EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Whereas, The Legislative Auditor of the Legislative Counsel Bureau

1-2 submitted a report of the judicial branch of government in 1995 entitled

1-3 "State of Nevada, Judicial Branch of Government, Administrative

1-4 Oversight of the State Court System"; and

1-5 Whereas, The 1995 Audit Report found that the various courts in the

1-6 State of Nevada use different methods to classify, record and distribute

1-7 fines collected from citations issued by the Nevada Highway Patrol; and

1-8 Whereas, The 1995 Audit Report further found that many courts in this

1-9 state had not established adequate internal accounting controls for

1-10 collecting, recording and depositing fines; and

1-11 Whereas, Courts using different methods to classify, record and

1-12 distribute fines and employing inadequate internal accounting controls

1-13 result in inaccurate audits and difficulty in accessing court information; and

1-14 Whereas, Improving the technology used by courts in the State of

1-15 Nevada, including, without limitation, establishing a minimum standard of

1-16 technology in every court in this state, and establishing standardization of

1-17 and consistency in accounting procedures used by courts in the State of

2-1 Nevada will improve judicial administration, improve the rate of

2-2 collections, facilitate accurate audits, ensure timely and equal access to

2-3 accurate court information and maintain the integrity and credibility of the

2-4 judiciary; and

2-5 Whereas, The Administrative Office of the Courts has the duty, under

2-6 the direction of the Supreme Court, to develop procedures for accounting

2-7 and internal auditing for the various courts in the State of Nevada, and to

2-8 make recommendations for the improvement of the administrative

2-9 procedures used by the various courts in this state; and

2-10 Whereas, The Administrative Office of the Courts recently assessed the

2-11 technological resources, abilities and needs in each court in the State of

2-12 Nevada; and

2-13 Whereas, The Administrative Office of the Courts has established

2-14 minimum accounting standards for the Justices’ and Municipal Courts in

2-15 the State of Nevada to standardize accounting practices used by the courts

2-16 in this state; now, therefore, be it

2-17 Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

2-18 Concurring, That the Nevada Legislature hereby encourages the

2-19 Administrative Office of the Courts to identify and carry out in a timely

2-20 manner specific projects designed to improve the use of technology in the

2-21 judicial system, including, without limitation, the development of minimum

2-22 standards of technology, and the development of effective collection

2-23 policies, procedures and support systems, and to continue to explore new

2-24 ways to improve the technology used by the various courts in this state; and

2-25 be it further

2-26 Resolved, That the Administrative Office of the Courts is hereby

2-27 encouraged to assist and encourage all courts in this state to use consistent

2-28 accounting procedures, including, without limitation, using the minimum

2-29 accounting standards that were established by the Administrative Office of

2-30 the Courts, assisting courts in the State of Nevada to develop effective

2-31 procedures for classifying, recording and distributing fines and fees

2-32 collected, and continuing to assess other means for improving the

2-33 accounting procedures used by the courts in this state; and be it further

2-34 Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a

2-35 copy of this resolution to the Director of the Administrative Office of the

2-36 Courts.