MINUTES OF THE

      SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND LABOR

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      April 2, 1993

 

 

 

The Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor was called to order by Chairman Randolph J. Townsend, at 8:30 a.m., on Friday, April 2, 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

 

 

 

Chairman Townsend opened the meeting, and announced the committee would be considering Senate Joint Resolution (S.J.R.) 21 of the Sixty-sixth Session.     

 

S.J.R. 21 OF THE

SIXTY-SIXTH SESSION:    Proposes to amend Nevada constitution to authorize reduction in tax on property of business or industry that locates its hazardous operations at site or sites designated by legislature.

 

Senator Brown asked if there would be a fiscal note issued.  Senator Nevin said he did not think fiscal notes were issued for resolutions. 

 

Senator Lowden stated preventing the loss of industry would make the resolution worthwhile.

 

Senator Brown said she thought there should be some accountability for the zoners and planners who allowed homes to be built close to hazardous operations.  Senator Townsend explained he and Senator Nevin frequently heard similar complaints because of the airport in Washoe County.  He stated that only two families had been in the area longer than the airport, however, so only those two families had standing in a lawsuit for damages. 

 

Senator Lowden said Clark County was having similar problems with their airport, except many homes were there before the airport.

 

Senator Nevin stated the reason the resolution had been drafted was because of problems in Henderson, Nevada, where a chemical plant had exploded.  The previous legislative session had produced the resolution which would allow for having a designated area, near the Utah border, where there would be no residential growth. 

 

Senator O'Connell said part of the problem was that residents were often ignorant of what industrial plants in the neighborhood actually did.  She felt the responsibility belonged to the planning department. 

 

Senator Shaffer suggested drafting a separate bill which would allow for a "buffer zone" around hazardous industrial developments. 

Senator Townsend asked Senator Shaffer to have such a bill drafted.  Senator Shaffer agreed to do so.

 

      SENATOR O'CONNELL MOVED TO ADOPT S.J.R. 21 OF THE SIXTY-SIXTH SESSION.

 

      SENATOR NEVIN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

      * * * * *

 

There followed general discussion of upcoming bills.

 

The committee spoke of drafting a letter to the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, stating their intent that money raised through business and industry for licensing fees, or regulation, be used for just that, not for General Fund purposes.

 

Senator O'Connell said that was a great argument for committees who make policies for agencies also hearing their budgets.

 

      SENATOR NEVIN MOVED TO DRAFT A LETTER FOR THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, AND THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, STATING A STRONG POLICY THAT MONEY RAISED THROUGH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY FOR LICENSING FEES, OR REGULATION, BE USED FOR JUST THAT, NOT FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES.

 

      SENATOR O'CONNELL SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

      * * * * *

 

Senator Townsend asked the committee to consider four bill draft requests (BDRs) for introduction.

 

BDR 54-1013:      Makes various changes concerning funeral directors and embalmers.

 

BDR 54-1093:      Expands definition of "medical laboratory"

 

BDR 54-681:Limit exemptions from licensure by Private Investigator's Licensing Board.

 

BDR 57-1725:      Makes various changes concerning the commission for hospital patients.

 

      SENATOR O'CONNELL MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 54-1013, BDR 54-1093, BDR 54-681, BDR 57-1725.

 

      SENATOR LOWDEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

      * * * * *

 

As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                  RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

     

                                           

                  Denise Pinnock,

                  Committee Secretary

 

 

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

 

 

                                     

Senator Randolph J. Townsend, Chairman

 

 

DATE:                                

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Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor

April 2, 1993

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