Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 31–Senator Rhoads

 

April 9, 2001

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Referred to Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study of organizational structure of agricultural extension program at University of Nevada, Reno. (BDR R‑1044)

 

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

 

Senate Concurrent RESOLUTION—Directing the Legislative Commission to conduct an interim study of the organizational structure of the agricultural extension program at the University of Nevada, Reno.

 

1-1    Whereas, Many residents of Nevada have expressed concerns over the

1-2  recent administrative separation of the agricultural extension program from

1-3  the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources at the

1-4  University of Nevada, Reno; and

1-5    Whereas, The residents of Nevada have enjoyed the direct benefits of

1-6  research and related educational opportunities through the seamless

1-7  integration of the Nevada Cooperative Extension, the Nevada Agricultural

1-8  Experiment Station and the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and

1-9  Natural Resources, and until recently these efforts were supervised by one

1-10  dean; and

1-11    Whereas, The result of the administrative change is a breakdown of

1-12  the system whereby the community needs are reflected in the on-campus

1-13  research agenda and research-based information generated by on-campus

1-14  faculty researchers is disseminated by cooperative extension educational

1-15  programs; and

1-16    Whereas, There have been suggestions that resources available for

1-17  programming have been reduced as a result of multiple administrative

1-18  units, where one administrative unit sufficed before; and

1-19    Whereas, The residents of Nevada are being denied a simple and direct

1-20  means of accessing the complete resources of the University regarding

1-21  agricultural issues; now, therefore, be it

1-22    Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the Assembly

1-23  Concurring, That the Legislative Commission is hereby directed to

1-24  appoint an interim committee to conduct a study of the organizational

1-25  structure of the agricultural extension program at the University of Nevada,

1-26  Reno; and be it further

1-27    Resolved, That the interim committee must consist of six members

1-28  appointed as follows:

2-1    1.  Three members of the Senate, one of whom represents the northern

2-2  area of the state, one of whom represents the southern area of the state, and

2-3  one of whom represents a rural area of the state; and

2-4    2.  Three members of the Assembly, one of whom represents the

2-5  northern area of the state, one of whom represents the southern area of the

2-6  state, and one of whom represents a rural area of the state; and be it further

2-7    Resolved, That the chairman of the interim committee shall appoint a

2-8  nonvoting advisory committee to assist in conducting the study; and be it

2-9  further

2-10    Resolved, That the nonvoting advisory committee must consist of nine

2-11  members appointed as follows:

2-12    1.  Two members who represent the faculty of the University of

2-13  Nevada;

2-14    2.  Two members who represent agricultural organizations in this state;

2-15    3.  Two members of the general public each of whom are

2-16  knowledgeable of agricultural issues and reside in a rural area of this state;

2-17    4.  One member of the general public who is knowledgeable of

2-18  agricultural issues and resides in Clark County;

2-19    5.  One member of the general public who is knowledgeable of

2-20  agricultural issues and resides in Washoe County; and

2-21    6.  One member who is a member of the State Bar of Nevada and

2-22  knowledgeable of laws related to agricultural issues; and be it further

2-23    Resolved, That each member of the advisory committee shall serve

2-24  without compensation, except that while he is engaged in the business of

2-25  the committee he is entitled to receive the per diem allowance and travel

2-26  expenses provided for state officers and employees generally, which must

2-27  be paid from the legislative fund; and be it further

2-28    Resolved, That the study must include, without limitation:

2-29    1.  A review of the legal and administrative procedures that were

2-30  followed in changing the organizational structure of the agricultural

2-31  extension program to establish it as an independent unit of the University

2-32  of Nevada;

2-33    2.  An evaluation of the effectiveness of the new organizational

2-34  structure in promoting the integration of the educational programs of the

2-35  Nevada Cooperative Extension with the research programs of the College

2-36  of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources and the Nevada

2-37  Agricultural Experiment Station;

2-38    3.  A review of the compliance of the new organization with the

2-39  requirements of applicable federal and state laws, statutes and regulations;

2-40    4.  An assessment of the fiscal effects of the new organizational

2-41  structure in terms of the increased administrative costs and costs of its

2-42  programs;

2-43    5.  An evaluation of the effects of the new organizational structure on

2-44  the performance evaluations of faculty, advancements in rank and salary of

2-45  faculty, and program direction and supervision, both in the College of

2-46  Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources and Nevada

2-47  Cooperative Extension;

3-1    6.  A comparison of the different organizational structures for similar

3-2  programs in the land grant universities in other states and their relative

3-3  effectiveness; and

3-4    7.  Specific recommendations with respect to the optimum

3-5  organizational structure for this program, effective operating procedures

3-6  and other mechanisms necessary to improve service to the public; and be it

3-7  further

3-8    Resolved, That any recommended legislation proposed by the interim

3-9  committee must be approved by a majority of the members of the Senate

3-10  and a majority of the members of the Assembly appointed to the interim

3-11  committee; and be it further

3-12    Resolved, That the Legislative Commission shall submit a report of

3-13  the results of the study and any recommendations for legislation to the

3-14  72nd session of the Nevada Legislature.

 

3-15  H