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, All pupils, teachers and other school staff deserve a learning

1-2 and working environment that is safe and free from unacceptable behavior

1-3 by pupils, including violence and other activity that is disruptive of the

1-4 academic process; and

1-5 Whereas, During one 12-month period in 1997-1998, this Nation was

1-6 shocked when children opened fire on school grounds resulting in the

1-7 tragic loss of lives and needless injury in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi,

1-8 Oregon and Pennsylvania; and

1-9 Whereas, The public schools in this state are increasingly reporting

1-10 incidents of violence and other unacceptable behavior by pupils on school

1-11 grounds, including violence against staff and other pupils and the

1-12 possession of dangerous weapons; and

1-13 Whereas, In 1991 the Board of County Commissioners of Clark

1-14 County established a Neighborhood Justice Center within its Department

1-15 of Social Services to assist residents of Clark County in resolving conflicts

1-16 by providing a forum for the impartial mediation of disputes and offering

1-17 referrals to appropriate services; and

1-18 Whereas, In 1992, the Neighborhood Justice Center began its Peer

1-19 Mediation Program, which is a form of alternative dispute resolution that

1-20 uses specially chosen pupils who are trained in mediation skills to facilitate

1-21 communication among pupils who are involved in a dispute and help the

1-22 pupils reach a solution to the dispute that is mutually acceptable; and

2-1 Whereas, In 1992, the Peer Mediation Program was offered in 2

2-2 schools of the Clark County School District and has since been expanded

2-3 into 57 schools; and

2-4 Whereas, Since the inception of the Peer Mediation Program, 7,660

2-5 disputes have gone through peer mediation, with a 90 percent rate of

2-6 success at resolving conflicts; and

2-7 Whereas, The Peer Mediation Program teaches pupils valuable life

2-8 skills, including communication skills, critical thinking skills and problem-

2-9 solving skills which pupils can use not only in the school setting but at

2-10 home and in the community; and

2-11 Whereas, When children resolve their own conflicts without resorting

2-12 to violence they learn to take responsibility for their own actions as well as

2-13 gain confidence in their ability to help themselves; and

2-14 Whereas, In recent years, many other schools throughout the Nation

2-15 have also developed peer mediation programs to assist pupils in resolving

2-16 conflicts without resorting to violence, including schools in Mississippi,

2-17 Arkansas, Kentucky, New York, Oregon and California; and

2-18 Whereas, With the success of the Peer Mediation Program in resolving

2-19 conflicts at school in a manner that is peaceable and mutually acceptable,

2-20 both pupils and educational personnel can concentrate on the importance

2-21 of academics free from the worry that disruptive acts of violence may

2-22 occur on school grounds at any time; and

2-23 Whereas, The Neighborhood Justice Center also offers the Culture of

2-24 Peace Program, which is deigned to teach juveniles and adults how to

2-25 reduce prejudice and resolve conflicts; now, therefore, be it

2-26 Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the Assembly

2-27 Concurring, That the members of the 70th session of the Nevada

2-28 Legislature commend the Board of County Commissioners of Clark

2-29 County and its Neighborhood Justice Center for their dedication to the

2-30 success of the Peer Mediation Program; and be it further

2-31 Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a

2-32 copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Board of County

2-33 Commissioners of Clark County and to the Clark County Social Service

2-34 Neighborhood Justice Center.