The Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining was called to order at 3:35 p.m., on Friday, April 9, 1999. Chairman Marcia de Braga presided in Room 3161 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Guest List. All Exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mrs. Marcia de Braga, Chairman

Mrs. Gene Segerblom, Vice Chairman

Mr. Douglas Bache

Mr. John Carpenter

Mr. Jerry Claborn

Mr. Lynn Hettrick

Mr. David Humke

Mr. John Jay Lee

Mr. John Marvel

Mr. Harry Mortenson

Ms. Genie Ohrenschall

Ms. Bonnie Parnell

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

Mr. Roy Neighbors

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

After roll was called the Chairman announced the hearing today would be a work session to review legislation not yet acted upon. She opened the hearing on A.B. 380.

Chairman de Braga asked committee members to consider the extensive testimony presented on the proposed legislation. She explained no additional testimony would be considered because the meeting was a work session. She asked if the committee had any questions.

Linda Eissmann, Legislative Counsel Bureau Policy Analyst, provided the committee with amended language on the proposed legislation (Exhibit C).

Mrs. Segerblom asked for clarification of beneficial use of a water right. Chairman de Braga said beneficial use was the measure of the right to own a water right. As there were no further questions, the Chairman called for a vote.

Mr. Bache voted no on the measure.

As there was no further discussion on A.B. 380, the Chairman closed the hearing on A.B. 380 and opened the hearing on A.B. 509.

Ms. Eissmann provided the committee with an explanation of the proposed amendment to A.B. 509 (Exhibit D). She explained the original measure dealt with feral horses. The proposed amendment related to wild horses without distinguishing between feral and wild. With that arrangement, feral horses would be considered wild. If the United States Department of the Interior wanted to distinguish between the two, it could authorize local action regarding horses identified as feral. The Federal Government would have authority over wild horses but no authority to interfere with local action regarding feral horses.

Mr. Mortenson asked for clarification on the difference between public land and private land in relationship to grazing. Mr. Carpenter explained land leased from the Federal Government for grazing or land with grazing permits was public land. Private land was privately owned property. If wild horses strayed onto public land on which grazing rights were held, the Federal Government would not remove them.

Ms. Parnell and Mr. Bache voted no on the measure.

Mr. Hettrick said the new language of the measure was acceptable because the legislation allowed an individual to elect to use a legal process to have wild horses removed from private property in a reasonable manner. There were numerous legal and ethical safeguards contained within the legislation, which ensured fair treatment of wild horses and granted people free choice as well as a legal method for removing horses if they desired.

Chairman de Braga asked if there were additional business before the committee. As there was none, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Sharon Spencer,

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Assemblywoman Marcia de Braga, Chairman

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