Assembly Bill No. 274–Assemblyman de Braga
February 17, 1999
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Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
SUMMARY—Requires issuance of general obligation bonds of state for construction and renovation of certain schools in White Pine County. (BDR S-1323)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: Yes.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in
bolded italics is new; matter between brackets
Whereas, The Constitution of the State of Nevada requires the
Legislature to encourage education and provide for a uniform system of
public schools for all of the children of Nevada; and
Whereas, The compulsory education available to the children who live
in White Pine County has been severely compromised by the unique
application of statutory revenue limitations that have made it impossible in
recent years for White Pine County to raise enough revenue to construct
the new schools and renovate the existing schools in the county that are
necessary to allow all the children in the county to attend school within this
state without lengthy daily commutes; and
Whereas, After years of devaluation of the taxable property in the
county, even if these statutory limitations on allowable revenue were raised
to the constitutional limit for the imposition of taxes ad valorem, it would
now be difficult, if not impossible, for White Pine County to raise the
revenue necessary to issue county school bonds to finance the necessary
new construction and renovation to provide an adequate education for the
children of White Pine County; and
Whereas, The Lund K-12 School and the White Pine Middle School
were both built at the turn of the last century, and mechanical and
architectural studies state that the buildings can no longer be patched
together, but instead must be replaced or wholly renovated; and
Whereas, There are 56 children who live in Pleasant Valley, Nevada,
who face a one and one-half hour daily commute over a rough and rutted
road to Utah’s West Desert School where they are not taught the State
Song of Nevada or any of the history or culture so precious to this state;
and
Whereas, State funding of school construction in White Pine County is
the only way to ensure that the children of White Pine County have the
same educational opportunities to meet the high rigorous academic
standards established by the Council to Establish Academic Standards
adopted by the State Board of Education of Nevada and to ensure that
these worthy pupils are held to the statewide standards of content and
performance established for the State of Nevada; now, therefore,
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
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Section 1. 1. The State Board of Finance shall issue general2-2
obligation bonds of the State of Nevada in the face amount of not more2-3
than $25,500,000, at the same time or times as other bonds are issued for2-4
the other capital projects approved by the 70th session of the Nevada2-5
Legislature. The proceeds of the bonds must be allocated approximately2-6
for:2-7
(a) A new modular school in Pleasant Valley, Nevada, $3,500,000;2-8
(b) A replacement school for Lund, Nevada, $15,000,000; and2-9
(c) A complete renovation or replacement of White Pine Middle School2-10
in Ely, Nevada, $7,000,000.2-11
2. The expenses related to the issuance of bonds pursuant to this2-12
section must be paid from the proceeds of the bonds, and must not exceed2-13
2 percent of the face amount of the bonds sold.2-14
3. The provisions of the State Securities Law, contained in chapter 3492-15
of NRS, apply to the issuance of bonds pursuant to this section.2-16
4. Any remaining balance of the allocated amounts authorized in2-17
subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2003,2-18
and reverts to the bond interest and redemption account in the consolidated2-19
bond interest and redemption fund as soon as all payments of money2-20
committed have been made.2-21
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.~