MINUTES OF THE
SENATE Committee on Human Resources and Facilities
Seventieth Session
April 12, 1999
The Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities was called to order by Chairman Raymond D. Rawson, at 2:20 p.m. on Monday, April 12, 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
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Pepper Sturm, Committee Policy Analyst
Marla McDade Williams, Committee Policy Analyst
Cynthia Cook, Committee Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Debbie Hosselkus, L.S.W., Deputy Administrator, Mental Hygiene and Mental Retardation Division, Department of Human Resources
Chairman Rawson opened the work session on Assembly Bill (A.B.) 140.
ASSEMBLY BILL 140: Clarifies provisions governing testimony that may be considered in proceeding for involuntary court-ordered admission of mentally ill person to mental health facility. (BDR 39-171)
Marla McDade Williams, Committee Policy Analyst, Research Division, Legislative Counsel Bureau, testified on behalf of Assemblywoman Vivian L. Freeman, Washoe County Assembly District No. 24. Assemblywoman Freeman was chairwoman of the interim committee for a Study of the Care and Commitment of Mentally Ill; a committee formed as a result of Senate Concurrent Resolution (S.C.R.) 60 of the Sixty-Ninth Session.
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 60 OF THE SIXTY-NINTH SESSION: Requires Legislative Commission to conduct interim study relating to mentally ill persons. (BDR R-1592)
The interim committee reviewed outpatient legislation in five states, and recommended ways to better serve the mentally ill in Nevada. Assembly Bill (A.B.) 140 came about at the request of Rosetta Johnson, President, Alliance For the Mentally Ill (NAMI) of northern Nevada. Essentially, it allows the court to take into consideration a series of events rather than one isolated event when reviewing involuntary commitments. In answer to an inquiry by Chairman Rawson, Ms. Williams said there was just one party who testified against the bill, because the party felt there was already language in the law to cover such a situation.
Debbie Hosselkus, L.S.W., Deputy Administrator, Mental Hygiene and Mental Retardation Division, Department of Human Resources, testified in favor of A.B. 140. She stated members of the Commission on Mental Health and Mental Retardation also support the bill.
Chairman Rawson closed the hearing on A.B. 140 and opened the hearing on A.B. 305.
ASSEMBLY BILL 305: Changes names of mental hygiene and mental retardation division of department of human resources and certain other entities, budget accounts and facilities of division. (BDR 39-443)
Ms. Hosselkus stated the division would be named The Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services, under A.B. 305. The name change more accurately reflects the expanded services of the division. There is no fiscal note associated with the change, and there has been no testimony opposing the bill.
Chairman Rawson closed the hearing on A.B. 305 and called for a motion on A.B. 140 .
SENATOR SCHNEIDER MOVED TO DO PASS AND PLACE A.B. 140 ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
SENATOR WIENER SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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SENATOR SCHNEIDER MOVED TO DO PASS AND PLACE A.B. 305 ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
SENATOR WIENER SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Cynthia Cook,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman
DATE: