Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 31–Committee on
Elections, Procedures, and Ethics

 

May 4, 2001

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Referred to Committee on Elections, Procedures, and Ethics

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study of issues related to Internet commerce. (BDR R‑1530)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Directing the Legislative Commission to conduct an interim study of issues related to the expansion of Internet commerce in Nevada.

 

   Whereas, The manufacturing economy of the 20th century has been replaced by the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century; and

   Whereas, There is a renewed globalization taking hold that has reduced or eliminated market restrictions between borders, and telecommunication and transportation networks are enabling jobs to flow anywhere in the world; and

   Whereas, The explosive growth of the Internet in the past decade has opened doors to new ways of transacting public and private business, has expanded access to educational opportunities for all the residents of Nevada and has provided social and economic benefits to its residents, governmental entities and businesses; and

   Whereas, Nevada is known nationally and beyond for its highly attractive business and tax laws; and

   Whereas, The two major arteries for electronic communications that span from the West Coast to the East Coast extend from the Silicon Valley through Reno and from Los Angeles and San Diego through Las Vegas; and

   Whereas, If the position of Nevada with respect to its favorable business climate and its location on the Internet superhighway is viewed together, the outlook for Nevada is one of great promise to become the premier state for Internet commerce; and

1-1    Whereas, Nevada has not yet begun to tap into its full potential within

1-2  the information technology sphere, and indeed, Nevada lags behind in what

1-3  is known as the “New Economy,” with national studies ranking the state

1-4  39th in technological innovation and 29th in the transformation toward a

1-5  digital economy; and

2-1    Whereas, Some steps toward solving this problem have been taken by

2-2  state government officials which include Governor Kenny Guinn’s creative

2-3  move in exchanging right-of-way access for $5 million worth of fiber optic

2-4  cable, and the efforts of Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt and Bob

2-5  Shriver, Executive Director of the Commission on Economic

2-6  Development, in spearheading the Battelle Commission, which reviewed

2-7  Nevada’s technological resources and strongly recommended that Nevada

2-8  increase its economic development efforts on technology-based

2-9  opportunities; and

2-10    Whereas, Some steps toward solving this problem have been taken by

2-11  the private sector, with native technology companies banding together in

2-12  collaborative organizations such as the Internet Business Alliance of

2-13  Nevada in Southern Nevada and the TechAlliance in Northern Nevada,

2-14  encouraging entrepreneurs and marketing the advantages of moving

2-15  technology-based businesses to Nevada; and

2-16    Whereas, While the steps taken toward the evolution of Nevada’s

2-17  economy into one that is based in technology are laudable, the time has

2-18  come to bring together the top leaders from government and industry to

2-19  work in a collaborative spirit to identify the legal, economic and

2-20  technological logjams that inhibit Nevada from becoming an Internet-

2-21  commerce magnet, and then to develop an overarching strategy to

2-22  transform Nevada into a truly digital economy; and

2-23    Whereas, On-line consumer privacy is of paramount importance to the

2-24  growth of Internet commerce and must be protected; and

2-25    Whereas, It is also essential to ensure that along with the growth of

2-26  Internet commerce in the state there will also continue to be the provision

2-27  of social and economic benefits to its residents, governmental entities and

2-28  businesses; now, therefore, be it

2-29    Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

2-30  Concurring, That the Legislative Commission is hereby directed to

2-31  appoint a committee consisting of an equal number of representatives from

2-32  the Assembly and the Senate to conduct an interim study of the issues

2-33  related to the expansion of Internet commerce in this state; and be it further

2-34    Resolved, That the committee so appointed is authorized to appoint a

2-35  technical advisory group of not more than seven members to assist the

2-36  committee with the interim study; and be it further

2-37    Resolved, That the technical advisory group must consist of members

2-38  selected for their extensive academic or professional experience in the

2-39  areas of advanced technology, telecommunication and economic

2-40  development as they relate to Internet commerce; and be it further

2-41    Resolved, That each member of the technical advisory group shall

2-42  serve without compensation, except that while he is engaged in the

2-43  business of the interim study committee he is entitled to receive the travel

2-44  expenses provided for state officers and employees generally, which must

2-45  be paid from the legislative fund; and be it further

2-46    Resolved, That the study must include, without limitation:

2-47    1.  An assessment of the current technological infrastructure in Nevada

2-48  and recommendations for enhancement of that infrastructure in such a

3-1  manner as will provide for greater facilitation of commerce through the

3-2  Internet in Nevada;

3-3    2.  An examination of legislation across the country that has been

3-4  designed to simplify and unify sales and use tax systems and allow states to

3-5  collect existing taxes on Internet commerce and mail order sales;

3-6    3.  A review of the most recent methods of improving the privacy and

3-7  protection of customers participating in Internet commerce;

3-8    4.  An evaluation of the current state of electronic security and

3-9  encryption technology; and

3-10    5.  An analysis of the sufficiency of the statutory provisions in Nevada

3-11  concerning the regulation of unsolicited electronic mail; and be it further

3-12    Resolved, That any recommended legislation proposed by the

3-13  committee must be approved by a majority of the members of the Senate

3-14  and a majority of the members of the Assembly appointed to the

3-15  committee; and be it further

3-16    Resolved, That the Legislative Commission shall submit a report of

3-17  the results of the study and any recommendations for legislation to the

3-18  72nd session of the Nevada Legislature.

 

3-19  H