The Senate Committee on Transportation was called to order by Chairman William R. O'Donnell, at 6:30 p.m., on Friday, May 14, 1999, in Room 2149 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 William R. O'Donnell, Chairman

Senator Mark Amodei, Vice Chairman

Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen

Senator Maurice Washington

Senator Raymond C. Shaffer

Senator Valerie Wiener

Senator Terry Care

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Joan Moseid, Committee Secretary

OTHERS PRESENT:

Samuel P. McMullen, Lobbyist, Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority

Clark (Danny) Lee, Lobbyist, Nevada General Insurance Company

Victoria D. Riley, Lobbyist, Nevada Trial Lawyers’ Association

Tom Stephens, Director, Nevada Department of Transportation

Brian R. Hutchins, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Transportation and Public Safety Division, Office of the Attorney General

Stan R. Olsen, Lobbyist, Lieutenant, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and Nevada Sheriffs & Chiefs Association

Chairman O’Donnell closed the hearing on A.B. 628 and opened the hearing Assembly Bill (A.B.) 628.

Samuel P. McMullen, Lobbyist, Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority (REMSA), testified in favor of A.B. 628. Mr. McMullen reviewed the proposed amendment to A.B. 628 (Exhibit C), in detail.

Senator O’Donnell read a letter from Mayor Ray Masayko of Carson City (Exhibit D) in which Mr. Masayko stated he is in favor of A.B. 628, with the proposed amendment.

Chairman O’Donnell accepted a motion on A.B. 628.

SENATOR AMODEI MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 628.

SENATOR WIENER SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

*****

Mr. McMullen commented after the vote that Mary C. Walker, Lobbyist, Carson City; and Bryan Gresh, Lobbyist, Regional Transportation Commission of Clark County, were present and in favor of A.B. 628.

Senator O’Donnell closed the hearing on A.B. 628 and opened the hearing on Assembly Bill (A.B.) 272.

Clark (Danny) Lee, Lobbyist, Nevada General Insurance Company, testified in opposition to A.B. 272. Mr. Lee disagreed with the statement A.B. 272 has been created due to fact the Hispanic community is being disadvantaged.

Senator Washington asked Mr. Lee if he was correct in understanding that currently only three companies can sell this type of insurance. Mr. Lee responded he understood three companies to be correct.

Victoria D. Riley, Lobbyist, Nevada Trial Lawyers’ Association, testified it is impossible to know how many policies are actually in effect.

Chairman O’Donnell asked for a motion on the first amendment to A.B. 272.

SENATOR WASHINGTON MOVED TO AMEND A.B. 272.

SENATOR SHAFFER SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

*****

Chairman O’Donnell asked the committee for a motion to include an additional amendment to A.B. 272. Senator Washington asked for clarification on the second proposed amendment. Chairman O’Donnell stated the second amendment does not change anything previously included; it is additional verbiage which was omitted from the original draft of A.B. 272.

Senator Care asked Victoria Riley, Lobbyist, Nevada Trial Lawyers’ Association, if any other states prohibit operator-only insurance. Ms. Riley responded to Senator Care stating 43 states have this type of policy.

Chairman O’Donnell called for a motion on A.B. 272 with the second proposed amendment.

SENATOR WASHINGTON MOVED TO AMEND A.B. 272 WITH THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

SENATOR WIENER SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATORS JACOBSEN, SHAFFER AND CARE VOTED NO.)

*****

Chairman O’Donnell called for a motion on A.B. 272, with both of the amendments.

SENATOR WIENER MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 272.

SENATOR AMODEI SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

*****

Chairman O’Donnell closed the hearing on A.B. 272 and opened the hearing on Assembly Bill (A.B.) 492.

ASSEMBLY BILL 492: Revises provisions regulating schools that train drivers of motor vehicles. (BDR 43-1332)

Chairman O’Donnell closed the hearing on A.B. 492 and opened the hearing on Assembly Bill (A.B.) 542.

Chairman O’Donnell commented a proposed amendment to A.B. 542 has been submitted by Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) (Exhibit E). Tom Stephens, Director, Department of Transportation, testified the effective date of A.B. 542 could be changed from October 1, 1999, to October 1, 2000.

Senator Wiener queried Mr. Stephens stating the co-ownership or community- state issue could be a problem. Senator Wiener feels this is deprivation of ownership interest.

Brian R. Hutchins, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Transportation and Public Safety Division, Office of the Attorney General, testified in favor of A.B. 542.

Chairman O’Donnell recommended changing the effective date of A.B. 542 to October 1, 2000, in order for Genesis to reprogram their information.

Senator Amodei asked about changing section 7, page 7, line 16, from "30" to "5." Mr. Hutchins responded stating Senator Amodei was correct in noting the error.

SENATOR SHAFFER MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 542.

SENATOR JACOBSEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR WASHINGTON VOTED IN OPPOSITION).

*****

Chairman O’Donnell closed the hearing on A.B. 542 and opened the hearing on Assembly Bill (A.B.) 458.

Stan R. Olsen, Lobbyist, Lieutenant, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Metro), and Nevada Sheriffs & Chiefs Association, testified in favor of A.B. 458. Lieutenant Olsen stated this bill will allow auto-theft detectives to target auto-theft rings, who operate for profit. A.B. 458 will allow police to concentrate on the chop shops for stolen parts and vehicles.

SENATOR AMODEI MOVED TO DO PASS A.B. 458.

SENATOR JACOBSEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

*****

Senator Care asked Lieutenant Olsen if Metro-police has statutory authority to enter pawn shops on a daily basis and observe the inventory. Lieutenant Olsen replied statute does allow police to obtain a report on every item sold or pawned in a pawn shop. Reports can be obtained daily and compared to crime reports.

Senator Jacobsen asked Lieutenant Olsen how the viper program worked. Mr. Olsen responded by stating the viper program had been very successful. The viper program is a task force of the different agencies in southern Nevada.

Senator Care voiced an objection to conducting inspections only during business hours. The other areas of objection are public terminals and public parking lots; although they are considered private property these areas have public access.

Senator Amodei stated he stands in agreement to amend his motion to include both provisions, as suggested by Senator Care.

Senator Washington asked Lieutenant Olsen what the penalty is for an individual who switches vehicle Identification numbers (VIN) or chop-shop activities. Lieutenant Olsen was not able to state the penalties of such crimes.

Chairman O’Donnell recommended A.B. 458 be amended to include the language suggested by Senator Care.

SENATOR AMODEI MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 458.

SENATOR JACOBSEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

*****

Chairman O’Donnell closed the hearing on A.B. 458 and opened the hearing on

Assembly Bill (A.B.) 157.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Mary Soscia,

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Senator William R. O'Donnell, Chairman

DATE: