MINUTES OF THE

SENATE Committee on Transportation

 

Seventy-First Session

March 13, 2001

 

 

The Senate Committee on Transportationwas called to order by Chairman William R. O'Donnell, at 2:05 p.m., on Tuesday, March 13, 2001, in Room 2149 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 R. O'Donnell, Chairman

Senator Mark Amodei, Vice Chairman

Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen

Senator Maurice Washington

Senator Raymond C. Shaffer

Senator Terry Care

Senator Maggie Carlton

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Donald O. Williams, Committee Policy Analyst

Joan Moseid, Committee Secretary

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

Dana Mathiesen, Administrator, Central Services and Records Division, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety

Norman Williams, Special Projects Coordinator, Western Nevada Development District

Janice R. Ayres, Chairperson, Tricounty Railway Commission

Dennis Colling, Chief, Administrative Services Division, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety

Daryl E. Capurro, Lobbyist, Nevada Motor Transport Association

 

Chairman O'Donnell opened the work session on Senate Bill (S.B.) 54.

 

SENATE BILL 54:  Provides for issuance of special license plates for support of rights of animals. (BDR 43-693)

Dana Mathiesen, Administrator, Central Services and Records Division, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, gave a brief testimony on  S.B. 54.  Ms. Mathiesen stated:

 

The Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety (DMV/PS) has a revolving account with approximately $50,000 in funds used for manufacturing the special license plates, which include the initial production of the special license plates. 

 

Ms. Mathiesen pointed out that within a year’s time frame the $50,000 fund would only address the initial production of the special license plates.  She commented, in the year’s time frame, the special license plates that are sold would not cover the cost of the initial production of the license plates.

 

Chairman O’Donnell agreed with Ms. Mathiesen.  He noted, “If you add the second year to the fiscal note, would it be approximately $10,000 for 250 license plates?”  Ms. Mathiesen said, “Yes.”

 

Chairman O’Donnell asked Ms. Mathiesen whether or not the funds generated by the sales of the license plates are distributed and apportioned to the counties.  Ms. Mathiesen said, “Yes.”

 

Senator Jacobsen asked if there were any verifications or guarantees of the number of special license plates that might be sold.  Chairman O’Donnell responded the DMV/PS cannot produce the license plate unless they have 250 orders.

 

Chairman O’Donnell requested a motion to amend and do pass S.B. 54 from the proposed amendments of the work session documents (Exhibit C).

 

SENATOR CARE MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 54.

 

SENATOR WASHINGTON SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman O’Donnell closed the work session on S.B. 54 and opened the work session on S.B. 77.

 

SENATE BILL 77:  Provides for issuance of special license plates and souvenir license plates to support reconstruction of Virginia & Truckee Railroad. (BDR 43-191)

 

Chairman O’Donnell requested a motion to amend and do pass from the proposed amendments of the work session documents (Exhibit C).

 

SENATOR SHAFFER MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS S.B. 77.

 

SENATOR JACOBSEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Senator Jacobsen asked Janice R. Ayres, Chairperson, Tricounty Railway Commission, to come forward and elaborate on the various support for S.B. 77.  He asked Ms. Ayres if she could recall how many times this bill had been processed before.  Ms. Ayres then asked Norman Williams, Special Projects Coordinator, Western Nevada Development District, to answer Senator Jacobsen’s question.  Mr. Williams stated there are 86 Nevada requests, and 6 other requests for the souvenir plates from the state of New Jersey.  He mentioned the advertisements in the Nevada Appeal and said there is a subject speaking about the issuance of these special license plates, and there is a mailing list of approximately 2500 who will be solicited.

 

Senator Jacobsen asked, “Is there a promotional plan in effect presently?”  Ms. Ayres said the Tricounty Railway Commission is planning a fund-raiser in a few months and it would be called “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”  She explained there would be newspaper stories looking at rail fares, and in all the magazines there should be advertisements purchased by the railway.  Ms. Ayres added there are several organizations supporting this legislation.  She also pointed out that John Tyson (local journalist) would be supporting S.B. 77.

 

Chairman O’Donnell closed the work session on S.B. 77 and opened the work session on S.B. 190.

 

 SENATE BILL 190:  Requires state board of examiners to determine amount of money to be deposited in motor vehicle revolving account. (BDR 43-562)

 

Chairman O’Donnell asked Dennis Colling, Chief, Administrative Services Division, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, “What was the revolving account used for?”  Mr. Colling testified these funds are used to provide cash drawers at the DMV/PS windows.

 

SENATOR AMODEI MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 190.

 

SENATOR JACOBSEN SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Chairman O’Donnell closed the work session on S.B. 190 and opened the work session on S.B. 260.

 

SENATE BILL 260:  Revises provisions governing design of drivers’ licenses and identification cards. (BDR 43-1170)

 

SENATOR AMODEI MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 260.

 

SENATOR CARLTON SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

*****

 

Daryl E. Capurro, Lobbyist, Nevada Motor Transport Association, stated he was present on behalf of the Nevada Motor Transport Association and the Nevada Highway Patrol Division.  Mr. Capurro asked if there would be time within the next few weeks to set up a “Mobile Command Center” in front of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for both of the joint Senate and Assembly transportation committees.  He said he would like to demonstrate the new technology with respect to commercial vehicle operations and their enforcement aspects that the Nevada Highway Patrol Division utilizes.  Mr. Capurro indicated 1 hour should be sufficient to demonstrate what this new system can do.

 

Chairman O’Donnell asked the committee members if they had a desire to review this demonstration.  He commented, “The committee members will take this under advisement.”

 

Chairman O’Donnell next passed out the examples of some special license plates (Exhibit D), for S.B. 54, for the committee members to review.

 

Chairman O’Donnell closed the work session on S.B. 260.

 

There being no further business, Chairman O’Donnell adjourned the meeting at 2:25 p.m.

 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

Joan Moseid,

Committee Secretary

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

 

                       

Senator William R. O'Donnell, Chairman

 

 

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