MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      May 4, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Government Affairs was called to order by Chairman Val Z. Garner at 8:21 a.m., May 4, 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:

 

      None

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Ms. Dana Bennett, Research Analyst

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      Mr. Steve Weaver, Chief, Planning and Development, Division of State Parks; Mr. Tom Stephens, Manager, Public Works Board; Mr. Stan Warren, Sierra Pacific Power; Mr. Brian Herr, External Affairs, Nevada Bell; Mr. Ned Eyre, citizen of Elko County.

 

Senate Bill 282 -Expands exemption from requirement that state public works board furnish engineering and architectural services for certain buildings.

 

Mr. Fred Welden, Chief Deputy Research Division, stated he was speaking for Senator Thomas Hickey, chief sponsor of SB 282 and chairman of Committee for Interim Study of State Parks.  Mr. Welden provided the committee with the background of the bill.  The interim study committee recommended removal of the phrase "other than buildings" from line 8, page 1, of SB 282.

 

Mr. Steve Weaver, Chief, Planning and Development, Division of State Parks, read Exhibit C into the record and urged passage of SB 282.

 

Ms. Segerblom questioned whether passage of the state parks bills would ultimately save time and money.  Mr. Weaver responded affirmatively, pointing out several areas of savings.

 

Mr. Tom Stephens, Manager of State Public Works Board, came forward to offer support on SB 282, and presented Exhibit D to the committee as a proposed amendment.  Mr. Stephens explained the role of the Public Works Board.

 

Chairman Garner summarized Mr. Stephens' testimony, and questioned why he had originally opposed the bill when it was presented in the Senate.  Mr. Stephens justified his position by stating he met with the parks department subsequent to the Senate hearings.  He had not presented the proposed amendments to the parks department and did not know their position.  Chairman Garner addressed Mr. Weaver, Division of State Parks.

 

Mr. Weaver stated he had discussed the amendments suggested by the State Public Works Board with Mr. John Richardson, his supervisor, who was uncomfortable with the proposal.  Mr. Richardson stated he preferred large improvements for state parks be approved by the legislative body rather than by amending SB 282 to cover such situations.

 

Ms. Lambert asked for clarification regarding the payment of architects.  Mr. Weaver detailed the point in question. 

 

Ms. Lambert questioned whether the legislative body in the future would remember to refer large parks projects to the Public Works Board.  Mr. Weaver explained each biennium the State Parks Division had a separate parks improvement budget.  Mr. Weaver stated what Mr. Richardson had recommended was to specify larger projects in the park improvements budget must go through Public Works.  Discussion between Ms. Lambert and Mr. Weaver continued on this topic.

 

Mr. McGaughey inquired what expertise was available in the state parks office for design of a large building, i.e. visitors center.  Mr. Weaver maintained they would never attempt such a project.  Mr. McGaughey then posed other scenarios.  Mr. Weaver communicated the procedures involved for each situation.

 

Chairman Garner asked Mr. McGaughey to meet with Mr. Weaver, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Stephens to negotiate an appropriate recommendation for amendments to SB 282.

 

Mr. Neighbors queried if there was an interfund transfer.  Mr. Stephens replied they were a fee based agency.

 

The hearing was closed on SB 282.

 

Assembly Bill 532 -     Allows federal law enforcement agencies to obtain name and address of person in records of public utility.

 

Mr. Stan Warren, Sierra Pacific Resources, testified he had worked on the bill for the last two sessions.  He indicated supported of the bill; however, hoped law enforcement agencies used this as an avenue of last resort. 

 

Mr. Brian Herr, Nevada Bell, stated the bill had been circulated through their legal department.  The legal department had asked for a "good faith alliance" clause to AB 532.  He read the proposed amendment, Exhibit E, into the record.

 

Ms. Segerblom questioned the number of requests received by the public utilities from law enforcement agencies for this information.  Mr. Warren responded they did, and he believed the public utilities had a responsibility to the community to provide information for their own safety.

 

Ms. Kenny inquired whether it was necessary to obtain a court order to procure the information.  Mr. Warren stated currently law enforcement agencies on a state level could obtain the information without a court order but not on a federal level.  

Chairman Garner pointed out to the committee the request for this legislation came from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas.

 

Ms. Augustine discussed with Mr. Herr whether the "good faith alliance" clause would ease the bill for the public.  Mr. Herr admitted the clause was minor protection for the company.

 

Mr. Keith Ashworth, Nevada Power Company, maintained support for the bill.  In response to Mr. Garner's request for information as to what type investigation was conducted where this information was necessary, Mr. Ashworth responded it was usually for drug related investigations.

 

Ms. Margaret McMillan, Sprint Central Telephone, testified in opposition to AB 532 solely because it increased their work load.

Mr. McGaughey questioned the type of information usually requested.  Ms. McMillan answered it was primarily names and addresses.  She stated if the bill passed, going to the Public Service Commission for permission to charge a fee was a definite possibility.

 

Mr. Bache inquired if repealing NRS 704.201 would reduce the work load.  Ms. McMillan assured the committee it would.

 

Mr. Garner informed the committee public opinion was strongly opposed to this bill; however, it was not the policy of the committee chairman to influence voting of the committee, they were each to make their own decision.  There being no further testimony on AB 532, Chairman Garner stated there would be no action at this time, and the hearing was closed on the bill.

 

Senate Bill 286 -Establishes local government pooled long-term investment account.

 

Mr. Bob Seale, State Treasurer, provided the committee with background on SB 286 and the reasons for the creation of the bill.

 

Ms. de Braga asked where "long term investments" was defined within the bill.  Mr. Seale responded he would develop the definition as policy.  It had to do with each one of the people interested in investing in the pool.  He also explained the "mutual funds" mentioned on page 1, line 9.

 

Mr. McGaughey referred to page 1, line 14 "repurchase agreements" and the type of collateralization involved.  Mr. Seale remarked this had been used for quite some time.  They were collateralized at 102 percent of the value.

 

Mr. Ned Eyre, citizen of Elko County, came forward to show support of SB 286.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN HETTRICK MOVE TO DO PASS SB 286.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN NEIGHBORS SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Chairman Garner informed Mr. Seale  AB 449, AB 450 and AB 451 had been heard in committee but not acted upon because of resistance from Ms. Judy Matteucci, State Budget Director.  Mr. Garner assigned Ms. Kenny to chair a subcommittee to work with Ms. Matteucci and Mr. Seale to resolve the problems surrounding the bills.   The appointed subcommittee consisted of Assemblymen Kenny, de Braga and Freeman.

 

Chairman Garner assigned AB 461, the domestic well bill, to a subcommittee consisting of Assemblymen Lambert (chairman), Ernaut, Segerblom and Neighbors.

 

 

Assembly Bill 445 -     Provides for creation of earthquake safety council.

 

Assemblyman Bennett distributed Exhibit F to the committee.  The subject of the exhibit was a proposed amendment to AB 445, the creation of the National Earthquake Safety Council.  Mr. Bennett proceeded to enlighten the committee on the components of the amendments.  Mr. McGaughey and Mr. Bennett discussed the makeup of the proposed council.

 

Chairman Garner reminded the committee if the bill was passed with the proposed amendments it would be rereferred to Ways and Means Committee.

 

After further discussion by Mr. McGaughey and Mr. Bennett regarding the makeup of the council, the committee agreed to replacement of the word "architecture" on page 1, line 10 with "structural engineering."  On page 1, line 11, delete "or structural engineering."

 

Chairman Garner directed Mr. Bennett to present the rewritten amendment for AB 445 to the committee upon completion.

 

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN BACHE MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS AB 445.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN KENNY SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Mr. Garner made the following assignments for bill summary statements:

 

      SB 173      Assemblyman Bennett

      SB 283      Assemblyman Augustine

      SB 308      Assemblyman Bache

      SB 318      Assemblyman Garner

      SB 318      Assemblyman de Braga

      AB 194      Assemblyman Hettrick

      SB 357      Assemblyman Garner to rerefer to Ways & Means

      AJR 28      Assemblyman Garner

      AB 339      Assemblyman Segerblom

 

 

There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m.

 

      RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

                             

      LINDA BLEVINS

      Committee Secretary

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Assembly Committee on Government Affairs

May 4, 1993

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