MINUTES OF MEETING
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Sixty-seventh Session
June 14, 1993
The Assembly Committee on Government Affairs was called to order by Chairman Val Z. Garner at 8:10 a.m., June 14, 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
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Mr. Wendell P. Williams
GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:
Jan Evans, Assembly District 30
Bernie Anderson, Assembly District 31
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mrs. Dana Bennett, Senior Research Analyst.
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mae Shelton, Director/Washoe County Social Services
Barbara McKenzie/City of Reno
Tom Tatro, Acting Administrator/Purchasing Division
Fred Schmidt/Attorney General's Office of Consumer's Advocate
Mike Soumbeniotis
ASSEMBLY BILL 718: Permits county to establish and maintain program which allows donation of certain fees of jurors to specified agencies which provide protective services for children.
Jan Evans, Assembly District 30, gave an explanation of the bill. Citing Texas as an example, she noted in counties where the idea was promoted, public awareness resulted in a good response. It provided a way for the public to participate through another mechanism other than being taxed for worthy programs.
Ms. May Shelton, Director/Washoe County Social Services, testified in support of AB 718. She indicated statute required counties with more than 100,000 population to provide child protection. In rural counties, the State Division of Child and Family Services provided that service. A graph (Exhibit C) was distributed showing the number of child abuse and neglect reports made to the central registry maintained by the State Division for Child and Family Services. Between the years 1986 and 1992, numbers grew at an alarming rate; reports from rural counties increased 182 percent.
MR. BENNETT MOVED DO PASS ON AB 718.
MS. DE BRAGA SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED WITH MR. WILLIAMS ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.
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ASSEMBLY BILL 320: Amends charter of City of Reno to revise method for election of members of city council.
Bernie Anderson, Assembly District 31, stated AB 320 was a bill introduced by Mr. Haller. Exhibit D, addressed and submitted by Assemblyman Anderson, was an explanation of AB 320.
Barbara McKenzie/City of Reno, said she not only represented the City Council but the voters at large, and indicated they wholeheartedly supported the change.
Research Analyst Dana Bennett, at the request of Mr. Garner, explained a conflict notice with respect to AB 166 dealing with the City of Reno Charter and AB 320. She indicated AB 166 and AB 320 both included Section 5.020 of the Reno City Charter. The conflict amendment would bring provisions of AB 166 (already passed) into AB 320. AB 166 dealt with changing the city council elections from the spring to the fall.
MRS. FREEMAN MOVED AMEND AND DO PASS ON AB 320.
MR. BACHE SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED WITH MR. WILLIAMS ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.
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SENATE BILL 168: Establishes procedure for preparation of request for proposal for contract for certain services required by legislature.
Tom Tatro, Acting Administrator/Purchasing Division, stated SB 168 required agencies receiving direction from the Legislature to contract for services in a value over $l00,000 to work with Purchasing Division and the Attorney General's office and report progress back to the Legislature within 90 days of that approval.
MR. ERNAUT MOVED DO PASS ON SB 168.
MR. HETTRICK SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED WITH MR. WILLIAMS ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.
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BDR 20-1689: Makes changes concerning rules of order for county boards.
MR. MCGAUGHEY MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF
BDR 20-1689.
MR. NEIGHBORS SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED WITH MR. WILLIAMS ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.
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ASSEMBLY BILL 707: Makes various changes related to administrative law.
Fred Schmidt/Attorney General's Office of Consumer's Advocate,
described the proposed amendment to AB 707 contained in a letter dated 6/11/93 (Exhibit E). He pointed out to the committee Mr. Soumbeniotis and Mr. Chally of the Attorney General's Office would like to withdraw the proposal listed under Section 8, NRS 233B.125, Subsection 3.
Mr. Schmidt noted the other area of concern was on Page 2, Section 1 (4). He indicated the word "may" should be substituted for the words "is entitled to." Otherwise the state could be obligated to actually provide counsel for people who could not afford counsel in administrative law hearings, thereby resulting in a significant new cost, particularly on smaller state agencies covered by NRS 233B.
Mike Soumbeniotis stated he corroborated the changes and was in agreement with them.
Mr. Schmidt indicated the Public Service Commission had an amendment they wanted to propose and would submit a copy to the committee. He further explained their concern involved the addition of the last known address being inserted into the provision.
In view of the fact the Public Service Commission representative was in another meeting at the time, Mr. Garner requested Mr. Ernaut get materials together for a meeting the following day.
ASSEMBLY BILL 11:Authorizes certain additional boards of trustees to request tax on residential construction.
Research Analyst Dana Bennett indicated AB 11 was sponsored by the Nevada Association of School Boards. Their request was to raise the population threshold in the bill to counties of l00,000 or less. They also were changing the threshold on the maximum residential construction tax. Their proposed amendment is submitted as Exhibit F.
MR. BACHE MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS AB 11.
MRS. AUGUSTINE SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED WITH ASSEMBLYMEN DE BRAGA, BENNETT, AND MCGAUGHEY VOTING NO AND MR. WILLIAMS ABSENT AT THE TIME OF
THE VOTE.
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ASSEMBLY BILL 642: Revises provisions requiring performance of appraisals before sale of real or personal property of any unincorporated town.
Mr. Neighbors, sponsor, stated the town of Tonopah had made the request and he explained in detail the amendment to AB 642 (Exhibit G).
MR. NEIGHBORS MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS AB 642.
MRS. SEGERBLOM SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED WITH MR. WILLIAMS ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.
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ASSEMBLY BILL 633: Requires establishment of plants as ground cover before approval by state engineer of change in manner or place of use of water used for irrigation.
Mrs. de Braga distributed an amendment on AB 633 (Exhibit H). However, Mr. Garner indicated he was looking into what effect the bill had on state lands before action could be taken.
ASSEMBLY BILL 652: Makes various changes relating to Carson City.
Mr. Ernaut explained he had gotten the interested parties together and they dropped their stand on the gender neutralization amendment as it would conflict with every chapter of NRS. Also, he noted a problem existed concerning a notification requirement for "special meetings." He indicated all groups agreed on the amendment and he would have it for presentation the following day.
ASSEMBLY BILL 709:Names veterans' cemetery in southern Nevada the Ken Brown Veterans' Memorial Cemetery of Southern Nevada.
Mrs. Segerblom indicated there was a lot of opposition to AB 709 and wondered if there would be a hearing. Mr. Garner responded it was not the intent to do anything with the bill.
SENATE BILL 49: Revises procedure for payment of claim from state treasury made pursuant to legislative appropriation or authorization.
Mr. Neighbors questioned Dana Bennett on the existing snag concerning SB 49. Ms. Bennett indicated the bill drafter contacted her stating the amendment made no sense, so changes had to be made.
There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
CHRISTINE SHAW
Committee Secretary
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Assembly Committee on Government Affairs
June 14, 1993
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