MINUTES OF THE
SENATE Committee on Human Resources and Facilities
Seventy-First Session
March 23, 2001
The Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilitieswas called to order by Chairman Raymond D. Rawson, at 11:50 a.m., on Friday, March 23, 2001, in Room 2135 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. The meeting was videoconferenced to the Grant Sawyer Office Building, Room 4406, Las Vegas, 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 Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman
Senator Maurice Washington, Vice Chairman
Senator Randolph J. Townsend
Senator Mark Amodei
Senator Bernice Mathews
Senator Michael Schneider
Senator Valerie Wiener
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
H. Pepper Sturm, Committee Policy Analyst
Cynthia Cook, Committee Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Raymond Bacon, Lobbyist, Nevada Manufacturers Association
Craig Kadlub, Lobbyist, Clark County School District
D. L. “Dusty” Dickens, Director, Demographics, Zoning and Realty Department, Clark County School District
Steve Williams, Lobbyist, Washoe County School District
Lonnie F. Shields, Lobbyist, Washoe County Education Administrators Association
Deborah K. Cahill, Lobbyist, Nevada State Education Association
Leonard Pugh, Director, Juvenile Services, Washoe County
Chairman Rawson presented five bill draft requests (BDRs) for committee introduction.
BILL DRAFT REQUEST 40-415: Establishes prohibited and required conduct of person who uses skateboard park and limits liability of skateboard park operator. (Later introduced as Senate Bill 482.)
SENATOR WASHINGTON MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 40-415.
SENATOR MATHEWS SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATORS WIENER, TOWNSEND AND SCHNEIDER WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
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BILL DRAFT REQUEST S-970: Creates task force for Community-Based Services for Persons with Disabilities. (Later introduced as Senate Bill 486.)
SENATOR WASHINGTON MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR S-970.
SENATOR AMODEI SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR TOWNSEND WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
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BILL DRAFT REQUEST 54-1232: Requires provider of health care to notify patient or certain other persons before destroying health care records of patient. (Later introduced as Senate Bill 485.)
SENATOR WASHINGTON MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 54-1232.
SENATOR AMODEI SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR TOWNSEND WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
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BILL DRAFT REQUEST 40-1233: Revises provisions requiring major hospitals to reduce their billed charges for certain services. (Later introduced as Senate Bill 484.)
SENATOR WASHINGTON MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 40-1233.
SENATOR AMODEI SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR TOWNSEND WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
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BILL DRAFT REQUEST 40-1482: Requires state board of health to license mobile medical facilities. (Later introduced as Senate Bill 483.)
SENATOR AMODEI MOVED FOR COMMITTEE INTRODUCTION OF BDR 40-1482.
SENATOR WASHINGTON SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR TOWNSEND WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)
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Chairman Rawson opened the hearing on Senate Bill (S.B.) 311.
SENATE BILL 311: Requires Clark County School District to construct certain schools. (BDR S-969)
Senator Michael (Mike) A. Schneider, Clark County Senatorial District No. 8, explained S.B. 311 was derived from an interim study completed after the 1995 Legislative Session. He said the study was to consider whether to divide school districts within the state, particularly, Clark County. He stated a consultant was hired to review the entire state, and the results were Nevada should consolidate some districts, and there were no apparent savings in dividing the Clark County School District into smaller units. Senator Schneider said he had asked the consultants if smaller schools would produce better students, and their answer was yes. He summarized S.B. 311, which would compel the construction of four high schools designed to accommodate no more than 900 pupils per school, four middle schools designed for no more than 550 pupils per school, and four elementary schools for no more than 300 pupils per school. Senator Schneider theorized the lack of space in large high schools discourages students from participating in activities, and noted in Clark County, students must leave the campus by 1:30 p.m. if they are not involved in after school activities. He quoted statistics that indicate violence by teens happens predominately between the hours of 2 and 6 p.m. Senator Schneider said he is aware the Clark County School District opposes the bill because of the lack of funding and a fear that everyone would want to attend these smaller schools. He said theoretically smaller schools might actually reduce some costs, and used the example of the reduction in the costs of busing.
Raymond Bacon, Lobbyist, Nevada Manufacturers Association, testified the association is neutral on S.B. 311. He suggested a trial period, during which an existing facility would be divided into smaller schools.
Senator Schneider responded he has read information concerning schools within schools, and would approve of the district considering such an idea with the large existing campuses, while still proceeding to construct smaller schools.
Craig Kadlub, Lobbyist, Clark County School District, expressed the appreciation of the district for the Legislature’s interest in exploring ideas that are likely to have a positive impact on the students of Clark County. He then read prepared testimony (Exhibit C) describing the constraints the district has regarding the bill. He summarized them as follows: cost efficiency per student is greatly reduced because smaller schools still need full-sized play areas; the smaller the school, the more necessary to have more teachers in multiple-subject areas; advanced and highly accelerated courses would be harder to offer; electives would be greatly reduced; and extra staff would need to be added to ensure the basic curriculum is supported;
D. L. “Dusty” Dickens, Director, Demographics, Zoning and Realty Department, Clark County School District, read prepared testimony in opposition of S.B. 311 (Exhibit D). She emphasized the construction of small schools would not help the district in its attempt to get ahead of the projected student facility shortages within Clark County.
Senator Wiener commented on the premise of schools within schools. She inquired if the idea has been approached of multiple schools, perhaps four or five, in schools with populations of up to 4000 pupils. She added the concept would possibly help to alleviate the sense of alienation some students suffer. Senator Wiener said she has read in studies that the mood of alienation some juveniles feel is often the result of their sense of anonymity.
Senator Townsend complimented Senator Schneider concerning the structure of the bill. He said the only opposing testimony seems to concern funding. Senator Townsend added he would like to have the concept pursued as follows: identify the items that would drive up costs, recognize needs within a particular school zone, and look at the concept of converting existing facilities into smaller schools.
Senator Schneider added the committee has the opportunity, through this bill, to make a big statement on smaller schools. Mr. Kadlub agreed there is no dispute that smaller schools do increase student achievement. Senator Schneider also said parental involvement increases to a great degree, with smaller schools. He remarked, “If we continue to build larger schools, we would soon have high schools with populations exceeding 5000 students.” He noted in the rural counties, where the schools are smaller, the students perform better.
Chairman Rawson closed the hearing on S.B. 311 and opened the hearing on S.B. 305.
SENATE BILL 305: Makes various changes regarding public schools and pupils. (BDR 34-263)
Steve Williams, Lobbyist, Washoe County School District, testified in opposition of S.B. 305. He stated section 6 of the bill puts the responsibility for many problems entirely on the schools. He said the three categories of children who reside in a school district are described as follows: placed under the supervision of the juvenile court; found by the juvenile court to have committed the unlawful act of using, possessing, selling, or distributing a controlled substance; and suspended or expelled from school for using, possessing, selling or distributing a controlled substance. He said of these, only the student who has been suspended or expelled is actually enrolled in the district. He added there are unfunded implications to staff alternative programs for the students, and within section 9 of the bill, there is a problem because it expands the authority of a school principal beyond the school boundary. Mr. Williams suggested the use of the “virtual” school concept might be an appropriate response to the problem.
Lonnie F. Shields, Lobbyist, Washoe County Education Administrators Association, stated the association has not taken a position on the bill. He read from prepared testimony (Exhibit E), which contains a suggested amendment to S.B. 305 to delete the language on page 14, lines 26 through 34. Mr. Shields said the belief of the association is the language could open up the possibility of lawsuits.
Deborah K. Cahill, Lobbyist, Nevada State Education Association, testified about section 6, subsection 2 of the bill, noting it requires the establishment of a separate school, or the designation of an existing school with separate portions, for the program. She stated, presently, there are not any locations available for disruptive students, although some locations have been established under a pilot program. She added additional funding is required to expand these locations.
Leonard Pugh, Director, Juvenile Services, Washoe County, pointed out that every child referred would have to appear in court, under section 16 of S.B. 305. He expressed his concern the juvenile justice system is based on the ability to provide individual treatment, and the court needs the ability to look at the entire picture of a juvenile offender. Mr. Pugh said the department has developed assessment instruments to better define the risk to re-offend a child presents, and to treat him or her accordingly, since some offenders are appropriate for informal supervision. He added, the department assessment still includes drug testing, and the requirements to participate in a substance abuse evaluation and to follow the recommendations of that evaluation. Mr. Pugh said this law would probably result in an additional 200 to 220 offenders having to go before the court, and it takes away the ability of the court to look at the entire picture.
James F. Nadeau, Lobbyist, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, expressed the desire of the sheriff’s office to work on the language in the bill. He said he is concerned about jurisdictional issues and reporting responsibilities as described in section 9.
Chairman Rawson commented about a conference he attended in New Mexico, which included a presentation on how to identify youth at risk. He instructed staff to see if the presentation can be obtained and shown to the committee.
Mr. Kadlub asserted the Clark County School District already does most of the things outlined in the bill, however, the concern is first-time offenders may be taken out of school for an entire year.
Chairman Rawson stressed the big problem here cuts across all segments of society, and the problems do not seem to be getting any better. He stated we seem to be losing ground, but it is also a time of seeing rights trampled on, so it is a dangerous time for all of us.
Chairman Rawson adjourned the meeting at 1:05 p.m.
Cynthia Cook,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman
DATE: