MINUTES OF THE

      ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      January 19, 1993

 

 

The Assembly Committee on Ways and Means was called to order by Chairman Morse Arberry, Jr., at 8:35 a.m., on Tuesday, January 19, 1993, in Room 352 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda.  Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Mr. Morse Arberry, Jr., Chairman

      Mr. Larry L. Spitler, Vice Chairman

      Mrs. Vonne Chowning

      Mr. Joseph E. Dini, Jr.

      Mrs. Jan Evans

      Ms. Christina R. Giunchigliani

      Mr. Dean A. Heller

      Mr. David E. Humke

      Mr. John W. Marvel

      Mr. Richard Perkins

      Mr. Robert E. Price

      Mrs. Sandra Tiffany

      Mrs. Myrna T. Williams

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

      None

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

      Mark Stevens, Fiscal Analyst

      Gary Ghiggeri, Deputy Fiscal Analyst

     

 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION AND ORIENTATION

 

Chairman Arberry welcomed the members of the Committee to the first hearing of the 1993 legislative session.  Chairman Arberry explained the purpose of this meeting was to brief the Committee on what would be required of committee members.

 

Chairman Arberry introduced Mr. Mark Stevens, Fiscal Analyst, and Mr. Gary Ghiggeri, Deputy Fiscal Analyst.  He advised the committee members to refer questions about the Executive Budget to either Mr. Stevens or Mr. Ghiggeri.

 

Chairman Arberry announced committee meetings would normally be scheduled from 8:00 a.m. through 10:45 a.m., Monday through Friday.  He noted the committee was working toward a deadline, and as Chairman of the Committee, he intended to push the committee very hard to meet that deadline.  The Legislature will be in recess from the period of February 8 through February 19 and that during this period, the committee would meet jointly with the Senate Finance Committee.  Mr. Arberry also indicated that the first joint meeting to reconcile budget differences with the Senate Finance Committee was scheduled for April 19.

 

Chairman Arberry noted the subcommittees on Welfare and Mental Hygiene and Mental Retardation would be holding public hearings in the Las Vegas area on February 12.  The Capital Improvement Projects and Prison subcommittees are scheduled for tours in Southern Nevada on Saturday, February 13.

 

Chairman Arberry said he hoped the committee would treat all those testifying before it with as much respect as possible.  He noted testimony and discussion would be limited to the relevant subject area in light of time constraints.

 

Chairman Arberry asked which members of the committee would like to receive a minute book.  Messrs. Dini, Price, and Marvel, and Mrs. Chowning indicated they would like minute books.  Chairman Arberry noted a minute book would be retained in the committee room.

 

Chairman Arberry then introduced the committee secretaries, Lula Collins, Reba Coombs, Dale Gray, Keri Putnam and Courtnay Berg.  He welcomed them all to the Committee.

 

Chairman Arberry explained the committee would be provided with Budget Highlights each day.  The Budget Highlights contain information pertinent to the Executive Budget.  He stressed the Budget Highlights were for use by committee members only and were not to be shared with anyone.

 

Chairman Arberry asked the committee members to advise him in advance if they planned to be absent from a committee hearing.  He added breaks in meetings would be kept brief and asked members to return from breaks on time, if possible.

 

Chairman Arberry then distributed copies of the Committee Rules (Exhibit C) and asked the members to review them.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN DINI MOVED TO APPROVE THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE RULES 1993 SESSION, AS DRAFTED.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN HUMKE SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Mr. Stevens then introduced the additional fiscal staff members assigned to Ways and Means:  Program Analysts Steve Abba, Larry Peri, Jeanne Botts, and Birgit Baker.  He explained the Program Analysts would sit in on budget hearings of agencies within their agency assignment lists and would assist the subcommittees as required.

 

Mr. Stevens summarized the upcoming committee schedule.  He explained the Executive Budget was in a much different format than had been used in the past.  During the January 20 hearing he would be going over the new budget format and budget terms.  He would also discuss the various revenue sources deposited in the General Fund and how the General Fund and the total budget are allocated.  Thursday, January 21, a joint hearing is scheduled with the Senate Finance Committee, and Judy Matteucci, Budget Director, will provide an overview of the Governor's reorganization plan.  Ms. Matteucci will also explain the new budget format.  On Friday, January 22, Prison and Capital Improvement Projects subcommittee members as well as other interested committee members will be able to tour the Nevada State Prison and the Nevada Women's Correctional Center.  There will be no committee or Interim Finance Committee meeting on January 22.  Monday, January 25, there will be a joint meeting with the Senate Finance Committee at which time the Fiscal Division will provide both committees with revenue estimates for this year and for both years of the next biennium.  Monday evening the Governor will present the State of the State Address.  Tuesday, January 26, there will be a joint meeting with the Senate Finance Committee at which time the Budget Director will provide an overview of the Executive Budget and Executive Branch revenue projections for this year and both years of the next biennium.  Wednesday, January 27, the committee will start budget hearings, beginning with elected officials on Wednesday and Thursday, and the Library and State Museum on Friday.

 

Mr. Stevens reminded the committee it would be meeting jointly in full day hearings with the Senate Finance Committee during the recess period from February 8 through February 19 with the exception of Friday, February 12, when members of the Welfare and Mental Hygiene and Mental Retardation subcommittees are scheduled to hold public hearings in Las Vegas.  Additionally, there will be a tour of state agencies the morning of February 12 prior to the public hearings.  The Capital Improvements Projects subcommittee is scheduled to tour Southern Nevada projects on Saturday, February 13.

 

Mr. Stevens indicated many of the major budgets, such as the Human Resources budget, the Education budget, and the Prison budget, would be heard during the recess period.

 

Mr. Stevens then explained the function of the Interim Finance Committee.  He noted all members of the Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee were members of the Interim Finance Committee.  The Interim Finance Committee provides the mechanism to provide emergency funds to state agencies during the interim period between legislative sessions.  The Interim Finance Committee meets during the interim approximately every 6 weeks.  In past sessions, the Interim Finance Committee has had approximately $8 million to allocate for emergency situations to state agencies.  Only state agencies are eligible to receive funds from the Interim Finance Contingency Fund.  The Interim Finance Committee also transfers funds between state agency budgets when necessary.  Any gifts over $10,000 or grants over $50,000 require Interim Finance Committee approval.  Additionally, any grant which requires additional personnel requires Interim Finance Committee approval, as do certain position reclassifications.  Mr. Stevens pointed out a dual authority is required for the Interim Finance Committee to approve items.  The Governor, or in some cases, the Budget Director on behalf of the Governor, must request items placed on the Interim Finance Committee agenda, and the Interim Finance Committee must approve that item.  The Interim Finance Committee can then modify the item in any manner which it sees fit.  Separate majorities of both the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee are required for passage.  During the legislative session, the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee sometimes meet separately as the Interim Finance Committee due to the limitations of their respective work loads.  Many of the Interim Finance Committee functions cannot be exercised during the legislative session.  For example, in almost all cases, the Interim Finance Committee cannot allocate emergency funds to state agencies while the Legislature is in session because such an emergency allocation can be handled by the Legislature through a bill.

 

Mr. Stevens then offered some basic information for committee members.  He advised each committee member has access to a 4-drawer file cabinet in the file room in the committee room.  The names of each member are placed inside the top drawer of each cabinet.  Also, one shelf on the bookcase behind the upper row is assigned to each member of the committee and can be utilized for storing material.  Further, each member has access to one shelf in the closets in the hallway adjacent to the Chairman's office.

 

Mr. Stevens said committee members would be receiving a set of Budget Highlights each day for the next day's hearing.  Two Budget Highlight binders for each member are stored on the bookshelf behind the upper row where the Budget Highlights may be filed for later reference.

 

Mr. Stevens said Chairman Arberry had requested the state agencies to provide a more detailed narrative explanation of their budget than was feasible for inclusion in the Executive Budget.  Each agency was to supply their expanded program narratives within the next few days.  Two binders for filing expanded program narratives are provided for each member's use.  Those binders are located on the bookshelf behind the upper row.  Mr. Stevens explained the expanded program narratives, along with the Budget Highlights, can be useful in reviewing for each day's hearing.

 

Chairman Arberry pointed out filing was to be done by each member's secretary and not by committee secretaries.

 

Mr. Stevens said the fiscal staff would provide a brief explanation of each bill which passes out of the Committee.  Those bill explanations will be placed in a binder on each member's desk in the Assembly chambers.  The Chairman normally assigns a member of the committee to discuss the bill on the floor, and the bill explanation can be useful to the member making the floor statement.

 

Mr. Stevens informed the committee the Audit Division would provide each member with a report of the major recommendations of the audits which the division has performed during the interim period since the 1991 Legislature adjourned.  Those reports will be useful for members of the Audit subcommittee.

 

Mr. Stevens reported the Fiscal Division was producing a fiscal report to be distributed to the committee within the next few weeks which would provide an overview of the Executive Budget.

 

Mrs. Evans asked if the fiscal staff would be able to provide the committee with a separate listing of supplemental appropriations.  Mr. Stevens stated fiscal staff would be able to provide a list of supplemental appropriations early in the following week.  Mr. Stevens noted the major supplemental appropriation of which the committee should be aware is for the Distributive School Account.

 

Chairman Arberry requested committee introductions of the following bills to:

 

      Revise provisions governing profitability of programs for employment of offenders;

 

      Clarify provisions governing revenue to be deposited in fund for new construction of facilities for Prison Industries.

 

      Make appropriation to the Department of Education for distribution to public broadcasting stations.

 

      Repeal duplicate and obsolete provisions concerning funds maintained by school districts.

 

      Specify amount to be paid by certain public employers for group insurance for public employees for next biennium.

 

      Allow adjustment of apportionment for support of education of handicapped children less than 5 years of age.

 

      Authorize financial assistance to school district that adopts extended school year program.

 

      Extend time within which Board of County Commissioners may impose tax for enhancing safety and security of public schools within county school district.

 

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN EVANS MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION.

 

      ASSEMBLYMAN MARVEL SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 a.m.

 

                                                RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

                                                _________________________

                                                C. Dale Gray

                                                Committee Secretary

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Assembly Committee on Ways and Means

January 19, 1993

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