms. Brett Mullegan, Staff Assistant, Office of Congressman Barbara F. Vucanovich.  Ms. Mullegan testified on behalf of Congressman Vucanovich, a proponent of AJR 16 (Exhibit D). 

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN HUMKE MOVED TO DO PASS ON AJR 16.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN PETRAK SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE MEMBERS PRESENT.

      ASSEMBLYMEN SADER, DINI AND GARNER WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.

 

Mrs. Williams requested approval from the committee for a BDR which would correct items on the Judicial Discipline Committee.  The legislation would be a constitutional amendment to lower the standard to reprimand level so the consequence was truly a penalty.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN PORTER MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL DRAFT REQUEST.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN HUMKE SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE MEMBERS PRESENT.  ASSEMBLYMEN DINI AND SADER WERE ABSENT.

 

AJR 23      Urges Congress to establish uniform hours for polls across nation in elections for national officers.

 

Assemblyman Dean A. Heller, District No. 40, requested committee support of AJR 23.  Mr. Heller discussed the controversy regarding premature prediction of winners at the polls by the press.  He felt premature announcements were detrimental for voters on the national, state and local levels.  Early predictions by the press discouraged voters on the West Coast.  He noted when only 50 percent of people were registered to vote and only 50 percent of that number voted, in order to win an election only one eighth of the population was needed to obtain a majority to win. 

 

Commenting further on AJR 23, Mr. Heller explained uniform polling hours could mean presidential elections could be a national holiday or could mean polls would be open on Saturdays or Sundays.

 

Mrs. Williams proclaimed her agreement with Mr. Heller, noting people should be encouraged to vote.  Mrs. Williams then discussed her involvement with Secretary of State Cheryl Lau in the VIP program whose purpose was to make voting easier and more inclusive.  Mrs. Williams felt the impact of AJR 23 on state elections was more important than the impact on national elections.

 

Mr. Price questioned Mr. Heller regarding hours for polls to be opened.

 

Since AJR 23 would be in Congress, Mr. Heller responded, he wished to stress only uniform polling hours thereby leaving the subject open for discussion by legislators in Washington.  Mr. Heller did not wish to be specific when asking Congress to approve AJR 23 since Congress could also consider other voting options such as voting on weekends or a national holiday.

 

Mr. Scherer then asked for confirmation that AJR 23 was directed toward closing of polls rather than opening.

 

A discussion ensued among the committee regarding poll opening times of various states. 

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN PRICE MOVED TO DO PASS ON AJR 23.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN EVANS SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

The Chair asked for discussion and recognized Mr. Scherer.

 

At this time, Mr. Scherer offered an amendment which would delete from AJR 23, Line 16, the words "opening and."  He did not feel Congress should be urged to interfere with decisions of states as to opening times of individual state polls.  The committee elected to omit the term, "opening and" before "closing of polls."

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN SCHERER MOVED TO AMEND AJR 23.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN PRICE SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE MEMBERS PRESENT.  ASSEMBLYMEN DINI AND SADER WERE ABSENT.

 

Mrs. Williams asked for discussion on the main motion on AJR 23.

 

      THE MOTION TO AMEND AND DO PASS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE MEMBERS PRESENT.  ASSEMBLYMEN DINI AND SADER WERE ABSENT.

 

Mrs. Williams then asked Mr. Scherer to write the amendment to AJR 23.

 

Mrs. Williams requested a motion to approve the meeting minutes of:  January 18, January 19, January 26, February 2, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 18, March 23 and March 30.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN HUMKE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN GARNER SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  ASSEMBLYMEN DINI AND SADER WERE ABSENT.

 

 

There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m.

 

      RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

                             

      BOBBIE MIKESELL

      Committee Secretary

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Assembly Committee on Elections and Procedures

April 1, 1993

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