MINUTES OF THE

      SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND LABOR

 

      Sixty-seventh Session

      April 5, 1993

 

 

 

The Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor was called to order by Chairman Randolph J. Townsend, at 9:30 a.m., on Monday, April 5, 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:

 

Brian Davie, Senior Research Analyst

Sheri Asay, Committee Secretary

 

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

John F. Wiles, Advocate for Insurance Customers, State of Nevada       Department of Insurance

Gary Bishop, District Sales Manager, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group

Lonnie Tolano, Driver's Education Instructor, Reed High School,       Sparks, Nevada

 

 

Senator Townsend opened the meeting. He presented a draft letter, written to the Senate Committee on Finance and the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means (Exhibit C).

 

      A MOTION WAS MADE BY SENATOR NEVIN TO ACCEPT THE LETTER.

 

      SENATOR LOWDEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

      THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

      * * * * *

 

 

Senator Brown informed the committee of a presentation which she had set up for the hearing, regarding an insurance education program in the school system.

 

John Wiles, Advocate for Insurance Customers, Department of Insurance, explained the program. He quoted figures on what young people pay for insurance, and defined his function as an advocate for insurance customers.

 

Gary Bishop, District Sales Manager, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, testified before the committee, reading from prepared testimony (Exhibit D).

 

A 20-minute video, Choice, Chance and Control, was shown to the committee. Mr. Bishop stated that this education program is currently being used in the Clark County and Washoe County school districts.

 

Lonnie Tolano, Driver's Education Instructor, Reed High School, Sparks, Nevada, addressed the committee. He related his experience with the high school insurance education program. Mr. Tolano thought that high school students in general react favorably to the program.

 

Senator Nevin and Senator Lowden praised the testifiers for the work they are doing in educating high school students.

 

Senator Lowden asked Mr. Bishop about insurance education efforts  for the general public.

 

Mr. Bishop responded that they have a quick impact with high school students, who are a high risk group. He said that is why his firm focused their energies in that direction. Mr. Bishop explained the difficulty in getting the message out to the general public, who are not a "captive audience."

 

Mr. Wiles concluded his testimony by remarking that the Nevada Department of Insurance has been very active in promoting education as a vehicle to stabilize the cost of insurance this year. He elaborated on these activities.

 

There was discussion about the use of this type of program for workplace safety education.

 

Senator Townsend announced that the committee has set aside April 15 to hear auto insurance bills. He invited Mr. Wiles to testify at that time.

 

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

 

 

 

 

            RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

                                    

            Sheri Asay,

            Committee Secretary

 

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

 

 

                                     

Senator Randolph J. Townsend, Chairman

 

 

DATE:                                

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Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor

April 5, 1993

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