MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE
INTERIM FINANCE COMMITTEE
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL BUREAU
Sixty-seventh Session
March 8, 1993
A meeting of the Senate Committee on Finance, sitting as the Interim Finance Committee, was called to order by Chairman William J. Raggio, on Monday, March 8, 1993, at 8:00 a.m., in Room 223 of the Legislative Building, in Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. The Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, sitting as the Interim Finance Committee, met separately on the same day to consider the same agenda.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator William J. Raggio, Chairman
Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Vice Chairman
Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen
Senator Bob Coffin
Senator Diana M. Glomb
Senator William R. O'Donnell
Senator Matthew Q. Callister
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Dan Miles, Fiscal Analyst
Bob Guernsey, Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst
Marion Entrekin, Committee Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Maynard Yasmer, Chief, Fiscal and Staff Services, Rehabilitation Division, Department of Human Resources
Reenie E. Whitney, Executive Secretary, Licensing Examiner, Board
of Veterinary Medical Examiners
Roll Call - Item 1
After the secretary called the roll, Senator Raggio announced that a quorum of the Senate Committee on Finance was present.
Approval of Gifts, Grants and Work Program Revisions in Accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 353.220 (5) - Item II
A. Department of Human Resources, Rehabilitation
Division.
Senator Raggio stated this request is to approve the addition of $759,847 in federal funding for the Bureau of Disability Adjudication to provide for medical payments, overtime and data processing costs and contract expenses.
Maynard Yasmer, Chief, Fiscal and Staff Services, Rehabilitation Division, Department of Human Resources, stated the Bureau of Disability Adjudication is a program directed by the [United States] Social Security Administration for processing claims for early retirement due to disability.
Mr. Yasmer stated since the legislature only meets every 2 years the current year grant had to be planned 3 years ago, and two federal fiscal years follow in this state's fiscal year. The augmentation balances the two portions of the federal year grants to the state year authority, and in doing that the division had to come up with $759,847 to continue uninterrupted operation of the Bureau of Disability Adjudication. Without this approval, the bureau will be unable to continue purchasing medical evidence of record or consultative examinations needed for processing disability claims and provide for overtime, data processing and contract expenses.
Senator Raggio stated the current authority is approximately $3.4 million. The authority needed for fiscal year 1992 is approximately $1.2 million and for fiscal year 1993 is $2.99 million. Senator Raggio then asked if that was where the $759,847 came from.
Mr. Yasmer answered in the affirmative and said, "As you know the authority cap of the $3,471,000 was set at the last session of the legislature."
Senator Raggio expressed his concern regarding the backlogs and processing delays in the disability adjudication program and asked if the receipt of the funding will help to expedite the process.
Mr. Yasmer stated the money is now available and the division does what they can to speed the adjudication process up. However, processing delays in the local Social Security Office is part of the problem as well.
SENATOR COFFIN MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM II.A.
SENATOR O'DONNELL SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR CALLISTER AND SENATOR GLOMB WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
* * * * *
B. Board of Veterinary Medicine.
Senator Raggio stated this request is for the addition of $8,370 in License Renewals, $6,600 in Examination Fees and $15,000 in Other Revenue to adjust the work program based on current revenue projections and anticipated expenditure requirements including additional personnel.
Reenie E. Whitney, Executive Secretary, Licensing Examiner, Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, distributed to the committee Exhibit C, Informational Statement, from which she testified.
Ms. Whitney stated they are requesting a change in their budget because their work is very cyclic making it difficult to project funding needs. The board is requesting an increase in positions from 1.75 to 2.0 full positions to meet their 1993-1994 agency request. This addition would be fully funded by the board.
Senator Raggio noted their funding through fees is fully available for their purposes and asked if the board was enhancing their program.
Ms. Whitney said they are expanding. They have gone from 400 licensees to 700 licensees in an 18-month period which has created an increased work load requiring the need for an increase in personnel.
Referring to Exhibit C, Senator Raggio asked how many disciplinary hearings they have had in the past year and Ms. Whitney responded they have had 6 hearings in the last 9 months.
In response to a question from Senator Raggio regarding consumer complaints referenced in Exhibit C, Ms. Whitney said they have had a decline of 64 percent in consumer complaints due to their increased investigative procedures and a hospital inspection program funded by the board.
SENATOR O'DONNELL MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM II.B.
SENATOR RAWSON SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR GLOMB WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
* * * * *
Senator Raggio adjourned the meeting at 8:11 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Marion Entrekin,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator William J. Raggio, Chairman
DATE:
??
Interim Finance Committee
March 8, 1993
Page 1