ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

MINUTES OF THE meeting

of the

ASSEMBLY Committee on Ways and Means

Seventy-First Session

May 26, 2001

The Committee on Ways and Meanswas called to order at 8:12 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2001. Chairman Morse Arberry Jr. presided in Room 3137 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Guest List. All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mr. Morse Arberry Jr., Chairman

Ms. Chris Giunchigliani, Vice Chairwoman

Mr. Bob Beers

Mrs. Barbara Cegavske

Mrs. Vonne Chowning

Mrs. Marcia de Braga

Mr. Joseph Dini, Jr.

Mr. Lynn Hettrick

Ms. Sheila Leslie

Mr. John Marvel

Mr. David Parks

Ms. Sandra Tiffany

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

Mr. David Goldwater (Excused)

Mr. Richard D. Perkins (Excused)

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mark Stevens, Fiscal Analyst

Steve Abba, Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst

Lila Clark, Recording Secretary

Reba Coombs, Transcribing Secretary

Assembly Bill 174: Authorizes juvenile court to establish program of visitation to office of county coroner and to order child adjudicated delinquent to participate in such program. (BDR 5-103)

Vice Chairwoman Giunchigliani recognized Assemblyman Dennis Nolan of Assembly District 13. Mr. Nolan thanked the committee for the opportunity to discuss this bill. Some time ago, he had asked the Chairman to remove the appropriation because the bill would work better without the appropriation. Although he was the only one present today to testify on the bill, Mr. Nolan noted that many people had spoken in favor of A.B. 174 when it was heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The bill passed out on a 9-3 vote.

Mr. Nolan disclosed he had worked for a number of years in Las Vegas and San Diego as a paramedic. He had taught classes to paramedics on anatomy and physiology and the kinetics of injury in the coroner’s office. He had personally witnessed many autopsies. Mr. Nolan referred to his handout (Exhibit C) which included an article from The Las Vegas Review-Journal dated February 6, 2000, concerning a program in Los Angeles. The program entailed court-ordered visits by youthful offenders to the coroner’s office and targeted teens who had been adjudicated and were on the edge of risking their own lives or the lives of others. The program had been developed to help those teens understand their own mortality.

Mr. Nolan said he had contacted the Clark County Coroner’s office and spoke to the coroner, Ron Flood, about the program. Mr. Nolan found this type of program was being conducted in many places around the country, California, New Jersey, Texas, Alaska, Illinois, and Iowa. In 1993, the program was introduced in Nevada and passed through both houses of the legislature. The bill had been amended in the Senate, but died in a conference committee on the last day before sine die. The issue at that time was that not enough information was available to make a determination whether the program would be successful. It was now known, Mr. Nolan concluded, the programs had been very successful. Some of the testimony presented in Exhibit C helped to reinforce the successes.

As he said, Mr. Nolan had spoken with both the Clark County and Washoe County coroner’s offices. Ron Flood from Clark County was very familiar with the program because he and Judge D. Lanny Waite had brought this legislation forward in 1993. They had visited the program in Orange County and found it to be very useful and valuable. Exhibit C included letters of support from Judge Donald Mosley and other judges in the Eighth Judicial District.

The program being proposed for Nevada did not go as far as some of the California programs, where the youths would actually observe an autopsy and see the bodies of people who had expired from traumatic injuries caused by the recklessness of others. A.B. 174 did not mandate viewing an autopsy and the coroner in Clark County indicated it would not be their intention to develop the program in that manner. Mr. Nolan and the coroner agreed that it would be enough to take these youths through the coroner’s office so they could gain an appreciation that death was final. The idea was to remove the youths from their current environment and expose them to the finality of death, the sights, smells, and sounds.

Mr. Nolan testified the Washoe County coroner was the only one who was in opposition to this program. The coroner’s opposition arose from the fact that his office was used for training for the medical school in Reno and he felt the time of his staff would be better served with medical students rather than dealing with youths who had been adjudicated delinquents. Therefore, Washoe County had been amended out of the bill.

The original appropriation in the bill was $10,000, stated Mr. Nolan. Mr. Flood determined that would be the start-up cost to get the program moving along before the fees were in effect. There were costs associated with personnel, protective face masks, gowns, and shoe covers. Mr. Nolan suggested the appropriation be removed from the bill and the fee raised from $35 to $45 for the program. With the number of people expected to go through the program, Mr. Nolan felt the fees would generate approximately $10,000 every year to help offset the costs.

During the original testimony, Mr. Nolan explained three youths from the Rite of Passage program testified before the Assembly Judiciary Committee (Exhibit C). The youths presented very moving testimony about their visits to the Los Angeles County coroner’s program. During the hearing, the young men were wearing ties and looked very clean-cut, but Mr. Nolan reminded the committee that they previously had been ”monsters,” committing assaults, involved in gangs and drugs, etc. Those were the type of youths who could benefit the most from this program.

Mr. Nolan asked for the committee’s consideration of this important piece of legislation. He pledged to help develop the program and bring the results back to the legislature next session.

Vice Chairwoman Giunchigliani felt that “scared straight” programs did not work and felt the bill was too broad-ended. There did not appear to be any relationship between the program and the crime committed by a youth. She suggested if there was an appetite in the committee, an amendment could be drafted to narrow the crimes to assaults or other similar crimes. With this age of population, there needed to be some relationship between the crime and the punishment.

Mrs. Cegavske commented what impressed her the most about the program was the reality of a youth coming face-to-face with death. She contended there was no correlation between death on television and reality. Referring to the letters from judges in Exhibit C, it appeared the judges would like to have discretion in applying this program to juvenile offenders. It would be Mrs. Cegavske’s hope that a child convicted for shoplifting would not be sent to the coroner’s office to view a dead body. She supported the bill and felt it was a great idea, but it should be applied with discretion.

Mr. Nolan pointed out the judges could use this program as an adjunctive-type sentencing program in addition to other programs available to them at the time of sentencing. He asked the committee to be mindful that parents would have the opportunity to override a judge’s decision to sentence their child to this program. A permission waiver was required to be signed by the parents for their child to participate in the program.

Mr. Hettrick commented when he was a teenager, he received a speeding ticket and had been sentenced to traffic school. To this day, he remembered a photograph he was shown of an accident, which he had never forgotten. He stated he could not imagine the impact a trip to the coroner’s office would have on an appropriately sentenced juvenile. He felt the program had merit and it was desirable for the judge to have discretion in sentencing a youth to the program. Mr. Hettrick also felt it was important the parents had to agree to the sentence. He felt there were enough safeguards to prevent the wrong young people from being sent to the program.

Mr. Parks voiced his unenthusiastic feeling toward the concept of the bill. On the surface, he felt the program was good, however, he had some concerns about whether the family of the deceased person had any say whether young people would view the autopsy. Mr. Nolan responded the issue had been discussed at great length during the testimony presented in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. He submitted there was not a lot of humility involved in a coroner’s office with a human body after death. The bodies were exposed to dozens of people, detectives, clerks, clinicians, students, and others. However, Mr. Nolan explained there had been discussion when the program was being developed about not allowing the youths to get close enough to a body for them to recognize a person. In the autopsy rooms, there generally were glass partitions. Mr. Nolan felt that a close-up look at a body would not be as effective as opening up the refrigerator door where there might be six or eight bodies in bags. That was a very sobering scene, indeed. Nevertheless, Mr. Nolan explained the professionalism of the coroner’s office would ensure the identity of the body was protected; however, there was no guarantee that a youth might not see a body rolling by on a table.

Mr. Beers divulged that he had taken a similar tour five or six years ago and he fervently hoped that none of his children became involved in street violence, but if one of them did, he felt this was a good program and a good bill. Mr. Beers referred to Exhibit C and read a portion of an e-mail message from Judge Jennifer Togliatti, which said, “It would appear to me that under the right circumstances this program might make the difference to a juvenile headed down the wrong path.” He agreed the program would not be right for all delinquent youth, but for certain youth, it was a good concept.

Mr. Nolan concluded he would be happy to come back in a couple of years with a status report on the program and he would entertain Ms. Giunchigliani’s suggested amendments.

Chairman Arberry closed the hearing on A.B. 174.

Assembly Bill 283: Makes appropriations to Newlands Project Water Rights Fund and Truckee-Carson Irrigation District for certain expenses relating to water rights. (BDR S-1095)

Mr. Stevens commented the committee had heard A.B. 283 in March of this year. Staff felt it was important to revisit this issue if there were some funds left at the end of the session and whether the committee would be interested in placing this bill on a priority list.

Mrs. de Braga called attention to the first section of the bill. She reminded the committee that last session, the state agreed to place $4 million into the water rights purchase program. Instead, the state appropriated $3.3 million in the hopes it would accumulate sufficient interest to reach the $4 million commitment. However, with the drop in interest rates and other factors, there would not be sufficient money to reach the state’s commitment, and interest rates were expected to drop further.

The state’s obligation in the bill was at least $200,000, which was the amount calculated, at the present interest rates, to reach that commitment. Mrs. de Braga indicated the commitment must still happen, and the sooner the money was available, the less state money would be involved.

When the bill was passed last session, Senator Harry Reid negotiated on behalf of the government with the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District for a settlement amount to cover the costs of lost operating and maintenance funds as the water rights were purchased.

Mrs. de Braga explained the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District settled on a final offer from the federal government which, in essence, took away $100 per acre from any seller. The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District felt this was the amount it needed in order to keep the project whole. The bill said clearly that a fair market value would be paid for the water rights. They set an amount that was fair market value; however, the district now withdrew $100 per acre to make up what they considered to be a shortfall in the operating and maintenance charges.

Ms. Giunchigliani declared the first part of the bill was the most important because there had been a shortfall from last session. Mrs. de Braga said that was correct and the state had committed to pay that shortfall.

Mr. Parks inquired if this bill included funding for the Truckee River Operating Agreement. Ms. de Braga responded this funding would only concern the water rights purchase project, it had nothing to do with the rest of the agreement.

Assembly Bill 504: Makes appropriation to State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for State of Nevada’s share for carrying out Truckee River Operating Agreement. (BDR S-1389)

Mr. Stevens told the committee A.B. 504 was the Governor’s one-shot appropriation that covered the Truckee River Operating Agreement, about which Mr. Parks inquired.

Chairman Arberry stated the committee must take action on some bills this morning and asked Mr. Stevens to review the bills under consideration.

Assembly Bill 115: Revises provisions relating to certain accounts of state department of agriculture. (BDR 50-620)

Mr. Stevens indicated this bill had been heard very early in the session and the purpose was to reorganize the budgets within the Department of Agriculture. The bill was no longer necessary due to the manner in which the subcommittee had closed the budgets. However, there were a couple of small changes which were necessary and A.B. 115 could be the vehicle utilized for those changes.

The Joint Subcommittee on General Government recommended the Apiary Inspection account be deleted and included in the Plant Industry account. The Governor’s recommendation originally had many other accounts coming into the Plant Industry account, but the subcommittee did not agree with the Governor’s recommendations.

In this particular bill, Mr. Stevens pointed out, lines 9-11 needed to be included in statute. There were several other minor adjustments, including Chapter 552, which was where the Apiary Inspection fund was located. With those minor adjustments, the bill would “true up” how the budgets were closed in the Department of Agriculture and allow the Apiary Inspection monies to come into the Plant Industry account.

MRS. CEGAVSKE MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 115.

MS. TIFFANY SECONDED THE MOTION.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MR. PERKINS, MR. GOLDWATER, AND MS. LESLIE ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Assembly Bill 311: Revises provisions governing educational personnel and basic support guarantee for special education. (BDR 34-1084)

A.B. 311 had been heard on May 2^nd, stated Mr. Stevens. He believed amendments were being proposed for the bill.

Ms. Giunchigliani suggested the loan program be removed from the bill. She had been working with the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) and asked the committee consider A.B. 613 next, which was the university’s bill for their scholarship program.

In working with Chancellor Jane Nichols, the bill had been structured with the scholarship loan and grant program in one bill. This would remove most of the language from A.B. 311. However, after recently speaking with the Governor, Ms. Giunchigliani suggested more fully funding special education. The amendment would provide the program not begin until 2003, so for budgeting purposes, the school districts would recommend a 2 percent increase. Currently, the state funded 55 percent. The intent was to reach a 60/40 split because the local districts had expanded and funded items which were not the responsibility of the state.

There had been arguments for full funding, however, the federal government had never come forward and the state could not afford to fully fund the program. Therefore, Ms. Giunchigliani felt the 60/40 split would be equitable and was based on recommendations from an interim study.

The amendment would allow the state to contribute 58 percent of the funding in 2003 and by 2005, increase to 60 percent. This would not impact the budget now, it was more of a policy decision which would keep the issue alive. The Governor agreed with Ms. Giunchigliani and she said he felt this was a responsible method to keep the program from being forgotten.

MRS. CEGAVSKE MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 311.

MS. TIFFANY SECONDED THE MOTION.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MR. PERKINS, MR. GOLDWATER, AND MS. LESLIE ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Assembly Bill 613: Requires transfers of money from fund for school improvement to provide scholarships for students pursuing degrees in teaching. (BDR S-434)

Mr. Stevens referred to Section 1 of the bill and mentioned the language was to cleanup legislation from 1999, whereby the UCCSN had been shorted by $130,680 in this fiscal year. The remainder of the bill provided additional funds for the UCCSN for teaching scholarships, adding both Great Basin College and Nevada State College, because they would have teaching programs. Mr. Stevens recalled those amounts had been amended down to $180,000 in the first year and $205,000 in the second year of the biennium. He believed there were some additional amendments as well.

Ms. Giunchigliani reiterated this was the language she had discussed with Dr. Jane Nichols, Dr. Joe Crowley, and Rick Bennett of the UCCSN. The funding for this program came from the Estate Tax and currently funded 45 scholarships. The second part of the bill provided a loan program for students who had been recruited in Nevada based on a plan which would require the state Board of Education and the regents to locate students graduating from high school to participate in a loan/grant program.

The third part of the bill, added Ms. Giunchigliani, established a $100,000 fund for teachers already licensed, but where there were shortages. For instance, if a teacher would agree to teach in the area of math for two credits, they could return to the university, which would pay for books, tuition, or hours.

The bill was structured in three tiers, and addressed both scholarships and loans. The loan program was modeled after the federal program. If a teacher were to teach in an underserved, at-risk area, for a period of five years, Ms. Giunchigliani stated the loan would be waived. If the teacher agreed to teach anywhere else within the state of Nevada for three years, there would be a commensurate reduction in the loan. This was a method to keep teachers in the state and in underserved areas where there were teacher shortages.

Answering a question from Mrs. Cegavske, Ms. Giunchigliani said this was one-shot money, there were no General Fund monies in the bill. The intent was the UCCSN would manage the program, and all interest and payments would return to the program, so there would be a regeneration of the fund.

Mrs. Cegavske inquired if ongoing funding would have to be provided after the one-shot money had been expended. Ms. Giunchigliani pointed out with $250,000, there would not be enough money to build a full corpus with principal. The fund would not be depleted right away, and she believed it was the regents’ intent to try to build up a fund. The program was modeled in some fashion after the nursing and doctor recruitment program. This one-shot appropriation would not bind the state to future funding of the program.

MS. TIFFANY MOVED AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 613.

MRS. CHOWNING SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MR. PERKINS, MR. GOLDWATER, AND MS. LESLIE ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Ms. Giunchigliani agreed to make the floor statement when the bill was on General File.

Assembly Bill 503: Makes appropriation to Department of Business and Industry for replacement of certain computers in Office of Labor Commissioner. (BDR S-1387)

Mr. Stevens advised the committee this bill was a one-shot appropriation which was in The Executive Budget for replacement computer equipment in the Labor Commissioner’s office. Prices had been compared in the same fashion as in all the budget closings, and staff recommended the amount be reduced from $18,320 to $15,867.

MR. BEERS MOVED AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 503.

MR. PARKS SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MR. PERKINS, MR. GOLDWATER, AND MS. LESLIE ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Chairman Arberry asked Mr. Beers to give the floor statement during the Assembly general session.

Assembly Bill 504: Makes appropriation to State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for State of Nevada’s share for carrying out Truckee River Operating Agreement. (BDR S-1389)

Mr. Stevens told the committee A.B. 504 was an $80,000 General Fund appropriation which was in The Executive Budget. He informed the committee a representative from Washoe County was present in the audience and he understood some of the money could be amended out of the bill.

Chairman Arberry recognized Maddy Shipman of Washoe County. Ms. Shipman indicated she had mentioned to Mr. Stevens this morning that the appropriation request had been submitted before the actual bill had arrived. The bill was just under $35,000 and after discussions with the county water resources personnel and others, it was determined the billing would not go higher. This was a small reduction, but $70,000 over the biennium would be sufficient. Ms. Shipman indicated she had not discussed the reduction with the state engineer and he may not be in agreement; nevertheless, she believed $70,000 would be sufficient.

MR. HETTRICK MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 504.

THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY MS. GIUNCHIGLIANI.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MR. PERKINS, MR. GOLDWATER, AND MS. LESLIE ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Ms. Giunchigliani agreed to give the floor statement when the bill was on General File.

Assembly Bill 507: Makes appropriation to State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for radio connection between Nevada State Park System and Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety.

(BDR S-1393)

This bill was included in the Governor’s one-shot appropriations in the sum of $193,323, disclosed Mr. Stevens. The funding was primarily for radios for the State Parks Division and no adjustments had been recommended by staff.

MRS. CHOWNING MOVED DO PASS.

MR. BEERS SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MR. PERKINS, MR. GOLDWATER, AND MS. LESLIE ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Mrs. Chowning indicated she would take care of the floor statement.

Assembly Bill 514: Makes appropriation to Interim Finance Committee for allocation to Department of Human Resources for electronic application process for Nevada Check Up program and Medicaid assistance.

(BDR S-1409)

Mr. Stevens stated this was a one-shot appropriation for an electronic application process for the Medicaid and Nevada Check Up program. He did not believe the amount had been completely established, but there were no alternative suggestions. The staff recommendation was to pass the bill with the $500,000, unless the committee was aware of any other circumstances which would affect this bill.

Ms. Giunchigliani inquired if this funding related to the Web page. Mr. Abba indicated that was correct. Ms. Giunchigliani asked that a Letter of Intent be added so the agency would report to the Interim Finance Committee (IFC) about the development of the program.

Mr. Hettrick suggested the appropriation of $500,000 be approved to the IFC with a Letter of Intent so the agency would have to report to the IFC with the actual cost. Mr. Abba informed the committee this appropriation would leverage federal funds in the approximate sum of $982,000, for a total project cost of approximately $1.45 million. He agreed it would be a good idea for the agency to report to the IFC on the actual cost to develop and implement the project.

Mr. Stevens explained there would be no need for a Letter of Intent if the appropriation was made to the IFC.

MR. HETTRICK MOVED AMEND AND DO PASS.

MS. GIUNCHIGLIANI SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION PASSED WITH MR. GOLDWATER, MS. LESLIE, AND MR. PERKINS ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Assembly Bill 520: Makes appropriation to Governor’s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust for continuation of its educational programs. (BDR S-1434)

Mr. Stevens advised this bill was an appropriation for Holocaust education. Traditionally, this funding had been appropriated to the Department of Education and flowed through that agency. The Ways and Means Committee had historically appropriated to state agencies, not to individual entities, and staff would recommend the appropriation be made to the Department of Education as had been done in the past.

Ms. Giunchigliani remarked she usually carried this piece of legislation, and unfortunately, rather than having the appropriation placed permanently in the Governor’s administration budget, a bill had been drafted. This money, among other things, funded the advisory council when they traveled throughout the state offering programs and workshops for teachers. This was the same dollar amount appropriated for at least the last six years and there was always a report prepared as to how the funding was expended. Generally, approximately double this amount was raised in order to continue the programs.

MS. GIUNCHIGLIANI MOVED AMEND AND DO PASS TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR DISTRIBUTION.

MRS. CHOWNING SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION PASSED WITH MR. GOLDWATER, MS. LESLIE, AND MR. PERKINS ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Ms. Giunchigliani agreed to take care of the floor statement when the bill was on General File in the Assembly.

Assembly Bill 521: Makes appropriation to Nevada Commission for National and Community Service. (BDR S-1350)

Mr. Stevens indicated A.B. 521 was another one-shot appropriation from the Governor in the sum of $325,000 to the Nevada Commission for National and Community Service. This group had been funded in the past and the appropriation had flowed through the Governor’s Office. Staff recommended the appropriation be made to the Governor’s Office and then flow out to the appropriate entity.

There were some changes necessary in the language as this bill was not very descriptive. The language changes would be made in accordance with the bill passed last session and staff requested the authority to make those changes. Additionally, Mr. Stevens advised there had been discussions between Chairman Arberry and Senator Raggio about including a requirement that a report be made to the next session of the legislature when money was appropriated to private groups. Mr. Stevens also suggested language which would give authority to the legislative auditor to access records in the event an audit was necessary.

Mr. Parks noted that some organizations claimed they could achieve certain goals and he inquired if the goals and objectives could be reported back to the legislature. Mr. Stevens said a request of that nature could be included in the reporting mechanism of the bill.

Concerning some of those budgets, Mrs. de Braga remarked that in the past, a copy of the preceding year’s financial statement had been requested to track how the money had been spent. Mr. Stevens replied that any language the committee requested could be included in the bill.

Mr. Hettrick suggested the bill be amended to include a report which would specify how the funding was spent and the right to audit records. If the right to audit the organization’s records was agreed upon, it would allow access to financial statements as well. He did not feel it was necessary to obtain financial records from every entity who was appropriated money. However, if the right to audit records was included, all the organization’s records could be reviewed, including financial statements, if there was any doubt as to how the money had been expended.

MR. HETTRICK MOVED AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 521.

MRS. De BRAGA SECONDED THE MOTION.

Mr. Beers recommended the words “financial and/or performance” be added before the word “audit.” Mr. Hettrick indicated he would support that amendment.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MR. PERKINS, MR. GOLDWATER, AND MS. LESLIE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.

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Chairman Arberry asked Mr. Hettrick to present the bill explanation on the Assembly floor.

Assembly Bill 523: Makes appropriations to Motor Pool Division of Department of Administration and Investigation Division of Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety for purchase of additional vehicles.

(BDR S-1357)

Mr. Stevens stated A.B. 523 was the appropriation of just over $2 million to enable Motor Pool to purchase additional vehicles. The total amount was not recommended to change, but based on the closings of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety budgets, there were some changes. Staff recommended it would be necessary to break out $274,012 to the Nevada Division of Investigations (NDI). Normally, the vehicles used in the agency were agency vehicles, not motor pool cars. Additionally, there was one vehicle in the NDI which could be funded through the Highway Fund. That investigator worked exclusively on vehicle-related issues and could utilize Highway Funds in the sum of $22,341.

Therefore, staff recommended changes in three sections of the bill. The first would be the amount on line 3 which would change to $1,749,874. An additional appropriation of $274,012 in General Fund monies for the NDI for agency vehicles, and finally, a Highway Fund appropriation of $22,341 to NDI for a vehicle purchase. Mr. Stevens pointed out the overall total dollars remained virtually the same.

MR. DINI MOVED AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 523.

THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY MR. PARKS.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MS. LESLIE, MR. PERKINS, AND MR. GOLDWATER ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Assembly Bill 525: Makes appropriation to Supreme Court of Nevada for security system upgrades, system-wide website and communications infrastructure, and new and replacement equipment. (BDR S-1359)

This was a one-shot appropriation included in The Executive Budget for the Supreme Court to cover a number of items, remarked Mr. Stevens. When the court representatives presented testimony in full committee and before the joint subcommittee, they had been asked to reduce their request. The Supreme Court had reduced their request to $395,028 by eliminating the security system upgrade, the Web site computer equipment, and the computer prices had been reduced. Additionally, some recording equipment had been eliminated from the request.

MRS. CHOWNING MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 525.

MR. HETTRICK SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MS. LESLIE, MR. PERKINS, AND MR. GOLDWATER ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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Chairman Arberry asked Mr. Parks to present the floor statement.

Assembly Bill 526: Makes appropriation to Department of Taxation for purchase of new and replacement equipment. (BDR S-1360)

This bill was one of two one-shot appropriations from the Department of Taxation, stated Mr. Stevens. This particular bill was for replacement of office and computer equipment. The department had been requested to revise their prices based on the figures utilized in budget closings. Staff reviewed the department’s changes and agreed with the revised amount of $454,173.

MS. GIUNCHIGLIANI MOVED AMEND AND DO PASS.

THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY MR. HETTRICK.

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WITH MS. LESLIE, MR. PERKINS, AND MR. GOLDWATER ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.

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The Chairman instructed Mr. Beers to handle the floor statement when the bill was on General File.

There being no further business before the committee, Chairman Arberry adjourned the meeting at 9:07 a.m.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

Reba Coombs

Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:

Assemblyman Morse Arberry Jr., Chairman

DATE: