MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      April 22, 1993

 

The Assembly Committee on Government Affairs was called to order by Chairman Val Z. Garner at 8:17 a.m., Thursday, April 22, 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:

 

      Senator R. Hal Smith, Clark Senate District No. 1

      Assemblyman Stephanie Smith, District 20

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Dana Bennett, Research Analyst

      Caren Jenkings, Senior Research Analyst

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      Jan Capaldi, Assistant to the Director, Department of Motor Vehicles; Kenneth West, Chief Deputy Controller, Office of the State Controller; Robert Seale, State Treasurer; Kateri Cavin, Deputy Attorney General, Attorney General's Office; Glenn Van Roekel, Director of Community Development, City of Caliente; Jim Clague, Consulting Civil Engineers, Consulting Engineering Services, Inc.;

 

 

SENATE BILL NO. 50 -    Creates Virgin Valley Water District.

 

Senator R. Hal Smith, Clark Senate District No. 1, presented a brief history of SB 50 to the committee.  He then introduced Assemblywoman Smith to the committee.

 

Assemblywoman Stephanie Smith, District 20, read testimony (Exhibit C) into the record.  Exhibit D was introduced.

 

Discussion between Chairman Garner and Senator Smith regarding the bill passage by the Senate committee followed.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN BENNETT MOVED DO PASS ON SB 50.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN MCGAUGHEY SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

SENATE BILL NO. 95 -    Authorizes certain persons to waive their exemptions from motor vehicle privilege tax and designate additional amount paid to be credited to fund for veterans' homes.

 

Senator R. Hal Smith, Clark Senate District No. 1, testified in support of SB 95.  His testimony is attached as Exhibit E.  Senator Smith made reference to Legislative Counsel Bureau Bulletin No. 93-13 (Exhibit F on file in the Research Library).

 

Ms. Lambert questioned whether the word "fund" should be changed to "account" on page 4, line 47 of the bill.   Senator Smith replied he was not qualified to make that determination.

 

Ms. de Braga commented her constituents were concerned this program might be put into place without proper funds provided for the upkeep.  Senator Smith pointed out the study (Exhibit F) attempted to provide a reliable, consistent monetary source for the upkeep.

 

Ms. Augustine asked for clarification on the $50 annual exemption.  Senator Smith complied.  Ms. Augustine questioned whether a fiscal note was attached.  Senator Smith called attention to page 2, lines 16, 17 and 18 of the bill. 

 

Ms. Segerblom commented to Senator Smith the veterans' cemetery was not part of the bill.  Senator Smith explained it was not part of the study, therefore, not included in the bill.

 

Ms. Caren Jenkins, Senior Research Analyst, elucidated further on Senator Smith's explanation to Ms. Segerblom and Ms. Augustine.  She also provided Exhibit G to the committee. 

 

Mr. Hettrick questioned if the bill stated the money "must" be held for construction.  Ms. Jenkins remarked page 4 of the bill defined the usage of the money.

 

Chairman Garner noted the bill did not indicate where the veterans' homes would be built or how the funds would be distributed.  Ms. Jenkins concurred.  She indicated the Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs would have the responsibility of this determination.

 

Mr. Randy Day, Commissioner for Veterans' Affairs, came forward to testify.  Mr. Day pointed out there were two companion bills which should have been combined with this one.  SB 96 requested approval for the veterans' home and SB 186 was an additional funding bill for the home.  He provided the committee with background for development of the bills.

 

Ms. Augustine asked Mr. Day to provide the committee with information on the USAF hospital near Nellis Air Force Base.  Mr. Day complied.  He also provided the fiscal impact details for the committee.

 

Ms. Jan Capaldi, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety (DMV), maintained there was zero fiscal impact on DMV for this bill.  She read a note from the Registration Division as follows:  "The amount of the exemption claimed currently reduces the privilege tax for each of the respective counties.  This bill would allow the department to collect the amount of the exemption and remit the payment to a fund for veterans homes.  Randy Day with the Veterans Administration estimates the veteran home fund will receive approximately $20,000 per month."

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN BACHE MOVED DO PASS ON SB 95.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN DE BRAGA SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

Assemblywoman Lambert requested to amend the motion to A&DP to amend page 4, line 47 from "fund" to "account."  Mr. Bob Seale, State Treasurer, explained the word "fund" was appropriate.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

The bill was referred to the Committee on Transportation.

 

SENATE BILL NO. 53 -    Requires certain state officers, departments and commissions to deposit money directly in financial institution designated by state treasurer.

 

Mr. Bob Seale, Nevada State Treasurer, explained the bill to the committee and provided background.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN HETTRICK MOVED DO PASS ON SB 53.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN ERNAUT SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

SENATE BILL NO. 157 -   Revises powers and duties of state controller.

 

Mr. Kenneth West, Chief Deputy Controller, offered testimony stating background for bill request.  The bill clarified the responsibilities of the state controller. 

 

Chairman Garner and Mr. West exchanged comments regarding the collection of overpayments.

 

Ms. Kateri Cavin, Deputy Attorney General for Controller, stated she was available to answer questions from the committee.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN AUGUSTINE MOVED DO PASS ON SB 157.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN KENNY SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

Assemblyman Ernaut pointed out to the committee on page 2, lines 14 and 15, the language bore striking resemblance to the language raised in contention by the Governor's office to the Treasurer.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

SENATE BILL NO. 270 -   Makes various changes relating to public investments.

 

Mr. Mike Alastuey, Assistant Superintendent, Business & Finance Services Division, Clark County School District, stated SB 270 was introduced to clarify several statutory provisions regarding investments by school districts.  He verbalized the clarifications to the committee.  He contended many points of the bill were only housekeeping issues.

 

Chairman Garner questioned Mr. Alastuey regarding the expertise required for investments.  Mr. Alastuey responded the school districts used a variety of investment methods.  The larger districts did some or all of their own investment; however, most smaller districts participated in the state treasurer's local government investment pool. 

 

Mr. Robert Seale, State Treasurer, urged passage of SB 270.  The school districts had been notified of availability of assistance from the state treasurer in regard to investments.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN BENNETT MOVED DO PASS ON SB 270.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN WILLIAMS SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

SENATE BILL NO. 336 -   Allows commissioner of veteran affairs to collect fee for acting as guardian of certain estates.

 

Mr. Randy Day, Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs, spoke in support of AB 336.  He explained the concept of the bill.  He expected an additional $30,000 to be generated to offset budget reductions.  There were six states currently charging 5 percent for the services described in the bill.  The charge was to be levied only on the annual income.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN BENNETT MOVED DO PASS ON SB 270.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN BACHE SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 16 -      Commends City of Caliente for its efforts to alleviate hazard posed by single crossing of Union Pacific Railroad.

 

Mr. Glenn Van Roekel, City of Caliente, distributed Exhibit H (colored maps on file in the Research Library) to the committee and presented the history of the bill.

 

Upon inspection of the maps supplied by Mr. Van Roekel, Chairman Garner inquired if an underpass was already there.  Mr. Van Roekel responded there was an underpass; however, it was inaccessible due to a rock formation.  Mr. Garner asked why the formation was not removed.  Mr. Van Roekel stated it was not cost effective to the railroad.  Mr. Garner then inquired if it was preferable to have an "at-grade" crossing or the underpass.  Mr. Van Roekel asserted either was acceptable.  Mr. Garner summarized the situation.  He advised Mr. Van Roekel someone from the railroad would be in Caliente to inspect the situation.

 

Support for passage of the resolution was voiced by Mimi Roden, City of Caliente, and Nancy Howard, Nevada League of Cities.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN NEIGHBORS MOVED TO ADOPT SCR 16.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN SEGERBLOM SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

 

There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:26 a.m.

 

      RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

                             

      LINDA BLEVINS

      Committee Secretary

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Assembly Committee on Government Affairs

April 22, 1993

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