MINUTES OF THE

      SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND LABOR

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      March 31, 1993

 

 

 

The Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor was called to order by Chairman Randolph J. Townsend, at 8:30 a.m., on Wednesday, March 31, 1993, in Room 227 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda.  Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Senator Randolph J. Townsend, Chairman

Senator Sue Lowden, Vice Chairman

Senator Ann O'Connell

Senator Mike McGinness

Senator Raymond C. Shaffer

Senator Leonard V. Nevin

Senator Lori L. Brown

 

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Denise Pinnock, Committee Secretary

Brian Davie, Senior Research Analyst

Frank Krajewski, Senior Research Analyst

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

John Sande, Lobbyist, Nevada Bankers Association

William Martin, President, Pioneer Citizens Bank

Cheryl Lau, Secretary of State, State of Nevada

Sherry Porter, Supervisor, Trademark Division, Office of the           Secretary of State, State of Nevada

Mary Santina, Lobbyist, Retail Association of Nevada

Sam McMullen, Lobbyist

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman Townsend opened the meeting, and invited John Sande, Lobbyist, Nevada Bankers Association, to testify on Senate Bill (S.B.) 201.

 

S.B. 201:   Prohibits factoring of drafts on credit cards and authorizes banks to report employees' defalcations to each other.

 

 

 

Mr. Sande submitted suggested amendments to S.B. 201 (Exhibit C).  He introduced William Martin, President, Pioneer Citizens Bank, who explained the need for the bill, and the amendment. 

 

Senator Lowden asked how consumers were tricked into giving their credit card number to a telemarketer.  Mr. Martin stated a clever telemarketer would use a variety of stories, such as telling the consumer he had won a $2000 vacation, but needed to verify address via a credit card.

 

Senator O'Connell questioned how widespread that type of legislation was.  Mr. Martin responded there were four other states currently looking at the same type of bill. 

 

      SENATOR SHAFFER MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 201.

 

      SENATOR O'CONNELL SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

Senator O'Connell suggested including activation upon passage and approval in the amendment.  The committee agreed.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

 

 

      * * * * *

 

Senator Townsend opened the hearing on S.B. 214. 

 

S.B. 214:   Makes various changes relating to registration of trademarks and insignia.

 

Cheryl Lau, Secretary of State, State of Nevada, submitted Amendment 218 (Exhibit D).  She cited a large increase in workload as the reason for the fee increase.  In response to a question from Senator O'Connell, she stated the increase would put Nevada in line with what other states were charging for registration of trademarks.

 

Senator O'Connell was not satisfied with the reasoning for the increase.  Ms. Lau said the added data entries, along with the storage of the trademarks, were the reasons for the increase. 

 

Sherry Porter, Supervisor, Trademark Division, Office of the       Secretary of State, State of Nevada, said most of the companies who registered were local. 

 

Senator Townsend explained that as there had been questions raised regarding the rationale for the rate increase, he would be referring the bill to subcommittee.  He asked that Ms. Lau meet with the subcommittee to resolve those questions.

 

Senator Townsend closed the hearing on S.B. 214, and invited Senator Brown to speak about S.B. 258.

 

S.B. 258:   Requires each firearm sold in this state to be sold with device that is designed to prevent young children from discharging firearm.

 

Senator Brown submitted a packet of information regarding injuries and fatalities to children, due to gunshots (Exhibit E).  She explained the need for child-proofing guns.  She said she did not think the proposed legislation had been duplicated in any other state. 

 

Senator O'Connell asked how the law would be regulated.  Senator Brown stated the consumer advocate, who could not be present for the meeting, had planned on speaking on that topic.  Senator Brown suggested various consumer groups might volunteer to spot check gun shops. 

 

Senators Nevin and Lowden pointed out the child-proof device would probably come off, and stay off, as soon as the weapon was sold.  Senator Lowden requested the consumer advocate bring samples of the devices when she testified.

 

Senator Shaffer stated most weapons were manufactured with safety switches, and any child who could flip the safety switch off could remove a device of the type described.

 

Senator Townsend closed the hearing on S.B. 258, and opened the hearing on  S.B. 183.

 

S.B. 183:   Prohibits credit reporting agency from             including information in person's credit            report without verifying person's             identity.

 

Senator Townsend explained Senator Rawson sponsored the bill, but was unable to testify, as he was on a field trip with the Senate Finance Committee.  Senator Townsend explained Senator Rawson had a constituent who had had a lien placed on his house because of a mix-up at the credit reporting agency.  The credit of another person, with the same name, had been mistakenly placed on the constituent's credit report.

 

Mary Santina, Lobbyist, Retail Association of Nevada, stated her organization supported S.B. 183 in concept, but felt the proposed bill was very prohibitive.  She said she had not had a chance to talk over her proposed amendments with Senator Rawson, and would appreciate the chance to do so before presenting them to the committee.  

 

Sam McMullen, Lobbyist, said the problems addressed in S.B. 183 had been ongoing problems for the credit reporting industry. 

 

Senator O'Connell asked if there were any recourse for the person who had their credit impugned.  Mr. McMullen stated there were a "whole series of remedies under the Fair Credit Reporting Act." 

 

Senator Townsend closed the hearing on S.B. 183.  He read several Bill Draft Request (BDR) summaries for the committee to consider.

 

BDR 53-1472:      Permits certain employers to pay wages to certain employees monthly.

 

      SENATOR O'CONNELL MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 53-1472.

 

      SENATOR McGINNESS SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

      * * * * *

 

Senator Townsend stated:

 

      It should be on the record that anytime a committee introduces a bill, at least this committee, that does not, in any way, reflect an opinion by any individual member, and nor does it in any way keep them from voting against, or testifying against the bill, either in committee, or on the floor.

 

BDR 57-246:Repeals requirements that policies of health insurance provide certain specified benefits.

 

      SENATOR NEVIN MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 57-246.

 

      SENATOR O'CONNELL SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

      * * * * *

 

 

BDR 53-1024:      Revises provision which prohibits discrimination against employee for lawful use of product outside premises of employer.

 

      SENATOR NEVIN MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 53-1024.

 

      SENATOR LOWDEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

      * * * * *

 

As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30.

   

 

 

 

                  RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

                                          

                  Denise Pinnock,

                  Committee Secretary

 

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

 

 

                                     

Senator Randolph J. Townsend, Chairman

 

 

DATE:                                

 

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Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor

March 31, 1993

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