MINUTES OF THE

SENATE Committee on Finance

 

Seventy-First Session

March 22, 2001

 

 

The Senate Committee on Financewas called to order by Chairman William J. Raggio at 4:22 p.m., on Thursday, March 22, 2001, in Room 2134 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Agenda.  Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.  All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Senator William J. Raggio, Chairman

Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Vice Chairman

Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen

Senator Bob Coffin

Senator Bernice Mathews

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

Senator William R. O’Donnell (Excused)

Senator Joseph M. Neal Jr. (Excused)

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Gary L. Ghiggeri, Senate Fiscal Analyst

Bob Guernsey, Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst

Georgia J. Rohrs, Program Analyst

Bob Williston, Committee Secretary

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

Steve Williams, Lobbyist, Washoe County School District

Rita Hemmert, Early Childhood/Kindergarten Program Coordinator, Bullis Curriculum Center, Washoe County School District

Dotty L. Merrill, Ph.D., Lobbyist, Washoe County School District

Lonnie F. Shields, Lobbyist, Washoe County Education Administrators Association

Phyllis Dryden, Team Leader, Workforce Education, Department of Education

Linsay Oakden, Member, Future Farmers of America

Stephanie Jordan, Past State Historian, Future Farmers of America

 

 

Senator Raggio announced there were two bill draft requests (BDRs) proposed for committee introduction. He stated that both were requested by the Department of Administration, and both are included in the budget.

 

BILL DRAFT REQUEST S-1413: Makes appropriation to the Department of Human             Resources for assistive devices for citizens with disabilities to maintain an             independent living environment. (Later introduced as Senate Bill 477.)

 

Senator Raggio indicated this appropriation is for $500,000 according to the summary of Bill Draft Requests (BDRs) for Senate Finance Introduction – March 22, 2001 (Exhibit C.)

 

            SENATOR RAWSON MOVED TO INTRODUCE BDR S-1413.

 

            SENATOR JACOBSEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

            THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATORS NEAL, COFFIN, AND O’DONNELL             WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)

 

BILL DRAFT REQUEST S-1416: Makes appropriation to the Department of Motor             Vehicles and Public Safety for wiring and modular furniture for Las Vegas             facility.  (Later introduced as Senate Bill 476.)

 

Senator Raggio indicated this appropriation is for $969,592 from the State Highway Fund to the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety. (See Exhibit C.)

 

            SENATOR RAWSON MOVED TO INTRODUCE BDR S-1416.

 

            SENATOR MATHEWS SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

            THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATORS NEAL, COFFIN, AND O’DONNELL             WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)

 

Senator Raggio indicated BDR S-1413 and BDR S-1416 will be introduced as committee bills.

 

Senator Raggio noted there were 5 bills on the agenda. He said that, at the request of Senator Porter, Senate Bill (S.B.) 224 has been removed from the agenda and will be scheduled for another hearing.

 

SENATE BILL 224:  Authorizes use of money from state distributive school             account to support special counseling services for certain elementary school             pupils. (BDR S-1047)

 

Senator Raggio opened the hearing on Senate Bill 142.

 

SENATE BILL 142:  Makes appropriation to Washoe County School District for             creation of pilot program to expand kindergarten instruction at selected             elementary schools. (BDR S-456)

 

Steve Williams, Lobbyist, Washoe County School District, said this is Washoe County School District’s kindergarten bill. He introduced the individuals who would speak on the bill. He also introduced the puppet “Todd the Fox”, which is an integral part of the Fox in the Box Literacy Assessment Program for kindergarten through second grades, and would be part of the type of program that would be implemented should this bill be passed.

 

Rita Hemmert, Early Childhood/Kindergarten Program Coordinator, Bullis Curriculum Center, Washoe County School District, said she is present to speak in favor of S.B. 142 and distributed a summary of her comments (Exhibit D).

 

Ms. Hemmert pointed out that Washoe County School District has identified 17 at‑risk schools whose children would benefit from extended hours and extra certified staff in their classrooms. She explained that the extra time would come from extending the kindergarten day from 2½ hours to 3 hours. This, she added, would also allow teachers to have more direct teaching time, more contact time with children, more time to develop language skills in second language learners, and more time for these children to speak and use the English they are learning.

 

Ms. Hemmert noted that in these 17 at-risk schools about 52 percent of children do not speak English, and in 6 of these schools the number is higher than 60 percent. She said the roving teachers in this bill are the most exciting part of the bill, in her opinion. She stated that these roving teachers would be provided extra training in math and reading programs that each of the sites is using. She said they would also provide extra “eyes and hands” in the classroom to assist the children. She added that they will help the slower children understand the critical concepts and help the brighter children deepen the understandings they are receiving.

 

Ms. Hemmert also said these roving teachers will cut the class size down to one third on one day during each week, thereby allowing the classroom teacher to have a second and third “set of eyes” in the classroom to notice any child who is having problems. Together, she said, these teachers will form a team that will analyze these situations and find solutions for these children. She said no pullout program such as library, music, computer, or physical education will be scheduled on the day when this extra team of teachers comes into the classroom.

 

Ms. Hemmert explained that the roving teachers would allow the classroom to have three small groups of children receiving direct instruction from a certified teacher at one time, thus tripling the effectiveness of the teaching day. She added that the roving teachers would add their expertise to the classrooms, which will benefit the children who need it the most.

 

Ms. Hemmert said the measurement of success of this pilot program would be in the scores of the district’s criterion-referenced tests (CRT’s) for reading and math in the first and second grades, and on the state-mandated CRTs in reading and math in the third grade.

 

Ms. Hemmert stated that if the 2001 Legislature funds the norm-referenced test at fourth grade these nationally-normed results will also be used to evaluate the success of this program.

 

Senator Raggio noted that the bill indicates that these teams would be roving, and the curriculum would be reading and math. He asked whether there would be additional persons hired for this purpose. Ms. Hemmert said there would.

 

Senator Raggio asked whether such teachers are readily available. He pointed out that a bill has been proposed to compensate math, science, and special education teachers at a higher rate; and stated that some have told the committee that more of these teachers cannot be found. He asked whether there are qualified people available to fill these positions.

 

Dotty L. Merrill, Lobbyist, Washoe County School District, pointed out that the school district would be looking for experienced teachers rather than new teachers. She said they would be freeing up positions where these teachers are currently in classrooms, and the school district would be looking for new teachers to go to the classrooms.

 

Senator Raggio reiterated that teachers would be taken out of classrooms to participate in teams in full-time assignments, and they would need to be replaced with other teachers. Dr. Merrill agreed. Senator Raggio said it is his understanding that a half hour would be added to each day, and, on a certain specific day, the roving team would come in and that would be a different day in each of these schools.

 

Ms. Hemmert replied that would be the case. She explained that a half hour would be added to each session of kindergarten, noting that in Washoe County there are two sessions a day. She said the roving teachers would come in one day a week. Senator Raggio asked whether a day would be freed up for these activities by adding a half day to the week. He asked whether the purpose of adding the half hour a day is to take the activities out of the day that is to be available to the roving teams.

 

Ms. Hemmert said that is true, and added that it is also to give more time in class. She noted that the present 2½ hours per day for kindergarten is a very short amount of time.

 

Senator Raggio asked how the cost of $1,918,000 was computed, noting that was the appropriation being requested. He said he did not have a fiscal note, and asked whether there is a compilation of the calculations. Dr. Merrill said there is, and indicated that could be provided. She noted it had been attached when the BDR was submitted.

 

Dr. Merrill, referring to a summary of appropriations required for the program (Exhibit E), indicated that an additional 6 days per kindergarten teacher is built into the plan at the 17 schools selected. This, she explained, is done for planning sessions with reading and math curriculum and instructional experts.

 

Dr. Merrill said they have also built in the eight additional teacher positions for the four teams of two teachers each. Three of these four teams, she said, would be working 188 days per year, and one team would work 208 days per year in order to work with the multi‑track, year-round schools.

 

Dr. Merrill said clerical assistance from an entry-level secretary or senior clerk has also been included. This, she explained, would allow the teacher to have the half‑hour, duty-free lunch that is part of the contract. She stated additional materials have been built in for each of the schools and additional time for the clerical assistance.

 

Lonnie F. Shields, Lobbyist, Washoe County Education Administrators Association (WCEAA), spoke in favor of S.B. 142. He distributed a summary of his comments (Exhibit F) to the members of the committee.

 

He stated that the members of the WCEAA believe strongly that the kindergarten experience is of the utmost importance to the development of a successful student. He referred to it as a “magic time” in their lives, a time when learning and social skills are first discovered. He said it is a time when the foundation for all learning takes place. Yet, he claimed, this is an arena where  movement toward excellence is left behind in this state. He pointed out that it has been deemed appropriate to say there should only be 16 students to a teacher in grades 1 and 2, but kindergarten teachers have been left to deal with 30 students to a class, which, in most cases, means 60 students a day, 30 in the morning and 30 in the afternoon sessions.

 

Mr. Shields said Washoe County realizes, as does the WCEAA, that there is neither the money nor the facilities available to answer the class-size problems experienced in kindergartens. He pointed out that the pilot program suggested in S.B. 142 would offer needed assistance to the kindergarten teachers in at-risk schools. He said it would lengthen the school day for those students, offering them additional opportunities to learn and to give the teacher additional time in which to teach.

 

Mr. Shield stated that, in a perfect world, kindergarten classes would be much smaller, and all children would receive equity in their educational experiences. Also, he said, the money would be available in a perfect world for all the facilities needed to do the job. But in our imperfect world, he added, the WCEAA feels that passing this bill and allowing the Washoe County School District to pilot this program will be giving these very young students one more step up on the ladder to success.

 

“All I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten,” Mr. Shields quoted, and added that it is as true a quote as he can think of. He thanked the committee for his opportunity to testify on this bill.

 

Senator Mathews stated that she supports this bill in concept. She asked whether all of the 188 days a year that the teachers would be in schools would be instructional days. Mr. Shields said he believes there are 183 teaching days and the rest are training days.

 

Dr. Merrill added that there will be a focus on instructional and learning strategies that these teachers will not have mastered. Senator Mathews asked for clarification that the schedule is for 183 days of instruction, and Dr. Merrill said that is the case.

 

Senator Mathews pointed out that would not give the students 30 more minutes a day. Dr. Merrill explained that they would not be adding days, but rather time in a day. She explained that the kindergarten schedule will be increased from 2½ hours in the morning to 3 hours in the morning, and a similar increase will occur in the afternoon sessions.

 

Senator Raggio closed the hearing on Senate Bill 142.

 

Senator Raggio opened the hearing on Senate Bill 147.

 

SENATE BILL 147:  Makes appropriation to Washoe County School District for             pilot program to increase educational opportunities for pupils enrolled in             junior high schools, middle schools and high schools. (BDR S-457)

 

Senator Raggio said this bill would authorize the employment of teachers and others from the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) to teach in this program.

 

Dr. Merrill distributed a folder of materials (Exhibit G. Original is on file in the Research Library.) and a summary of comments (Exhibit H) relevant to S.B. 147. She said the Washoe County School District wishes to amend the bill by deleting language that was initially included in the bill. She also distributed a handout that indicates the requested deletions to the bill (Exhibit I).

 

Senator Raggio asked Dr. Merrill to explain the goal of the bill and what the amendment does.

 

Dr. Merrill replied that the amendments remove something from the bill that the school district is no longer seeking to accomplish. She said they had initially included language that would allow them to employ instructors, teachers, or professors from the UCCSN in schools if they could not find certified teachers for what they want to offer the students. She explained that since the school district submitted the bill draft, they have decided to address this issue in another way, through the collective bargaining process, rather than through the Legislature.

 

Senator Raggio noted that the amendment essentially deletes Section 1 of the bill. Dr. Merrill explained that they are deleting Subsection 2 of Section 1. She added that they wish to amend the language of Subsection 1 of Section 1 by striking the words “junior high schools, middle schools and.” Senator Raggio noted that this would direct the bill only for a pilot program in high school. Dr. Merrill said that is so.

 

Senator Raggio indicated that would require some amendment in Section 2 as well. Dr. Merrill pointed out that in line 9 in Section 2 the reference to junior high schools and middle schools would need to also be deleted.

 

Senator Raggio noted that this bill was prepared at the request of the Washoe County School District, and he asked whether Dr. Merrill wished to speak to the bill as it is proposed to be amended.

 

Dr. Merrill drew attention to Exhibit J, and indicated that page 2 is a summary of S.B. 147. One of the important features of this proposal, she pointed out, is the provision of NovaNet, an interactive distance learning resource, at the Regional Technical Institute. She explained that NovaNet has been placed in all of the district’s comprehensive high schools, but it is not yet in the Regional Technical Institute.

 

Dr. Merrill said NovaNet is used primarily by students who are seeking to recover credit for courses they have failed, and to provide appropriate remedial practice for students who are getting ready to take the high school proficiency exam in reading and math.

 

Dr. Merrill noted 2 other key points of this proposal can be viewed in the context of words from a very influential twentieth century philosopher, Yogi Berra, who once said “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Dr. Merrill said the intention with the remainder of this proposal is to provide not only a fork in the road for the students, but also to equip students to follow the road in either one or both of the directions that proceed from that fork.

 

Dr. Merrill explained that the first of these points is fully funding the cost for each sophomore student in the school district to take an assessment called PLAN. She explained that this would provide a preliminary inventory of each sophomore’s career interests and academic preparations connected to those interests. This portion of the proposal calls for fully funding the administration of PLAN, which is an academic and career assessment instrument developed by the American College Testing (ACT) program to all tenth graders.

 

Dr. Merrill said that in the fall of 2001 it is proposed to test more than 4,000 sophomore students, and an even greater number in the fall of 2002. She mentioned that there are informational materials in Exhibit G concerning PLAN, as well as a sample student report. This, she explained, provides each student with valuable information. She called attention to the descriptions of career clusters and career areas, and a map for the “world of work.” This, she stated, is information that can be used by the student and his or her parents to make future scheduling decisions or to discuss coursework needs and plans.

 

Senator Raggio asked whether this test is to be given to sophomores, and Dr. Merrill said it is. Senator Raggio asked where the PLAN assessment is presently being utilized. Dr. Merrill said a pilot program using PLAN was conducted during this school year at Wooster High School to make sure the kind of reports it produces are things students and parents can use. Senator Raggio asked how that pilot program is being funded. Dr. Merrill said it is funded through a private grant provided by an interested member of the community.

 

Dr. Merrill said the second important point is fully funding the cost for each sophomore and junior in the school district to take a different assessment called the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test). This, she explained, would provide a different kind of roadmap for strategic planning for students and their parents. The PSAT assessment, she pointed out, is focused on the student’s academic preparation for a college or university after high school graduation. This portion of the proposal calls for the administration of the PSAT for all tenth and eleventh grade students. This, she said, would involve about 7,700 students in the fall of 2001 and about 7,900 students in the fall of 2002.

 

Dr. Merrill said the materials related to the PSAT are in Exhibit G. She indicated a copy of the alignment which has been completed between the Nevada standards and the PSAT. One of the crucial uses to be made of this information is to allow the school district to see in a longitudinal way how students are doing on a nationally-normed reference test that has been aligned to Nevada standards.

 

Dr. Merrill also drew attention to a student report for the PSAT. She noted that the report not only gives scores, but also gives very specific suggestions made for how students can improve their skills based upon the right and wrong answers they gave in each content area. She also pointed to information in Exhibit G that can assist students with educational planning.

 

The PSAT, Dr. Merrill explained, is the only national assessment for which the student receives a copy of the actual test. The student can look at the test, along with the report, and see what kinds of problems were encountered.

 

Dr. Merrill stated that this proposal is an up-front investment in sophomore and junior students at a fairly low cost. She added that it will yield academic results in the achievement of the standards. It will improve the number of students passing the high school proficiency exam and move toward better-prepared students who move into the University and Community College System of Nevada. She said that, over time, it is expected that the need for remediation for students in the University and Community College System of Nevada will be greatly reduced. She said she also hopes to see an increase in the number of high school graduates who go on to college.

 

Dr. Merrill noted that this committee and other committees have heard testimony about the need for an assessment that could be administered to high school sophomores and that could assess their preparation for a college or university experience in time for instructional corrections to occur before graduation. By administering the PLAN and the PSAT to sophomores, the students have the results while they still have five semesters left of high school. Those five semesters, she said, are crucial in making academic corrections.

 

Dr. Merrill referred again to Yogi Berra’s words, and said that the strategy will enable the school district to provide a symbolic fork in the road and to assist students in being prepared to take whichever fork they and their parents choose.

 

Dr. Merrill stated that the final part of the proposal is the provision of financial assistance for students who choose to challenge themselves by taking the most demanding academic courses in either or both of the advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs. She said the exams for these courses are mandatory, and this proposal would provide financial assistance in the amount of $35 per exam to students taking more than one advanced placement exam or international baccalaureate exam.

 

Dr. Merrill said the provisions of S.B. 147 would put in place a pilot program that she believes will establish a unique opportunity to impact the access of Washoe County students to occupational or educational roads after graduation from high school. She said the school district believes this provides opportunities and information which will enable students and parents to make better-informed decisions and to be better equipped after making those decisions, regardless of which fork they take in this road.

 

Senator Raggio described the goals of this proposal as admirable. He asked whether all these proposed tests would be done at the Regional Technical Institute.

 

Dr. Merrill replied that only the NovaNet part of the proposal applies to the Regional Technical Institute, because that provides the technology.

 

Senator Raggio asked what the estimated cost is. Dr. Merrill replied the cost is $66,244 for the interactive, distance-learning program. Senator Raggio asked whether this is a one-time cost, and Dr. Merrill assured him that it is.

 

Senator Raggio asked for clarification that the PLAN test is for academic and career assessment. Dr. Merrill said it is. Senator Raggio asked whether this test would be in addition to the testing that is already mandatory. Dr. Merrill said it would. Senator Raggio asked whether that is also true of the PSAT test to be given to the tenth and eleventh grade students, and Dr. Merrill said that also is true.

 

Senator Raggio stated that he finds no fault with the proposal, but he noted that some say schools are already giving too many tests and that too much time is taken up with testing.

 

Dr. Merrill responded that, if students are to be helped in the present as well as in the future, they need to be provided with data that will enable them to make better course selections and be better prepared for graduation. She said she strongly believes that the time expended for these purposes is well worth it.

 

Senator Raggio asked whether the students would still take the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). Dr. Merrill pointed out that test is given on Saturdays.

 

Senator Raggio recalled that in a recent issue of Time magazine there was an article about the value of SATs and whether they should be done away with. He noted that Nevada is one of the lowest ranking states in the number of students going on to college, and he suggested that the sooner a student’s capability can be determined, the easier it would be to make adjustments and offer some help. Dr. Merrill replied that is the goal of this plan.

 

Dr. Merrill noted that, in Washoe County School District, 46 percent of seniors in the class of 2000 took the ACT (American College Test) and 38 percent took the SAT. She said the school district believes the participation rate can be significantly improved in those assessments. She also noted that students who take those tests are typically students who move on to a college or university experience.

 

Senator Raggio drew attention to Subsection 2(d) of Section 2 and asked what the $35 payment is for. Dr. Merrill responded that it is necessary to pay a fee to take a test. She stated that the fee is $77 per exam and students who take two or more would be compensated $35 per exam. Senator Raggio noted that the student would pay some of the cost and this payment would be of some assistance to them. Dr. Merrill said that is the intention of the bill.

 

Senator Raggio asked who provides the advanced placement exam and the international baccalaureate exam. He asked whether they are currently available. Dr. Merrill explained that these exams are the culmination of an advanced placement course in a high school.

 

Senator Raggio noted that the bill, as originally presented, would request an appropriation of approximately $339,000 according to the handout (Exhibit K). Since schools are being deleted from the bill, he asked whether the appropriation request would be changed. Dr. Merrill replied that the request is based upon only the tenth and eleventh grade and the NovaNet cost. She said she could provide the committee with the other cost figures if they would like to have them. Senator Raggio asked whether she had a sheet that shows that, and Dr. Merrill said she does. Senator Raggio asked her to submit that.

 

Senator Raggio closed the hearing on Senate Bill 147.

 

SENATE BILL 14:  Makes appropriation to Department of Education for vocational             student organizations. (BDR S-98)

 

Phyllis Dryden, Team Leader, Workforce Education, Department of Education, said she was present to provide information on Senate Bill 14. She stated that during the last legislative session S.B. 560 was passed.

 

SENATE BILL 560 OF THE SEVENTIETH SESSION: Makes various changes relating              to governmental administration. (BDR S-1788)

 

Ms. Dryden said this bill provided $100,000 per year, which was distributed among the 5 vocational student organizations (VSOs) in the state over the biennium. She pointed out that these 5 organizations are Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), and Skills USA-VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

 

Ms. Dryden said these funds were used to support state conferences, including facility rental, motivational speakers, registration fees for regional and national leadership trainings, and state officer travel. She noted that during the past year more than 5,500 members participated in local, state, regional, and national training activities and conferences where members gained leadership and occupation-specific skills.

 

Ms. Dryden stated that membership in vocational student organizations has averaged approximately 6 percent growth per year during the past 2 years. She noted that during Fiscal Year 2000 the 5 VSOs reported a total membership of 5,886. She explained that it is projected that during 2001 membership will increase to over 6,000 members.

 

Ms. Dryden said that in the Governor’s budget $91,138 has been allocated for VSOs. She said her office is asking for $8,862 so the funding level will remain the same as it was in the past biennium.

 

Senator Raggio asked legislative staff whether the amount is correct, and it was confirmed.

 

Senator Raggio addressed a question to Georgia J. Rohrs, Program Analyst. He asked “how much the budget contains for this same purpose.” Ms. Rohrs replied that it contains $91,000 for each year. She noted that was what was spent in the last fiscal year. Senator Raggio asked whether the budget contains that for the next biennium. Ms. Rohrs replied that it does.

 

Senator Raggio said that he needs to alert Ms. Dryden to the fact that the committee is looking at the great potential of having to trim all budgets because of the likelihood of future revenues being less than projected.

 

Ms. Rohrs said she recalled this was funded in the budget for the current biennium at $100,000 per year, and in the upcoming biennium it is at approximately $91,000 per year. (B/A 2699, Other State Educ Programs)

 

Ms. Dryden announced that the state conferences for these student organizations are presently going on in Las Vegas and in Reno. She introduced two state officers who were able to be present in this meeting.

 

Linsay Oakden, Member, Future Farmers of America, said S.B. 14 is very important to the future of Nevada’s vocational student organizations. These organizations, she said, support student attendance at more than 16 annual state, regional, and national youth conferences. She noted that Nevada FFA hosts 4 statewide conferences each year. She pointed out that, in the past year, 670 students attended three of these conferences, and the fourth is presently going on in Reno.

 

Ms. Oakden explained that she learned skills through the FFA that she could not acquire in any classroom or through any other curriculum. She said that in her agricultural science classes, which are an integral part of the FFA program, she learned not only about animal science, biology, and horticulture, but more importantly how to build a résumé, participate in an interview, and speak eloquently to a group of strangers who are board members and sometimes politicians. She stated she has learned survival skills for the “real world.” She added that determination, ambition, poise, and preparation are but a few of the skills she has acquired that have helped her to succeed. Because of her experience through the VSO programs, she said, she has the confidence and courage to speak in the meeting today.

 

Ms. Oakden stated that VSOs not only improve the individuals that take part in them, but also improve the quality of schools and the student body. She pointed out that high standards are set for FFA students. FFA encourages tolerance among the students that are taking part in FFA activities, as well as in other classes.

 

Ms. Oakden said these organizations give students a chance to succeed and excel in an environment where they may have otherwise “fallen through the cracks.” She expressed faith in the future because she has “met the leaders of tomorrow.” She pronounced that 15 years from now she may be sitting in the legislators’ seats practicing the same parliamentary procedure skills she learned in FFA meetings at Churchill County High School.

 

Ms. Oakden said that at a time when school systems are facing frightening possibilities, it is essential to keep alive those programs that produce positive results right now. She implored the committee not to harm the programs that are teaching students the most.

 

Senator Raggio complimented her on her presentation.

 

Stephanie Jordan, Past State Historian, Future Farmers of America, said she was present to lend support to Ms. Oakden and to Ms. Dryden. She said she also wanted to share with the committee that she has taken part in 2 of the state’s VSO programs, having also been a member of the FBLA. She said she was a state officer for both of these organizations. She stated that she believes the money allocated for their use is very helpful. She spoke not just for the FFA, but for all the organizations that appreciate the money the committee has allocated.

 

Senator Raggio closed the hearing on Senate Bill 14.

 

Senator Raggio opened the hearing on Senate Bill 294.

 

SENATE BILL 294:  Revises provisions governing calculation of basic support.             (BDR 34-1161)

 

Senator Raggio said this bill would revise the final computation of apportionment for basic support.

 

Senator Rawson said he believes this bill would provide for a second counting day, but in reading the bill it looks as though the final adjustment would allow schools 2 percent more funds if they end up with 6 percent more students than they were given money for. This bill, he noted, would strike the language to that effect and schools would be given “dollar-for-dollar” funding for additional students.

 

Senator Rawson said he assumes the bill came from Washoe County because of the fiscal note (Exhibit L) being calculated for Washoe County having no effect.

 

Senator Raggio noted that there is also a fiscal note from the Department of Education (Exhibit M) that states the bill draft would repeal the growth increments paid to school districts and charter schools and would have no fiscal impact on the state. It was noted, he explained, that only very small school districts qualified under the growth increments in the computation of basic support. He said that during Fiscal Year 2000, $43,296 was paid in growth increments, all of which went to charter schools.

 

Senator Rawson questioned whether this would allow charter schools to take their payments periodically so they would not have to wait. Senator Raggio asked whether the bill should be heard at a later date, noting that there is no one present to speak on the bill.

 

Senator Rawson said he is not interested in postponing the bill indefinitely, but he wants to give people an opportunity to come forward.

 

Senator Raggio stated that the hearing will be continued on this matter at Senator Rawson’s request. Senator Rawson said the Senate Committee on Human Resources would send a memo to the school community.

 

Senator Rawson noted that the committee tends not to move any finance bills until further along in the session. But he drew attention to the fact that S.B. 174, which concerns the disability community, originally had an appropriation of $250,000. He said the interested parties got together and would be willing to attend these meetings without compensation. That, he said, would bring it down to a $5,000 fiscal note.

 

SENATE BILL 174: Makes various changes concerning the authority and duties of             the benefits program. (BDR 23—542)

 

Senator Raggio stated that if the bill could be amended to accommodate that, the committee can look at the feasibility of processing the measure.

 

Senator Rawson suggested that the committee could assign the interim committee on health care to do the organizational work on that so there would be no fiscal note. Senator Raggio said that, if an amendment is prepared, the committee will look at it.

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

Bob Williston

Committee Secretary

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

 

                       

Senator William J. Raggio, Chairman

 

 

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