MINUTES OF MEETING

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      May 25, 1993

 

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services was called to order by Chairman Jan Evans at 1:35 p.m., Tuesday, May 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:

 

      Mrs. Jan Evans, Chairman

      Mrs. Vivian L. Freeman, Vice Chairman

      Ms. Kathy M. Augustine

      Ms. Marcia de Braga

      Mr. James A. Gibbons

      Mr. Dean A. Heller

      Mr. William A. Petrak

      Mrs. Gene W. Segerblom

      Ms. Stephanie Smith

      Mr. Louis A. Toomin

      Mr. Wendell P. Williams

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

      None

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

      None

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Kerry Carroll Davis, Research Analyst

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

      Jerry Ash and Jim Waddams, Nevada Hospital Association; Bill Welch, Nevada Rural Hospital Project; Mary Lynn Evans, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety; Dave Rowles, Clark County Health District; Dr. Don Kwalick, State Health Division; and Jean Laird and Jim Baumann, Mental Hygiene/Mental Retardation.

 

 

AB 168      Makes various changes relating to preliminary medical examination of allegedly mentally ill person before transportation to mental health facility.

 

Mrs. Freeman discussed the proposed amendment (EXHIBIT C) and noted the changes had been agreed to by both Randy Oaks and Jerry Zadney.  She indicated further clarification was needed and asked to defer action on the bill until the next meeting.

 

SCR 17      Supports personal assistance services for persons with disabilities.

 

Mr. Petrak explained the difficulties with drafting the proposed amendments.  Mrs. Evans suggested staff contact the parties and postponed action until the next meeting.

 

AB 553      Increases number of persons that serve on certain boards of hospital trustees and increases amount of compensation certain trustees are entitled to receive.

 

Jerry Ash, Nevada Hospital Association, commented this bill attempted to improve the qualifications, education and participation of the public hospital board members.  In response to concerns raised by the committee, he suggested language regarding the composition of the board be eliminated while preserving the language which raised the compensation of the rural hospital board members.

 

Mrs. Freeman inquired about the population clause.  Mr. Ash said all the language in Section 4 of the original bill would remain.  Mrs. Freeman asked what rationale was used to determine the numbers.  Mr. Waddams explained these numbers were below what the state had set for other boards and commissions, and the fiscal impact would be borne by the hospital.

 

Mr. Gibbons asked if the language in Section 4 was permissive.  Mr. Ash said no, he believed the hospitals were required to pay the salary.  Mr. Waddams noted the compensation was capped on a monthly basis regardless of the number of board meetings.

 

Bill Welch indicated support of this initiative on behalf of the Nevada Rural Hospital Project.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN FREEMAN MOVED SECTIONS 1,2,3,5,6, AND 7 BE DELETED; AMEND AND DO PASS SECTION 4 OF AB 553.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN TOOMIN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN HELLER MOVED TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT TO BECOME EFFECTIVE AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN GIBBONS SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the effective date.

 

      THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT FAILED.

     

      * * * * * * * * * * *

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN SMITH MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION TO MAKE THE BILL EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1993.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN TOOMIN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Mrs. Evans restated the original motion to amend and do pass.

 

      THE MOTION TO AMEND AND DO PASS CARRIED (ASSEMBLYMEN HELLER AND GIBBONS VOTED NO).

 

SB 61Eliminates privies and cesspools as acceptable method of sewage disposal.

 

Mrs. Freeman indicated she spoke with Mr. Rasner and it was agreed the provision for an exemption would be deleted.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN TOOMIN MOVED AMEND AND DO PASS ON SB 61.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN FREEMAN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

SB 60Expands requirement for testing persons arrested for certain sexual offenses for exposure to sexually transmitted diseases.

 

Mary Lynn Evans, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, presented a suggested amendment (EXHIBIT D) and discussed the changes to the bill.

 

David Rowles, Clark County Health District, commented on the cost, types of tests involved, and answered questions from the committee.

 

Mr. Toomin noted for the record that his concerns regarding the constutionality of the bill had been resolved and asked for clarification regarding the fiscal note.  Mr. Rowles explained currently only two tests were required--syphilis and HIV.  The costs would increase depending on the number of additional tests required.

 

Mr. Gibbons asked how many samples were required to perform all of the sexually transmitted tests.  Dr. Don Kwalick, State Health Officer, indicated some tests were run from blood samples while others were run from tissue samples.  Mr. Gibbons further inquired how the cost for the victims' tests were to be paid.  Mr. Rowles believed the costs would be assessed by the judge as part of the legal fees.  Mr. Gibbons wondered when the exposure for liability terminated for the defendant.  Mr. Rowles believed the defendant was only liable for the cost of the initial test.

 

Chairman Evans indicated the proposed amendment would be reviewed by the subcommittee before any final action was taken.

 

In closing, Mary Lynn Evans explained the grant program and commented on the areas which were being funded.

 

AB 602      Makes various changes regarding payment of fees for treatment of indigent clients in state mental health facilities.

 

Jean Laird, Mental Hygiene/Mental Retardation, provided an explanation of the changes being requested (EXHIBIT E) which addressed three basic issues:

 

1)  client responsibility for payment,

2)  responsibility of relatives,

3)  responsibility for provision of emergency dental care.

 

Mrs. Evans noted one objection had been voiced with regard to dental services and read a statement received from Washoe County Social Services.  Ms. Laird said they were only talking about emergency dental care which would ultimately lead to a medical emergency.

 

Mr. Toomin asked if the dental work would be limited to infections and abscesses.  Ms. Laird indicated a definition would have to be drafted.

 

Jim Baumann, Nevada Mental Health Institute, said this had been a bone of contention for a long time.  If dental problems were not corrected in the early stages, they would eventually become a medical issue.

 

Mrs. Freeman agreed "dental emergency" should be defined in state law.  Ms. de Braga noted this would be a cost savings in the long run, and she would like all concerned parties to reach agreement on the language.  Ms. Smith concurred.

 

Mrs. Evans appointed a subcommittee to work on language to define "dental emergency."

 

 

There being no further business to come before committee, the meeting was adjourned at 3:05 p.m.

 

      RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

                             

      CONNIE CAMPBELL

      Committee Secretary

 

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Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services

May 25, 1993

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