MINUTES OF MEETING
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Sixty-seventh Session
March 25, 1993
The Assembly Committee on Government Affairs was called to order by Chairman Val Z. Garner at 8:09 a.m., Thursday, March 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. Val Z. Garner, Chairman
Mr. Rick C. Bennett, Vice Chairman
Mrs. Kathy M. Augustine
Mr. Douglas A. Bache
Mrs. Marcia de Braga
Mr. Pete Ernaut
Mrs. Vivian L. Freeman
Mr. Lynn Hettrick
Mrs. Erin Kenny
Mrs. Joan A. Lambert
Mr. James W. McGaughey
Mr. Roy Neighbors
Mrs. Gene W. Segerblom
Mr. Wendell P. Williams
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:
Assemblyman Myrna Williams, District 10
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Dana Bennett, Research Analyst
OTHERS PRESENT:
None
Chairman Garner referenced the NELIS printout, and sequentially asked the committee what the status was of the bills showing "no action" posted in the status field. The assigned committee member explained the current status of the bill, and told the committee, approximately, when the bill would be brought back for further discussion.
ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 20 - Increases amount of compensation paid to state employees to encourage continuity of service.
ASSEMBLYMAN BENNETT MOVED DO PASS AND REREFER TO WAYS AND MEANS ON AB 20.
ASSEMBLYMAN MCGAUGHEY SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (ASSEMBLYMAN HETTRICK VOTED NO).
(ASSEMBLYMAN LAMBERT VOTED NO).
ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 22 - Allows certain state employees to choose form of compensation for overtime and to choose work schedule based on seniority.
Exhibit C, an amendment to AB 22, was distributed to the committee. Dana Bennett explained Exhibit C did what the committee had asked for: 1) took out the portion of the bill which allowed a state employee to chose his/her own schedule based on seniority; and 2) left in the part about choosing the form of compensation for overtime. She added the new language on the first page was not really new language, it was language which was being moved out of Chapter 281 into Chapter 284 at the request of the legislative counsel.
A discussion followed regarding a question Mrs. Lambert raised pertaining to the Benzler decision, a statement Mr. Hettrick made concerning Page 3, lines 33 and 34, and Mr. Bache's request for further clarification on Section 3, subsection b, subsection 1.
Chairman Garner delayed action on AB 22 until Mr. Hettrick had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Gagnier regarding Page 3, lines 33 and 34.
ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 28 - Authorizes certain local governments to collect fees for expenses incurred in responding to certain emergencies.
ASSEMBLYMAN WILLIAMS MOVED TO INDEFINITELY POSTPONE AB 28.
ASSEMBLYMAN MCGAUGHEY SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 138 -Requires certain signs designating school zones to be equipped with flashing yellow lights.
Mr. Bache distributed the amendments to the committee (Exhibit D), and explained what changes were being made to AB 138. In response to a question from Mr. Garner, Mr. Bache said he had talked to the local governments and all were satisfied.
Mrs. Segerblom questioned if any schools had double flashing lights. Mr. Bache replied there were some in Clark County. He then added it was not a requirement, a city could install them if they wanted to. He said the local government would have that authority.
ASSEMBLYMAN BACHE MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS AB 138.
ASSEMBLYMAN KENNY SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 90 - Restricts employment of certain former public officers and employees of executive branch of government.
Assemblyman Myrna Williams, District 10, explained Exhibit E, the amendment which had been passed out to the committee. Mrs. Williams clarified the only persons who would be affected by AB 90, in terms of "cooling off," would be those people who had directly worked on a specific case. She then cited an example utilizing Caesar's Palace as a case in point.
When asked by Mr. Garner if the legislation prevented the person from going to work for someone else, Mrs. Williams replied, "It does not prevent them from going to work for someone else, except at the top level where they have information on all of the businesses within their particular area. Then they have a one year cooling off."
Mrs. Lambert asked Mrs. Williams if she had checked with the Ethics Commission to see if it could handle the workload the appeals might cause. Mrs. Williams said her discussions with Mr. Wilson indicated the commission supported AB 90.
ASSEMBLYMAN BENNETT MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS AB 90.
ASSEMBLYMAN de BRAGA SECONDED THE MOTION.
In further discussion on AB 90, Mr. Bache asked if the legislation precluded someone going to work for Caesar's in New Jersey or was it inclusive to Nevada. Mrs. Williams replied, "I'm not sure. I think we would have to ask legal counsel because we are getting into interstate matters."
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 149 -Requires attorney general to establish fraud control unit for industrial insurance.
Mr. Bennett presented an in depth status report on AB 149 with its proposed amendments. A discussion followed regarding the equipment, the fiscal note, penalties for employee and employer fraud, a telephone hot line in the attorney general's office, and fraud in the statutes. Mrs. Augustine then pointed out willful intent was already covered in the statute. In conclusion, Mr. Bennett read from a memo provided by Jan Needham, "Should the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs decide to place the investigation powers with the AG's office, AB 149 would need to be amended to specifically remove existing investigation authority from SIIS." Chairman Garner then stated, "That would be what the intent of this committee is."
ASSEMBLYMAN NEIGHBORS MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS AB 149.
ASSEMBLYMAN MCGAUGHEY SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Garner assured the committee the amendments to AB 149 would be brought back for review before being presented on the floor.
Mr. Garner informed the committee AB 255 might be reconsidered
at a future time.
ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 315 -Requires governing bodies and boards of county commissioners to obtain approval of regional transportation commission of their services relating to benches and shelters for passengers of system of public transportation.
Mrs. Kenny explained she had met with all parties involved, and all had agreed the matter should be handled at the local level.
ASSEMBLYMAN KENNY MOVED TO INDEFINITELY POSTPONE AB 315.
ASSEMBLYMAN BACHE SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:14 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
BETTY WILLS
Committee Secretary
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Assembly Committee on Government Affairs
March 25, 1993
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