MINUTES OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES AND FACILITIES
Sixty-seventh Session
March 8, 1993
The Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities was called to order by Chairman Raymond D. Rawson, at 1:30 p.m., on Monday, March 8, 1993, in Room 226 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman
Senator William R. O'Donnell, Vice Chairman
Senator Randolph J. Townsend
Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr.
Senator Bob Coffin
Senator Diana M. Glomb
Senator Lori L. Brown
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Judy Alexander, Committee Secretary
Susan Henson, Committee Secretary
Pepper Sturm, Research Analyst
OTHERS PRESENT:
Suzanne Ernst, Administrator, Division for Aging Services, State of Nevada
Sharon Schuster, National President, American Association of University Women
Chairman Rawson opened the hearing on Senate Bill (S.B.) 223.
SENATE BILL 223: Requires advocates for residents of facilities for long-term care and ombudsman for aging persons to perform each other's duties on temporary basis.
Suzanne Ernst, Administrator, Division for Aging Services, State of Nevada, advised S.B. 223 is sponsored by Division for Aging Services. She explained federal grant money is used for the long-term care ombudsman and not the community ombudsman. This difference in funding created the problem of the ombudsmen not being interchangeable in their duties and S.B. 223 corrects this situation.
SENATOR GLOMB MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 223.
SENATOR COFFIN SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Chairman Rawson opened the hearing on S.B. 197.
SENATE BILL 197: Requires health authority to allow child under 12 years of age to use public spa under certain circumstances.
Chairman Rawson advised this is to stop the enforcement of a blanket ban.
SENATOR NEAL MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 197.
SENATOR TOWNSEND SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Chairman Rawson presented a bill draft request (BDR) to the committee.
BILL DRAFT REQUEST R-153: Urges Board of Regents of University of Nevada System to develop and adopt alternative methods for receiving master's degree which accommodate problems facing persons who are blind or deaf or suffer from other physical or learning disabilities. (BDR R-153)
SENATOR O'DONNELL MOVED TO INTRODUCE BDR R-153.
SENATOR GLOMB SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Chairman Rawson addressed S.B. 47 which was an amend and do pass and asked the committee review the bill to see if the amendment met their expectations.
SENATE BILL 47: Requires schools to conduct drills to instruct pupils on procedures in event of chemical explosion or other related emergency.
SENATOR NEAL MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 47.
SENATOR TOWNSEND SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Pepper Sturm, Research Analyst, introduced S.B. 60.
SENATE BILL 60: Provides for certain assistance to victims of sexual assault regarding exposure to sexually transmitted diseases.
He referenced Attachment A, page 2 of Workshop (Exhibit C) which shows the proposed concept for the amendment. He advised the amendment would shift the victim notification provisions to other chapters of NEVADA REVISED STATUTES (NRS) dealing with persons convicted, rather than those accused of sexual crimes. Require a test for all sexually transmitted diseases and clarifying certain procedural matters. The origin of the bill is shown in Attachment B, page 3 (Exhibit C) which is the federal government.
Chairman Rawson advised the existing law requires a test on anyone who is accused of sexual assault and this modifies S.B. 60 to test only those who are convicted. He advised the net effect of this is to change the standard of the law and make it more affordable. He stated he would rather see the law in effect and them not use it, unless asked or requested by the victim, than to simply eliminate the possibility, unless there has been a conviction.
Senator O'Donnell stated, that if the perpetrator of the crime was arrested for sexual assault and for some reason released, or not convicted, or a plea to a lesser charge, then the perpetrator would not have to be tested.
Following discussion of the amendments, Chairman Rawson concluded that the committee would approve of amendments 2, 3, 4 modified and 5.
SENATOR O'DONNELL MOVED TO AMEND S.B. 60 WITH AMENDMENTS 2, 3, AMENDED 4, AND 5 AND DO PASS.
SENATOR TOWNSEND SECONDED THE MOTION.
Senator Brown brought it to the attention of the committee that they did not remove "and treatment" on line 6 and 7, in section 1 of the bill. Following discussion by the committee, Chairman Rawson advised to put in a statement that the health division or treating authority may accept or use the benefits of the person's existing insurance.
Chairman Rawson advised the committee to leave the language as is, and look at the bill with the amendments.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Mr. Sturm introduced S.B. 64 and referred to Workshop (Exhibit C).
SENATE BILL 64: Redefines "surgical center for ambulatory patients" for purposes of licensure and regulation.
Chairman Rawson asked, what is accomplished by this bill when the final sentence is deleted?
Pepper Sturm advised, per his notes, the health division requested to change the statute to conform to current practice, that most surgical centers do not currently have an anesthesiologist on staff. The current structure of a surgical center for ambulatory patients does not necessarily have to include an anesthesiologist. When the statutes were first set up, it was put into the law that they would have an anesthesiologist on staff. The current practice for surgery centers is not to have an anesthesiologist on staff. He advised all parties in the hearing agreed it was an unnecessary statement and wanted to drop it.
SENATOR NEAL MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 64 AS WRITTEN.
SENATOR O'DONNELL SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (CHAIRMAN RAWSON VOTED NO. SENATOR COFFIN ABSTAINED FROM THE VOTE BECAUSE HE WAS ABSENT FOR THE HEARING.)
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Mr. Sturm introduced S.B. 69 referring to Attachment C (Exhibit C) and advised all parties agreed upon this amendment.
SENATE BILL 69: Authorizes sale of controlled substances or dangerous drugs to certain persons and agencies that provide emergency care in order to stock ambulances and other authorized vehicles.
SENATOR O'DONNELL MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 69.
SENATOR GLOMB SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR BROWN WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE. SENATOR COFFIN ABSTAINED FROM THE VOTE BECAUSE HE WAS ABSENT FOR THE HEARING.)
Sharon Schuster, National President, American Association of University Women (AAUW) began her presentation on Gender Bias in the Classroom. She explained the AAUW is an organization of college graduates dedicated to promoting equity in education for women and girls. For many years the organization supported elimination of discrimination through societal bias and supported individual women to become scholars and leaders. The AAUW realized they were always doing remedial work, because the girls were still experiencing discrimination when they became adults. Therefore, the AAUW began to look at ways how they could provide for a equitable situation for women from the beginning of their lives, rather than starting to work with adults when patterns are set.
The AAUW 's niche in society is education and they have felt it important for all people to have the benefit of a good education. The AAUW commissioned the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women to do a study. They looked at over 1300 research documents and other papers to bring together the study on gender bias, called the AAUW Report.
Chairman Rawson interrupted Ms. Schuster to ask her what her degree or area of interest is? Ms. Schuster responded she was trained as a elementary teacher, taught special education and was recently employed in government.
Chairman Rawson stated that from looking at the video tape on this study, it appeared that a fair amount of the discrimination was by women, who were unconscious of what they were doing.
Ms. Schuster answered, that is correct and advised 80 percent of the K-12 teachers are women and are equally involved in the discrimination in the classroom as are men. They are part of our total society which has placed a value on making sure boys and men receive a good education so they will be workers in our economy. For a number of years it was the assumption that men would be the workers, now that has changed in our society. However, the underlying assumption, as it relates to the education system, hasn't made that transition.
Chairman Rawson asked, what can we do as we try to correct this, so we do not have a rebound that punishes or would set little boys aside?
Ms. Schuster responded that when the administrators and classroom teachers realize how unwittingly they may be favoring boys, then they recognize they must look at the individual student and deal with individuals within the classroom. That is good behavior for teaching boys as well as girls. There should not be any favoritism, just make sure every child is given an equal education which is the basis of what the AAUW needs to see happen.
Ms. Schuster advised, that where these changes have been made in the classroom, the results prove that girls and boys learn better, which reflects a healthier classroom all around.
Her first recommendation was that gender equity become a priority. She felt an equal statement needs to be made that boys and girls will learn equally in the classroom. She advised a bill has been introduced to make that statement in Nevada. This will become a screen as how people look at various proposals as they come forward. The legislature would begin to ask different kinds of questions about the allocation of resources, which is what is important.
Her second recommendation was to make teachers, administrators, counselors, and other school personnel aware of the problems that exist and enlist their cooperation for changes in the schools. Work on a state and national level to make them aware, because when they are aware, they become fully cooperative.
The third recommendation was to improve the school curriculum so girls see themselves as part of the curriculum. Sometimes girls do not find themselves mirrored in the curriculum. Often, it is in the use of examples that are mostly male rather than female, so that women do not see themselves as part of the subject, or in scientific fields, where there are not good role models of women that are used in the teaching.
She felt those are all very important kinds of things to have to happen. There are improvements that could be made in the curriculum, as it is taught, and then in the teaching techniques and how that happens. As teacher training institutions have become involved in looking at gender equity, they are moving to change their curriculum and how they teach them. The largest number of teachers are already in the field and the training institutions are working on in-service programs so they can work with the teachers, who are already there and help them with their teaching techniques, so they are able to shift what they do.
The fourth recommendation was the importance of encouraging girls to be aware that math and science fields are relevant to their lives. For many years, women were told they did not have to worry about math and science, that is not something they have to concern themselves about. Unfortunately, that message is still being carried on. Even if girls are not going to become scientists, they need to see math and science as a important part of their life. It helps the average person to make decisions about their everyday life, if they have this background in this area.
The fifth recommendation was that girls be encouraged in all vocational programs. Girls are still being tracked into relatively few areas in vocational education. The male dominated fields are still very resistent in vocational education.
The sixth recommendation was to strengthen sexuality education. There is a whole area of subjects of concern to girls that are typically not well addressed in the schools, that deal with the areas of sex education. It would be of great benefit to women, if there were improved programs in this area. They are very concerned about school policies that relate to sexual harassment. The evidence of sexual harassment, of students harassing other students, is on the increase. They hope that every school district will have policies on sexual harassment, provide training to the teachers and to the students and then to provide adequate enforcement.
The last recommendation dealt with women's role in promoting reform on the school board, the policies to move women into administrative positions and to have a sex equity commission involving community. As she had stated earlier, 80 percent of the teachers are women, but as you go into other administrative and decision making levels the percentage drops to 20 percent women. They feel it is very important for women to play a central part in reform. There are ways of assuring that women will get the adequate education to move into the administrative positions and to be in these key decision making roles.
Ms. Schuster responded to Senator Neal's statement on equality for the black male, and stressed it is the hope of the AAUW that the work they are doing, to look at what is happening in the classroom for girls, and to raise awareness that some people can then understand that what is happening in the classroom is not happening equally for every child, will then benefit black boys and girls. She stated if we ever get to a situation where it is a either or, we all lose.
Senator O'Donnell asked Ms. Schuster, what are the eating disorders and why are they more prevalent in women than men. Ms. Schuster answered anorexia and bulimia and advised this usually occurs in the adolescent, teenage years. She stated it seems to be related to personality traits. Society has placed tremendous emphasis on physical appearance. During adolescence the physical changes that are happening to boys are seen as positive, because they are getting stronger, bigger, more physically adapt and those are things society values. The physical changes that are happening to girls are set up in such a way that they can never be good enough and therefore self-esteem plummets.
Ms. Schuster advised we need to change the messages to girls, so that we value them for their intellectual capability, what they can do, who they are, rather than their physical appearance. Even in the classroom in elementary school, girls will get positive comments on the appearance of their papers, rather than the intellectual product involved in it.
Senator Glomb asked, are there any other states that have developed any legislation on this subject.
Ms. Schuster answered, there are a number of states that are now dealing with legislation in various ways. Each state is looking at where it is and where it needs to go from there. Minnesota is the first state to mandate that each school district adopt sexual harassment policies. Oklahoma is dealing legislation to include in the list of required in-service programs, training in gender equity. California has legislation that parallels the federal Title 9, which was passed a number of years ago, but also deals with textbooks.
Chairman Rawson asked, in reference to sexual harassment in the school, is this going further than the employee, employer relationship?
Ms. Schuster clarified, this is student to student harassment that has been principally condoned by adults over the years, simply through ignoring it.
Senator Rawson referred to the movies depicting kids from college age to younger and noted they are built on exploitation of the young girl and asked why hasn't there been a cry against that?
Ms. Schuster responded it has not been acceptable, however, women have not said no and made a public statement. Its not that women or girls wanted or liked to be harassed, but they thought they had to take it. They thought society did not permit them any alternative. Now, thanks to a couple of very public issues that have come up, we are beginning to see that the public no longer accepts sexual harassment as O.K., changing the norm in society.
There being no further business, Chairman Rawson adjourned the meeting at 3:10 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Judy Alexander,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman
DATE:
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Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities
March 8, 1993
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