MINUTES OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES AND FACILITIES
Sixty-seventh Session
March 29, 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 29, 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
GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:
Assemblyman Richard Perkins, District 23
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Judy Alexander, Committee Secretary
Sue Henson, Committee Secretary
Pepper Sturm, Research Analyst
OTHERS PRESENT:
Donald F. Klasic, General Counsel, University and Community College System of Nevada
Marilyn Ives, Board Member, Child Abuse and Neglect Task Force
Rick Millsap, President, Nevada State Education Association
Cheryl Erwin, Parenting Education Trainer, The Children's Cabinet
Carolyn Edwards, Lobbyist, Clark County School District
Douglas Byington, Lobbyist, Nevada Association of School Administrators
Janine Hansen, Lobbyist, Nevada Eagle Forum
Janet E. Sayre, Executive Director, Nevada Vocational Association
Mary Peterson, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, Nevada Department of Education
Bobbi Gang, Lobbyist, Nevada Women's Lobby
Ron Nagel, Superintendent, Lyon County School District
Darrell W. Rasner, Chief, Bureau of Health Protection Services, State of Nevada
Chairman Rawson openedd the hearing on SENATE BILL (S.B.) 314.
SENATE BILL 314: Renames University of Nevada System as University and Community College System of Nevada.
Donald F. Klasic, General Counsel, University and Community College System of Nevada, advised the committee that the Board of Regents had requested S.B. 314. He began his testimony by giving a brief history. In February 1989, after some concern from the community college faculty, as to their role in the system, the Board of Regents established the Community College Faculty Relations Committee, for purpose of identifying and addressing concerns of the community college faculty. In one of the reports of the committee, the following finding was made, "A major finding of the committee's inquiry, is the sense among community college faculty and administrators, of occupying a secondary position in the University of Nevada System. Of not receiving the focus within the system that university issues are given. We termed that this perception, the equal partnership issue and directed considerable focus to it." The result of that was a recommendation. Alternatives for recognizing the community college's presence in the name of the University of Nevada System should be explored. This was done over a 2 year period. In December 1991, the board then approved the name change and requested that legislation be instituted for the purpose of cleaning up the statute that dealt with this. He stated that his original plan was to drop the word system wherever the University of Nevada System appeared. Thereby requiring only one or two changes in the statutes. The Legislative Counsel Bureau felt they could not do that and instead made the change throughout the entire document.
Chairman Rawson noted, there has been a publicity drive from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) to be called the University of Nevada, leaving the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) to be the newer college. He stated, in section 7, it appears that UNLV and UNR are University of Nevada and asked, is that correct.
Mr. Klasic answered no, and referred to section 6. He explained that the branches of the University of Nevada are the University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. What he had suggested to the counsel bureau is add the community colleges as part of the branches. They suggested that a simpler way to do this was to eliminate that language and in section 7, state that the system is comprised of such branches that the board deems appropriate.
Chairman Rawson asked, legislatively what is the official name of UNR. Mr. Klasic answered, University of Nevada, Reno and advised that the official name of UNLV is University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Chairman Rawson asked Mr. Klasic for an assurance, that there are not any other changes in the bill, other than the name change. Mr. Klasic answered, "I can give you that assurance."
Chairman Rawson advised he would assign S.B. 314 to a committee member, to read through it, to look for anything in error.
Senator Townsend referred to sections 6 and 7, in removing the language on lines 19 through 22, and asked, does this allow the Board of Regents to take part in the decision of what the two campuses are going to be called. Mr. Klasic responded yes, but they already had that authority.
Chairman Rawson closed the hearing on S.B. 314.
Chairman Rawson opened the hearing on S.B. 260.
SENATE BILL 260: Requires completion of course in child development and human interaction skills for graduation from high school.
Senator Lori L. Brown presented to the committee an amendment (EXHIBIT C) for S.B. 260. She had selected Success Stories in Utah Schools (EXHIBIT D) from a packet made available by Assemblyman Perkins. She pointed out that in the table of contents of Success Stories in Utah Schools, under the heading of Parenting. The topics she was looking for in this bill are Avoiding Child Abuse, Soothing an Infant, How a Child Develops, Parenting Styles, Building Confidence in Children, Positive Child Guidance, Guidance and Discipline, and Crises Management and how to deal with coping with stress and crises. These are from curriculum that are required in the Utah School District because of problems with child abuse and violence.
Chairman Rawson advised we were now a subcommittee due to Senator Coffin, Glomb and Neal leaving the meeting.
She included in the packet of Success Stories in Utah Schools (EXHIBIT D), memorandums from Dr. Bill R. Wagonseller, Coordinator, UNLV Parent Family Wellness Center, and advised to read the asterisk areas and the underlined areas. She provided newspaper articles (EXHIBIT E) on the benefits of a 10 week conflict class taken by all freshman in Kansas City, Missouri. Also, in EXHIBIT E is information about the number of weapons found in the Clark County School District.
She advised, that even though some of the smaller counties do not have the degree of violence in the schools that Clark County does, she advised it is imperative, rather than as society sees violence starting in the schools, that society takes action ahead of time and teaches children ways to deal with conflict that does not involve lashing out physically at other students, teachers, or other personnel. She stated, if society waits until people have children to teach them how to deal with children, society may be looking at a much more costly way of handling things. In Missouri, there is a program called Parents As Teachers, in which parents are taught how to get their children ready for school, build confidence in their children and make them learning ready. However, it would be less expensive to teach all of our students before they ever leave school how to deal with other children or younger children.
In the past, committee members had expressed concern regarding time away from academics, but as a teacher, she pointed out that she dealt with fighting in the classroom, which takes a tremendous amount of time away from academics. She has spent an entire class period teaching alternate conflict resolution, just to save time that is now taken away dealing with fighting. In her opinion, these two areas of how to deal with children and how to deal with conflicts are more essential than math or english. She stated that 80 percent of the time in school is spent teaching academic subjects and only 20 percent of the students go on to college. She advised life skills may be more useful, time-wise, for a number of students. Not every student graduating from school will go on to become a parent. These skills help a person deal more effectively with a young person, because of the knowledge and sense of understanding of development. She advised that teaching how to deal with children now would save society a lot of grief in the future.
Chairman Rawson stated the committee is now a full hearing because Senator Coffin, Glomb and Neal have returned.
Assemblyman Richard Perkins, District 23, testified in support of S.B. 260, as referenced in his summary (EXHIBIT F). He presented to the committee a fax (EXHIBIT G) from Dr. Bill R. Wagonseller, Director, UNLV Parent Family Wellness Center, which expressed his support for this bill.
Senator O'Donnell asked Assemblyman Perkins, what kind of value system do the schools use in dealing with parenting training. Assemblyman Perkins responded that he thought they could stay away from value systems. He referred to methods of punishment and stated the schools do not tell the parent which method to use, just that these options exist. The parents have to form their own values.
Senator Neal asked what successes other states have had with a similar curriculum. Assemblyman Perkins responded, there are 19 states that do require this type of class in the curriculum before graduation. The best statistics they have now are included in Success Stories in Utah Schools (EXHIBIT D) distributed by Senator Brown.
Senator Brown stated she has noticed in her teaching experience, that children now use what their parents have done to them as a role model as to what they should do to the other child. She advised the
children need alternatives for dealing with people their own age.
Chairman Rawson noted that Ohio has a plan similar to Utah. Chicago has elements that are similar also, but it is not statewide.
Senator Brown stated that the reason she chose to call this, a course in child development, rather than parenting, was to avoid the value end. Simply knowing what is normal in development and what are some positive ways of handling that, seems to help without throwing in any religious or sectarian ideas.
Senator Neal asked, at what grade level would such a program be started? Assemblyman Perkins remarked, they initially wrote the bill stating it would be a requirement for high school. After talking to educators, they have opened up the category from 6th grade through 12th. It would be up to the districts to place it, at any point. Due to information from teachers and through his own experiences, he stated, we now have 11, 12, and 13 year old children having children. In those grade levels, it is not too early to let them know, that these are responsibilities and are things they need to know for child rearing and their adult responsibilities.
Marilyn Ives, Board Member, Child Abuse and Neglect Task Force of Northern Nevada, testified in support of S.B. 260. She advised she works as a parent and child care consultant for employees at a business in Sparks. She supports the concept of including school counselors and going as low as 6th grade. Not only are there younger children having babies, but also see some very young children, who are primary care givers for younger siblings. She expressed concern about including child development and human interaction skills in a health class or a biology class, She stated child development is an academic subject which encompasses biology, psychology and sociology. To deal with it effectively, it must have a course of its own. She continued her testimony in her summary (EXHIBIT H).
Rick Millsap, President, Nevada State Education Association and 6th grade teacher testified in support of S.B. 260, with the proposed amendments. As educators, they are seeing two phenomenon in the classrooms, that this bill is drafted to address. First, the educators are seeing more children who are victims of child abuse and neglect, and see more accounts of vicious physical or sexual abuse, in the newspapers. In the classrooms, children come to school hungry because the parents could not or would not feed them breakfast. They see children who are verbally or emotionally abused. The second phenomena is the alarming growth of violence on our school campuses and the discipline problems in our classrooms.
He referred to the latest edition of Kids Count, the annual report card on how well society is doing its children, and noted that Nevada ranks 41st in the child death rate and 46th in the nation on the teen violent death rate. According to a report by the Nevada Department of Education, and UNR, the state is ranked 50th in the nation on teen suicides in 1991. He advised that S.B. 260 is an important beginning toward reversing this trend, by providing our students with badly needed training in child development and conflict resolution. He stated S.B. 260, with the purposed amendments, has several critical elements that must be in the legislation. First, the purposed amendment gives school districts the flexibility to integrate the course of study into existing curriculum anywhere from the 6th to 12th grades, rather than mandating the creation of a new course and a graduation requirement. He advised the inclusion of education professionals, in the development of curriculum, is essential. There are a couple of concerns about the implementation of the bill. First, there has to be adequate training for the teachers and other personnel, such as counselors who may be called upon to teach these units. Secondly, the course of study should be incorporated into the curriculum, in a manner that does not supplant academic instruction.
Senator Glomb concurred with Marilyn Ives, that this should be a separate course of study. Her concern, is that it would be incorporated into a current course of study and lose its impact.
Chairman Rawson advised, there are teachers teaching this now, within the system under courses such as family life. There are ways to incorporate, essentially, most of what has been talked about here into existing courses. He expressed concern about the fiscal note, if the state demands a new course and adds more time.
Chairman Rawson passed the gavel over to Vice Chairman O'Donnell.
Senator Brown explained, each teacher receives a required course of study and must complete everything in it. She noted, even if it is incorporated into another class, it must be taught.
Cheryl Erwin, Parenting Education Trainer, The Children's Cabinet explained that the Children's Cabinet is a non-profit agency, that works with families. She stated the cabinet is not taking a position on this, but as a private individual, she wholeheartedly supports S.B. 260. She has been teaching parenting classes for 1 year and has taught parenting modules, not child development, in Mcqween High School, the Sierra Nevada Job Corps, and in Washoe High School. She feels this information is absolutely essential to give to young people. She pointed out that family life has changed in this country, regardless of what personal values may be. The kinds of information she would like to see provided to young people has to do with building love, relationship and trust. Also, giving young parents and parents to be the knowledge that there are options and that there are things they can do to raise healthy, whole, capable, children.
Carolyn Edwards, Lobbyist, Clark County School District testified in support of S.B. 260. She advised the committee, even with incorporating the curriculum in the present course of study, it will involve a fiscal note, due to training involved. She reminded the committee, that in this session, we have been facing serious economic difficulties in education and are in the process of cutting back. She explained that it is with grave misgivings that she acts as the conscience and reminds the group, that the board of trustees is doing everything in their power at this point, to add a course in the curriculum and will support any action of this kind.
Senator O'Donnell stated, if the state makes this mandatory, it is going to cost a lot more money. He asked, do you have an alternative. Ms. Edwards responded, by making a longer school day and noted that we keep adding more information that is being taught, but keep the time the same.
Douglas Byington, Lobbyist, Nevada Association of School Administrators, concurred with Senator Brown's amendments and supports the bill.
Janine Hansen, Lobbyist, Eagle Forum, stated that many of her concerns had been resolved by the amendments. She pointed out that as children grow, society needs new strategies. She stated that even though children learn a new concept, it is natural to revert back to the same way their parents did it. Therefore, she advised, society should encourage volunteer organizations, churches and other groups to provide parenting classes, as an ongoing concept, so people can meet the current challenges they have in their life.
Senator O'Donnell asked, in dealing with the problem of parenting, have you noticed there is more interest and a need for instructors. Ms. Hansen responded, there is a real need on the part of parents for help and advice. It is more difficult for traditional authoritarian child rearing methods to work, because of our more democratic society. She pointed out, that the community would be a good place to start support groups. There are greater problems for parents to deal with today such as drugs, alcohol, violence, pornography, promiscuity that they didn't deal with before. She advised, society should encourage volunteer organizations, churches, and community minded groups to provide the kind of help parents and young people need.
Janet E. Sayre, Executive Director, Nevada Vocational Association, a certified Home Economist and Public Policy Co-chairman of the Nevada Home Economics Association, testified in support of S.B. 260. She advised, there are several Home Economics courses which address the items in the bill. A statewide course called Home and Career Skills was funded by the Carl Perkins federal money. Currently, there are 38 sites in the state of Nevada, that have been funded and five additional sites were added in 1992. In 1981, the legislature passed a resolution in Family Life Course of Study and this is offered in Washoe County. There are district-wide courses of studies in child development in Washoe, Humboldt and Churchill counties. The new health course of study that goes into effect in 1994, lends itself readily to doing this. She advised that Washoe county is now pursuing that.
This is the second year of a 3 year cycle that federal money has been received for a home and career skills course and provides teacher training. The next cycle would lend itself to developing a statewide course of study along these guidelines, if the director of Occupational Education and those who are involved in the state plan desired that. She noted, however, the Clinton administration economical stimulus package may wipe the funding out. She pointed out that Home Economics teachers have a very rigorous background in child development. The courses are theory based and are made as objective as possible.
Teacher continuing education is a concern. Both the Nevada Vocational Association and the Nevada Home Economics Association offer state meetings and provide training in these areas. One of the objectives of the Washoe County School District Strategic Plan was to look at ways to provide kids with more opportunities in parenting as well as to draw upon community resources.
Senator Brown asked, is there anything that would prohibit the use of the federal monies you talked about, for developing this kind of curriculum. Ms. Sayre responded, the way the Carl Perkins money works is there is a set of regulations and a state plan. Right now the focus of the state plan in consumer and homemaking, is the Home and Career Skills and a program called Grads, which is a teen pregnant or parenting class. There are two pilot programs in the state right now. But there is nothing to preclude that, from when this cycle ends.
Senator Brown addressed Senator Neal's reference to areas already being taught. She advised that much of what is in this bill, is already in place and available, not necessarily as a requirement. She thought that will make it easier to finish developing a curriculum.
Mary Peterson, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, Nevada Department of Education, clarified there are 22 1/2 credits required for high school graduation. She concurred, that adding one more requirement would be difficult, is a very valid point. In her opinion, the revisions that Senator Brown has proposed are very palatable. Some of the things addressed in this bill are already addressed in the one-half credit health course that is required for high school graduation. Others are included in the electives that children can select at 7th and 8th grade or high school level. She supported S.B. 260.
Senator Neal asked for a clarification on occupational and vocational courses mentioned by Ms. Edwards. Ms. Peterson explained, that Ms. Edwards was referring to some of the electives that are offered. She stated that there is an elective in Home and Careers at the 7th and 8th grade level. There are two electives at the high school level, one in Human Relations and another in Parenting and Human Development. There is a one-half credit of Health required for graduation from high school that does address those two areas. There are 12 units outlined for the health course and two of those units address the very issue you have before you today.
Bobbi Gang, Lobbyist, Nevada Women's Lobby, testified in support of S.B. 260.
Ron Nagel, Superintendent, Lyon County School District, stated that the intent of this bill is okay. He noted that public education is being required to do more and more. Categorical classes in family education commonly referred to as sex education, condom education, Aids education, special education, parenting education, physical education, drivers education, continue to put a demand on the program, that the schools can offer. As all of you are aware, S.B. 329 is on the floor, and even without that, it is possible that revenue to school districts will be strained this year.
SENATE BILL 329: Makes supplemental appropriation to state distributive school account.
He emphasized, there is a fiscal note on this bill that involves staffing, training, available time for students to take electives and time away from academics. He asked, "we continually add, when are we going to drop?" He noted, the pie is only a certain size in time. By adding one more thing, the schools are simply going to water down something else.
SENATOR BROWN MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 260.
SENATOR COFFIN SECONDED THE MOTION.
Senator O'Donnell advised that this legislature is highly concerned about breaking that cycle of abuse and supports this measure.
Chairman Rawson noted the greater number of people the state has going into the prison system every year and said, " I think we have to arrive at the assumption somewhere, that we are losing ground, it is time we tried some different things." He stated, he would expect the school districts to come forward with things they do not want to be mandated to teach anymore. Someone has to purge the system and clean it up and do what is necessary.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
* * * * *
Chairman Rawson advised the committee he would accept a motion on S.B. 314.
SENATOR NEAL MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 314.
SENATOR COFFIN SECONDED THE MOTION.
Chairman Rawson asked Senator Coffin to check with bill drafting and verify, that this is as simple as it looks.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
* * * * *
Chairman Rawson asked Pepper Sturm, Research Analyst, to introduce S.B. 61. Mr. Sturm gave to the committee a copy of Work Session (EXHIBIT I).
SENATE BILL 61: Eliminates privies and cesspools as acceptable method of sewage disposal.
SENATOR O'DONNELL MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 61
SENATOR BROWN SECONDED THE MOTION.
Mr. Sturm advised the committee that item number 2, would affect at least one and perhaps more existing girl scout or boy scout camps. The health division proposed a grandfathering amendment that says under item number 2, these camps do not have to conform, unless they upgrade the camp at some future time.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR GLOMB WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
* * * * *
Senator Neal advised the chairman that Darrell W. Rasner, Chief, Bureau of Health Protection Services, State of Nevada had new information from the Food and Drug Administration. Mr. Rasner advised the committee that his office received a fax (EXHIBIT J) after the hearing on S.B. 179, from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that explained the monosodium glutamate (MSG) issue would be reheard again by the FDA.
SENATE BILL 179: Prohibits sale of food containing monosodium glutamate at certain food establishments unless food is clearly marked to indicate that fact.
The FDA is taking papers until the first part of April. A health effects report will be issued in March of 1994 finalizing any findings they have found on it.
Chairman Rawson advised the committee, a copy of the fax will be made a part of the record.
Senator Neal withdrew S.B. 179 .
* * * * *
Chairman Rawson opened the work session on S.B. 104.
SENATE BILL 104: Revises definition of "county of residence" for purpose of determining eligibility of indigent person for benefits from county.
Chairman Rawson asked the committee, if they had concerns with S.B. 104. Senator Neal asked for the bill to be held for another work session. Chairman Rawson advised, it will be held until the committee hears more from the counties.
Senator O'Donnell gave a brief history of the bill. During the interim commission meeting, there was a request by some of the rural counties, to get some bill drafts. At the time the request arrived, the deadline for submitting the bill drafts was past. He offered to give his extra bill drafts to them. He stated he has no idea of the significance of this.
There being no further business, Chairman Rawson adjourned the meeting at 3:45 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 29, 1993
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