CHAPTER........

Section 1. 1. The Committee to Study the Funding of Higher

Education, consisting of 12 voting members and 4 nonvoting members, is

hereby created.

2. The following persons shall serve as voting members of the

Committee:

(a) Three members of the Senate, appointed by the Majority Leader of

the Senate;

(b) Three members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the

Assembly;

(c) Three members of the Board of Regents, appointed by the Chairman

of that board; and

(d) Three members appointed by the Governor.

3. The Governor shall appoint the following persons to serve as the

nonvoting members of the Committee:

(a) One person who is employed in the Budget Division of the

Department of Administration; and

(b) Three persons who are employed by the University and Community

College System of Nevada.

4. The Chairman of the Legislative Commission shall designate one of

the members as Chairman of the Committee.

5. The Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall provide the

necessary professional staff and a secretary for the Committee.

6. For each day or portion of a day during which they attend a meeting

of the Committee or are otherwise engaged in the business of the

Committee:

(a) The voting members of the Committee who are Legislators are

entitled to receive the compensation provided for a majority of the

members of the Legislature during the first 60 days of the preceding regular

session plus the per diem allowance provided for state officers and

employees generally and the travel expenses provided pursuant to NRS

218.2207.

(b) The voting members of the Committee who are members of the

Board of Regents are entitled to receive travel expenses and a per diem

allowance at the rates established in NRS 396.070.

(c) The voting members of the Committee appointed by the Governor

are entitled to receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses provided

for state officers and employees generally.

Sec. 2. The Committee shall:

1. Compare the existing method of funding higher education in Nevada

with the methods used in other states; and

2. Determine whether the other methods would be appropriate and

useful in Nevada.

Sec. 3. The Committee may hold public hearings at such times and

places as it deems necessary to afford the general public and

representatives of governmental agencies and of organizations interested in

higher education an opportunity to present relevant information and

recommendations.

Sec. 4. The Committee may employ such educational and financial

consultants as it deems necessary for this study.

Sec. 5. The Committee may accept and use all gifts and grants which it

receives to further its work.

Sec. 6. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to

the Legislative Commission the sum of $150,000 for the purpose of

conducting a study of the funding of higher education as provided in this

act.

2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1

must not be committed for expenditure after December 31, 2000, and

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

committed have been made.

Sec. 7. The Committee shall submit to the Legislative Commission a

report of its findings and recommendations for legislation before the

commencement of the 71st session of the Legislature.

Sec. 8. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999, and expires by

limitation on January 1, 2001.

~