MINUTES OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Sixty-seventh Session
June 15, 1993
The Senate Committee on Transportation was called to order by Chairman William R. O'Donnell, at 3:25 p.m., on Tuesday, June 15, 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 William R. O'Donnell, Chairman
Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Vice Chairman
Senator Mark A. James
Senator Thomas J. Hickey
Senator Lori L. Brown
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Leonard V. Nevin
Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr.
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Paul Mouritsen, Senior Research Analyst
Terri Jo Wittenberg, Committee Secretary
GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:
Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Northern Senatorial District
OTHERS PRESENT:
Kirby Burgess, Lobbyist, Clark County
Bob Seacrest, Firewood Dealer
Michelle Gordon Torres, Assistant to the Director, Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC)
Stephanie Tyler, Lobbyist, Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County
Chairman O'Donnell opened the hearing on Senate Bill (S.B.) 541.
SENATE BILL 541: Specifically authorizes firewood to be sold by weight.
Bob Seacrest, Firewood Dealer, testified in favor of the bill. He stated the technology is available to sell it by the pound and it costs more to stack the wood to sell as a cord.
Senator Brown asked why the legislature regulates the sale of firewood. Chairman O'Donnell responded in the past the legislature mandated the sale of firewood by the cord.
Senator Dean Rhoads, Northern Senatorial District, testified that the legal bill drafters told him a bill would be needed to change the sale to weight.
Senator Hickey asked what a cord of wood weighs. Mr. Seacrest stated there is no specific weight, but his wood is 2,350 pounds.
Senator Hickey asked if the system is changed, would smaller amounts of wood be sold. Mr. Seacrest concurred.
Senator Brown asked if there was a need for this regulation. Senator Rhoads stated the legal division told him the bill was necessary because as the law exists now, firewood can only be sold by the cord.
Chairman O'Donnell stated the reason firewood is sold in a cord was because in 1945 (when the law was put on the books) people used a lot of firewood for heating. He stated the scales to weigh the wood were expensive and there were not a lot of scales, so it was more fair to sell by the cord.
Senator Rhoads stated that state officials went to Mr. Seacrest and stated he could not sell wood by weight because in Nevada the law does not address it.
Senator Jacobsen stated some wood weighs more than others and asked how the consumer would know what they are getting. Senator Rhoads responded "that's up to the buyer."
Chairman O'Donnell closed the hearing on S.B. 541 and asked for a motion on S.B. 541.
SENATOR HICKEY MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 541.
SENATOR BROWN SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR JACOBSEN VOTED NO.)
Chairman O'Donnell opened the hearing on Assembly Bill (A.B.) 550.
ASSEMBLY BILL 550: Revises authority of regional transportation commissions to adopt regulations for operation of systems or services financed by commission.
Michelle Gordon Torres, Assistant to the Director, Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC), testified in favor of the bill (Exhibit C).
Chairman O'Donnell asked if this just affects Washoe County. Ms. Torres concurred.
Chairman O'Donnell asked Ms. Torres to explain 377A. Ms. Torres explained it is the chapter of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) which deals with mass public transportation.
Chairman O'Donnell asked if there is any difference in the language in subsection D versus the language that is deleted. Ms. Torres responded "the language that's deleted for counties of less than 400,000 requires that we take our transit regulations to the board of county commissioners. Those are the regulations that deal with how we set up transportation systems for seniors and individuals with disabilities."
Senator Hickey stated there is a standard which requires a public meeting. He asked where this is located in the bill. Ms. Torres stated it is not set forth in this bill but to maintain funding, these meetings must be held.
Ms. Torres stated this provision is in S.B. 39.
SENATE BILL 39: Requires regional transportation commission in certain counties to develop transportation plans and programs in compliance with federal law.
Stephanie Tyler, Lobbyist, Regional Transportation Commission, stated S.B.39 which is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) bill is currently in another committee. She stated if the committee's intent is to take the provisions designating both of the RTC's as the regional MPO for their area then she has no objection.
Chairman O'Donnell asked if the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency was designated a MPO would that proclude Washoe County from being an MPO. Ms. Torres stated the population limit should be okay to have two seperate situations.
Senator Hickey stated he was concerned with the lack of public involvement. Ms. Torres responded there are three committee's that advise RTC as well as the business community.
Senator Hickey asked if the transfer of federal funds has already taken place without compliance. Ms. Torres stated RTC has complied.
Ms. Tyler stated however the committee wanted to deal with this is acceptable to RTC including using S.B. 39.
Ms. Torres stated S.B. 39 actually relates more to transportation planning than the actual provision of public transportation.
Kirby Burgess, Lobbyist, Clark County, stated this bill does affect Clark County but there is no problem with the bill.
Chairman O'Donnell closed the hearing on A.B. 550.
Senator Hickey discussed an amendment to S.B. 272.
SENATE BILL 272: Makes various changes to provisions governing issuance and suspension of drivers' licenses.
Chairman O'Donnell adjourned the meeting at 3:55 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Melanie B. Rosenberg,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator William R. O'Donnell, Chairman
DATE:
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Senate Committee on Transportation
June 15, 1993
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