The Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor was called to order by Chairman Randolph J. Townsend, at 8:05 a.m., on Tuesday, February 02, 1999, in Room 2135 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. All Exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

Senator Randolph J. Townsend, Chairman

Senator Ann O’Connell, Vice Chairman

Senator Mark Amodei

Senator Dean A. Rhoads

Senator Raymond C. Shaffer

Senator Michael A. (Mike) Schneider

Senator Maggie Carlton

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

OTHERS PRESENT:

John M. Vergiels, Lobbyist, Nevada General Insurance Company

The meeting was opened by Senator Townsend who introduced the staff members and stated his first item on the agenda was to adopt standing committee rules (Exhibit C). He noted there had been no substantial change in the rules since the 1997 session.

SENATOR O’CONNELL MOVED TO ADOPT THE STANDING COMMITTEE RULES.

SENATOR SCHNEIDER SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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Senator Townsend referred to a list of key dates for the 1999 Legislative Session (Exhibit D) pointing out final bill draft requests (BDRs) by legislators are due February 8 making that a crucial date. He stated because of the nature of this committee, leadership has allocated seven additional committee BDRs due by February 22. The next crucial date, he said, is April 9 when all bills to be passed must be out of committee. He pointed out that these key dates are posted at numerous locations reminding committee members they must comply in order to have their bills heard.

Senator Townsend declared meeting hours for this committee would be 9:30 a.m. on Mondays to allow southern Nevada colleagues to spend one more night with their families, and 7:30 a.m. the remainder of the week, but will probably be moved to 7 a.m. depending on the complexity of the issues and the workload.

Senator Townsend outlined the six main areas with which this committee will deal as follows: restructuring of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, electrical restructuring, telecommunications, workers’ compensation, insurance fraud and construction defects. He stated the last area would encompass all other bills.

Senator Townsend emphasized because the time limit applies to all committees, this committee will try to be succinct and focused in order to prevent delaying meetings and therefore infringing on other committees’ time. He further stated since this committee has jurisdiction over seven titles within the Nevada Revised Statutes, three members of the committee will be assigned to each title. He said each committee member will chair a subcommittee of their choice and serve on two other subcommittees of their choice.

Senator Townsend identified BDRs to be introduced, remarking that since he had not had a chance to review them, he was not sure from where they originated.

BILL DRAFT REQUEST 57-336: Makes various changes regarding insurance.

(Later introduced as S.B.75.)

Senator O’Connell suggested the committee adopt a rule she had found helpful in the Senate Committee on Government Affairs requiring the person sponsoring a bill to be present to bring it before the committee for introduction. She stated the reason for this suggestion was the fact there would be some major issues to be addressed in a very limited time. She said, "I have no problem with making a motion to introduce all of these [BDRs] but there are some that I certainly don’t agree with and I’d like that indicated for the record." She added she thought it helpful for the committee members to know the reason for the bill and from where it originated. Senator Townsend agreed.

Senator Townsend asked if there was anyone present to testify on BDR 57-336.

John M. Vergiels, Lobbyist, Nevada General Insurance Company, said he has been attending the insurance lobbyists’ and insurance companies’ meetings, and stated BDR 57-336 is one of the bills discussed. He pointed out the bill allows companies to trade information relative to people filing fraudulent claims with one another without being liable.

After some discussion as to the appropriate committees to whom the remainder of the BDRs should go, it was the decision of the committee to send BDR 3-337 to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, BDR 43-340 to the Senate Committee on Transportation and BDR 50-612 to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.

Senator Townsend concluded BDR 57-336 and BDR 53-94 would remain with the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor.

SENATOR O’CONNELL MOVED FOR INTRODUCTION OF BDR 53-94 AND BDR 57-336.

SENATOR SHAFFER SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 a.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Ardyss Johns,

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Senator Randolph J. Townsend, Chairman

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