The Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities was called to order by Chairman Raymond D. Rawson, at 1:45 p.m., on Friday, March 26, 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 Mark Amodei

Senator Bernice Mathews

Senator Valerie Wiener

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Maurice Washington, Vice Chairman (Excused)

Senator Randolph J. Townsend (Excused)

Senator Michael Schneider (Excused)

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Patricia Di Domenico, Committee Secretary

OTHERS PRESENT:

Chairman Rawson indicated the committee would hear S.B. 346 today but will hold action until an Assembly bill that addresses this issue is heard and the outcome is known

John Drew, Acting Director, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, stated S.B. 346 amends Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 458.380 by changing some composition and direction of the commission. He noted page 2, subsection 4 of S.B. 346 that states, "The legislative commission shall appoint one member of the senate and one member of the assembly to serve as nonvoting members of the commission. Such members must be appointed with appropriate regard for their experience with and knowledge of matters relating to substance abuse education, prevention, enforcement and treatment." Mr. Drew indicated subsection 5 on page 2 adds the director of the department of prisons to the commission. He noted page 4 specifies that a report will be prepared by December 31 of even-numbered years. Mr. Drew pointed out that subsection 5 on page 4 makes grants of available money to organizations that review and evaluate problems concerning the enforcement of laws relating to drugs and the treatment of the abuse of drugs.

Mr. Drew recommended to the committee that the report to the Governor be required on July 1 instead of December 31. This will allow the agencies involved with the commission to have all available information when they prepare their budgets for the upcoming legislative session.

Denise L. Everett, Chairman, Commission of Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, asked if the committee had any questions. Senator Mathews queried whether the commission served standard terms or if they are they appointed for life. Ms. Everett replied the commission members serve a 2-year term and then can be reappointed. Senator Mathews asked how many times they could be reappointed. Ms. Everett responded three times up to 6 years. Senator Wiener questioned what the interaction was between the Commission on Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment, and the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (BADA). Ms. Everett replied the commission acts as an advisory board. She said BADA is primarily a funding and regulatory state agency. The commission conducts hearings throughout the state with various entities and shares that information with them. Chairman Rawson asked if the commission was recommending S.B. 346. Ms. Everett answered in the affirmative.

Chairman Rawson commented there would be a work session on S.B. 346. He said that S.B. 346 and Assembly Bill (A.B.) 181 will be reviewed together.

P. Michael Murphy, Chief of Police, City of Mesquite, testified in support of Senate Bill 346. He stressed to the committee that the Commission on Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment, serves a vital purpose throughout the state.

Maureen Brower, Lobbyist, Member, Commission on Substance Abuse Education Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, requested her written testimony in support of Senate Bill 346 (Exhibit C) be made part of the record.

Chairman Rawson closed the hearing on S.B. 346 and opened the hearing on Senate Bill 352.

Myla C. Florence, Administrator, Welfare Division, Department of Human Resources, testified that S.B. 352 has been requested by the Welfare Division to make changes to Assembly Bill (A.B.) 401 of the Sixty-ninth Session and Senate Bill 356 of the Sixty-ninth Session.

Ms. Florence read from prepared testimony (Exhibit D) and noted sections 1 and 4 of S.B. 352 were supported by the county district attorneys’ offices. She indicated the amended language means that the court shall not stop a proceeding or refuse a hearing in a child support matter because of any other related action on a case. Ms. Florence added, in 1997, chapter 130 of NRS was repealed and replaced with welfare reform’s interstate model act. According to Ms. Florence, Clark County now uses chapter 425 of NRS to establish and enforce child support. She explained these provisions needed to be incorporated into the NRS chapter 425 for child support actions when the nonsupporting parent lives in Nevada; and, in NRS chapter 130 for child support actions when the nonsupproting parent lives outside Nevada.

Ms. Florence pointed out section 3 of S.B. 352 is supported by the Nevada Division of Wildlife. She said that during the 1997 Legislative Session, the officials at the Nevada Division of Wildlife and the Welfare Division agreed a social security match would be used in lieu of a declaratory statement completed by wildlife licensure applicants. Ms. Florence stated NRS chapter 425 was not amended along with the Nevada Division of Wildlife’s NRS chapters 502, 503, 504, and 505 to reflect this agreement.

Chairman Rawson closed the hearing on S.B. 352.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Patricia Di Domenico,

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman

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