Senate Bill No. 272–Senator Neal

March 1, 1999

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Referred to Committee on Finance

 

SUMMARY—Makes appropriation to Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County for replacement of its paratransit fleet that provides transportation for certain persons. (BDR S-1497)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.

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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).

 

AN ACT making an appropriation to the Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County for the replacement of its paratransit fleet that provides transportation for certain persons; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Whereas, During the 6-month period from July 1, 1998, to December

31, 1998, the cost of repairs and maintenance for the paratransit fleet of the

Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County increased from $31,594.23

to $74,447.69; and

Whereas, This 36 percent increase in the cost of repairs and

maintenance is exorbitant for the 13 vehicles in the fleet, averaging 10

years old, and accounts for 10.4 percent of the overall expenses of the

Economic Opportunity Board’s Transportation Department, not including

the cost of labor; and

Whereas, Every year, the Economic Opportunity Board Transportation

Services saves the State of Nevada an estimated $186,290 because the

Economic Opportunity Board is a nonprofit provider and only charges the

State of Nevada approximately $18 per round trip for transportation of

persons on Medicaid, compared to the average round-trip cost of other

providers at approximately $27; and

Whereas, Approximately 89 percent of the transportation provided by

the Economic Opportunity Board is directly or indirectly provided for

persons receiving benefits from the State of Nevada, including

approximately 470 Medicaid rides per week for clients with mental health

problems, patients in wheelchairs, senior citizens needing adult day care

and patients receiving dialysis treatments; and

Whereas, Additionally, the Economic Opportunity Board transports

approximately 101 children per week for Southern Nevada Child and

Adolescent Services and 65 children per week for the Nevada Children’s

Center; and

Whereas, During 1998, a total of approximately 2,556 rides were

provided per month by the Economic Opportunity Board’s Transportation

Department and of those, 2,283 were a direct benefit to the State of

Nevada; and

Whereas, For 34 years, the Economic Opportunity Board of Clark

County has provided excellent services within the State of Nevada, and an

investment in reliable transportation now will save the Economic

Opportunity Board and the State of Nevada money tomorrow; and

Whereas, An investment in a replacement paratransit fleet will also

preserve the quality of the transportation services provided to seniors,

children and disabled persons from this state, which is certainly a

worthwhile investment in the future for the State of Nevada; now, therefore,

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

2-1 Section 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to

2-2 the Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County the sum of $350,000 for

2-3 the replacement of its paratransit fleet that provides transportation for

2-4 senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities.

2-5 Sec. 2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by section 1

2-6 of this act must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2001, and

2-7 reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of money

2-8 committed have been made.

2-9 Sec. 3. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

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