MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND PROCEDURES

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      June 15, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Elections and Procedures was called to order by Chairman Myrna T. Williams at 3:45 p.m., Tuesday, June 15, 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

      Mrs. Jan Evans

      Mr. Val Z. Garner

      Mr. David E. Humke

      Mrs. Joan A. Lambert

      Mr. William A. Petrak

      Mr. Gene T. Porter

      Mr. Robert M. Sader

      Mr. Scott Scherer

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

      Mr. Joseph E. Dini, Jr.

      Mr. Robert E. Price

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

      Senator Dina Titus, District No. 7

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

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

     

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      None

 

 

SB 485:     Prohibits nonreturning legislator from receiving compensation for certain conferences and other meetings.

 

Senator Dina Titus, District No. 7, prime sponsor, explained SB 485 was a public relations bill with restrictions regarding travel of nonreturning legislators.  Exceptions in SB 485 were for legislators who were members of standing committees such as public lands, nuclear waste and interim finance.  In these exceptions a legislator's term would last until someone was appointed to replace him/her.  The second exception would be for a nonreturning legislator who had expertise in an area in which it would be advantageous to the legislature for the legislator to attend a meeting and report on the meeting.

 

Mr. Porter questioned Senator Titus regarding public pronouncement of retirement of legislators which Senator Titus said would have to be a formal statement or announcement and not a casual comment.

 

Mr. Petrak quoted from Section 1, 3 (b) and questioned the scenario if a legislator won the primary and lost the general election two or three months later.  Senator Titus stated once the general election was lost, a legislator was out of office, and no lame-duck period was in the legislation.  SB 485 would be for the time between loss of the primary up to the time of the election; a legislator could not attend a meeting between the elections.  Mrs. Williams added, "or if you have officially announced."

 

The committee had no further questions for Senator Titus.

 

Mrs. Williams stated Ms. Ande Engleman, Nevada Press Association, was in another hearing and unable to attend the meeting.  She asked committee to place in the record Nevada Press Association supported SB 485.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN GARNER MOVED TO DO PASS ON SB 485.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN PETRAK SECONDED THE MOTION.

     

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY BY THOSE PRESENT.

      ASSEMBLYMEN DINI, EVANS, HUMKE AND PRICE WERE ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

 

AB 159:     Establishes legislative committee to conduct interim study relating to disclosure of information in real estate transactions.

 

Mrs. Williams postponed the hearing on AB 159.

 

ACR 29:     Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study of exemptions to laws governing public records and books.

 

Mrs. Williams postpone the hearing on ACR 29.

 

ACR 38:     Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study of laws relating to financing of infrastructure which accompany residential, commercial and industrial development in Nevada.

 

Mrs. Williams postponed the hearing on ACR 38.

 

ACR 47:     Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study of laws governing creation of taxing districts.

 

Mrs. Williams postponed the hearing on ACR 47.

 

ACR 67:     Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study of functioning of Legislative Counsel Bureau.

 

Mrs. Jan Evans, District No. 30, prime sponsor, testified on behalf of ACR 67.   The last study on Legislative Counsel Bureau was in 1974.  The proposed interim study would encompass structure, duties, operations, staffing issues, work load, training and overtime, she told committee.  The study would also cover data processing within LCB and the legislature and how they interface.  Automative data system was not used until approximately 1985, and a comprehensive study had never been done, Mrs. Evans declared.  Utilization of the Las Vegas office should be defined, and LCB publications was another area she felt should be studied.

 

Mrs. Evans reminded the committee LCB was the same as it was in 1965 with the exception of addition of an Administrative Division. 

 

Continuing, Mrs. Evans pointed out two separate operations of the Legislative Counsel Bureau:  an 18 month component and a six month component.  The interim legislature operation should be included in the study, and part of this would be operations at the front desk and issues of secretaries and the bill book room.

 

N.C.S.L. provided technical assistance for the study in 1973-1974 which Mrs. Evans thought should be repeated.   Mrs. Evans referenced information from Mr. Crossley regarding reorganization work and self-examination which N.C.S.L. was doing in other states. 

 

Mr. Crossley, Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau, testified it was always good to look at an operation.  He discussed N.C.S.L., saying N.C.S.L. had completed technical assistance for studies in 14 states.  N.C.S.L. would give an independent look at the operation.

 

Mr. Scherer asked Mrs. Evans if she could visualize a need to have someone other than legislators as members of the committee which was doing the study. 

 

Mrs. Evans thought it was a good suggestion and discussed her experience with interim studies which had been expanded to include members from the community.  She felt they would see things from a different perspective, and they often brought up elements overlooked by legislators.

 

Mr. Petrak questioned Mr. Crossley regarding how the study would work in regard to gathering information.

 

In response to Mr. Petrak's question, Mr. Crossley explained the gathering of information and the time frame of the interim studies which was after session when interim studies were approved.  A form was sent to members asking on which interim studies the members wished to serve.  The Legislative Commission would assign studies in August 1993, work would start after the W.L.C. conference, and any proposed legislation must be in the bill drafter's hands by July 1, 1994.  The report must be presented to the Legislative Commission by September 1, 1994.

 

Mrs. Williams stated at the next meeting the committee would begin prioritization of interim studies.

 

Mrs. Williams called for new testimony on previously heard interim studies.  There was none.

 

There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

 

      RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

                             

      BOBBIE MIKESELL

      Committee Secretary

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Assembly Committee on Elections and Procedures

June 15, 1993

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