The Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities was called to order by Chairman Raymond D. Rawson, at 2:10 p.m., on Monday, March 15, 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 Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman

Senator Maurice Washington, Vice Chairman

Senator Randolph J. Townsend

Senator Mark Amodei

Senator Bernice Mathews

Senator Michael Schneider

Senator Valerie Wiener

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

Assemblyman Dennis Nolan, Clark County Assembly District No. 13

Senator Dean A. Rhodes, Northern Nevada Senatorial District

Senator Mike McGinnis, Central Nevada Senatorial District

Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Western Nevada Senatorial District

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Cynthia Cook, Committee Secretary

OTHERS PRESENT:

Assemblyman Dennis Nolan, Clark County Assembly District No. 13, testified he has 15 years experience working as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and instructor for rural services and volunteers. Mr. Nolan voiced his support for S.B. 227.

Senator Dean A. Rhodes, Northern Nevada Senatorial District, asserted rural Nevada traditionally has difficulties in finding EMTs to drive ambulances. Some suggestions to improve the language of the bill are: drivers must be at least 18 years of age, and have no convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Chairman Rawson closed the hearing on S.B. 227, and opened the hearing on Assembly Bill (A.B. 275).

Assemblyman P. M. "Roy" Neighbors, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Mineral and Nye counties, Assembly District No. 36, stated the intent of A.B. 275 is to disband any hospital district that is under-performing. The bill would allow the hospital to remain open under the control of the county commissioners. Passage of this bill will help solve the problem in Nye County, at Nye Regional Medical Center. Assemblyman Neighbors affirmed the bill needs to be amended to allow dissolution only under certain circumstances. Suggested wording for the amendment will be presented to the committee. Assemblyman Neighbors said with the exception of Elko County Hospital and Churchill Community Hospital, the rural hospitals in Nevada are experiencing financial difficulties. In conclusion, Assemblyman Neighbors referred to a summary specifying the amount of monies loaned to Nye Regional Medical Center by the county (Exhibit C).

Chairman Rawson inquired if passage of the bill will be used to dissolve Nye County hospital district, and close the hospital. Assemblyman Neighbors stated the Nye County commissioners are in support of keeping the doors of the hospital open, which is validated by the $1,075,000 loan made on March 3, 1999. Senator Rawson said in past legislative sessions there has been a sense the county desired closure of the hospital, while the Legislature tries to act in ways to help it remain open.

Marvin A. Leavitt, Lobbyist, City of Las Vegas, is concerned A.B. 275 does not have enough guidance without further clarification. The amendments proposed by Mr. Leavitt would clear up these details (Exhibit D). Carole A. Vilardo, Lobbyist, Nevada Taxpayers Association, testified the association urges committee support of the bill with the amendments suggested by Mr. Leavitt.

Senator Mike McGinnis, Central Nevada Senatorial District, Bob H. Davis, Board of Commissioners, Nye County; and Cindy Kaminski, Chairperson, Town Board, Tonopah, encouraged committee support of the bill.

Richard L. Carver, Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Nye County, testified the board has done everything possible to keep the hospital open. Ideas being perused include a new administrator, downsizing, and privatization.

Geneva Neuhauser, Assistant County Administrator, Nye County; and Robert S. Hadfield, Lobbyist, Nevada Association of Counties, voiced their support for A.B. 275. At the suggestion of Chairman Rawson, Mr. Hadfield agreed to help draw an initiative to help the rural hospitals.

Chairman Rawson closed the hearing on A.B. 275 and requested a motion.

SENATOR AMODEI MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 275.

SENATOR SCHNEIDER SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

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Chairman Rawson asked the committee for introduction of BDR 23-1131

Chairman Rawson asked the committee for introduction of BDR 34-1632

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Chairman Rawson reopened the hearing on S.B. 227.

Richard J. Panelli, Chief, Bureau of Licensure and Certification, Health Division, Department of Human Resources, read prepared testimony and suggested an amendment in support of S.B. 227 (Exhibit E).

Rona Hubbard, Concerned Citizen, said as a volunteer firefighter, she would like assurance S.B. 227 would not place an additional requirement on fire truck drivers to be qualified to drive ambulances. Senator Rawson suggested Ms. Hubbard confer with those here today to create language and resolve the issue.

LaRue Scull, Concerned Citizen, testified from Las Vegas that he is the EMT Services Coordinator, Clark County Health District. Mr. Scull is not in favor of the bill because it would allow an untrained individual to drive in extreme circumstances, therefore endangering the lives of those in the ambulance. Additionally, he said, the bill would eliminate the authority of the district to adopt regulations to license ambulance drivers, and it implies untrained drivers can be responsible for the care of a sick or injured individual in an ambulance. Emergency care standards statewide would regress. S.B. 227 would be acceptable if language were added to section 1, at the end of line 5, stating the board shall adopt regulations to establish the minimum requirements of a driver. Susan Hardy, Concerned Citizen, stated she is the emergency medical services director for the City of Mesquite. She concurred with Mr. Scull’s testimony and is opposed to S.B. 227 as it is currently written. Mr. Scull and Ms. Hardy affirmed the language in the amendment suggested by Mr. Panelli would address their concerns.

Chairman Rawson closed the hearing on S.B. 227 and called for a motion.

SENATOR WIENER MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 227.

SENATOR MATHEWS SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

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Chairman Rawson opened the hearing on S.B. 263.

Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Western Nevada Senatorial District, reminded the committee the sixty-ninth session added the office of the commissioner for veteran affairs to the Office of the Military. S.B. 263 would create an office of veterans’ services, change the name and transfer the offices of the executive and deputy directors for veteran affairs from the Office of the Military to the Office of Veterans’ Services. Senator Jacobsen stated he has served as chairman of the veterans’ commission for two terms and he emphasized the importance of issues concerning veterans to be under a self-standing agency.

Charles G. Abbott, Executive Director, Office of the Executive Director for Veteran Affairs, testified the United States keeps a small permanent armed force to be augmented during time of war. Nevada has approximately 200,000 veterans, and in order to keep promises made to veterans, the need exists to establish agencies. This is a concept endorsed by all the veterans with which Mr. Abbott has spoken.

Senator Townsend pointed out lines 17 and 18 of page 1 of S.B. 263, which states, "The executive director may adopt such regulations as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter." He asked if giving authority to a single individual as opposed to a board or commission is unique or commonplace. Senator Jacobsen answered the executive director is responsible to the commission, and commission members are appointed by the Governor; there have not been any problems to date.

Chairman Rawson referred to a memorandum to Kevin D. Welsh, Deputy Fiscal Analyst, Fiscal Analysis Division, Legislative Counsel Bureau, from Drennan A. Clark, Major General, The Adjutant General of Nevada, Office of the Military (Exhibit F), stating that creating an office of veterans’ services would have no fiscal impact on the military.

David Pennington, Lieutenant Colonel, Legal Counsel, Nevada National Guard, testified since there is no fiscal impact on the military, the National Guard is neutral on S.B. 263.

Charles W. Fulkerson, Member, Nevada Veterans’ Services Commission, referred to the number of aging veterans. S.B. 263 will provide for their needs.

Carol Gobel, Concerned Citizen, spoke in support of the basic principle of establishing a department of veterans’ services. The remaining details will be worked out in the Senate Committee on Finance when considering the budget for veteran affairs.

Gerald Motley, Concerned Citizen, State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Archie Pozzi, Lobbyist, American Legion, testified they are in favor of and support S.B. 263.

Chairman Rawson closed the hearing and requested a motion on S.B. 263.

SENATOR TOWNSEND MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 263.

SENATOR WIENER SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Cynthia Cook,

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman