MINUTES OF THE meeting

of the

ASSEMBLY Committee on Transportation

 

Seventy-Second Session

February 4, 2003

 

The Committee on Transportationwas called to order at 1:35 p.m., on Tuesday, February 4, 2003.  Chairwoman Vonne S. Chowning presided in Room 3143 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Agenda.  Exhibit B is the Guest List.  All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Mrs. Vonne S. Chowning, Chairwoman

Ms. Genie Ohrenschall, Vice Chairman

Mr. Kelvin Atkinson

Mr. John C. Carpenter

Mr. Jerry D. Claborn

Mr. Tom Collins

Mr. Pete Goicoechea

Mr. Don Gustavson

Mr. Ron Knecht

Mr. John Oceguera

Mr. Rod Sherer

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

Mr. Mark Manendo

 

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

 

None

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Marji Paslov-Thomas, Committee Policy Analyst

Jackie Valley, Committee Manager

William E. Fowler, Committee Secretary

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

Bob Fairman, Budget Chauffeur Drive

Dennis M. Baughman, Chief of the Communications Office, Nevada Department of Transportation

Daryl E. Capurro, Managing Director, Nevada Motor Transport Association, Inc.

Ronald S. Levine, Assistant Managing Director, Nevada Motor Transport Association, Inc.

Joe Carter, Legislative Representative, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers

Mike Sullivan, Representative, Bell Transportation of Las Vegas

Bob Campbell, The Campbell Company

Jimmy Gomes, The Campbell Company

Joe Guild, Union Pacific Railroad Company

 

Chairwoman Chowning brought the meeting to order.  She introduced herself and discussed her legislative experience.  She said she was the Democratic co-chair of the Committee in 1995, as there were 21 Democrats and 21 Republicans in the Assembly.  Chairwoman Chowning stated that she was the Chair of the Committee in 1997, 1999, and 2001.  She mentioned that the Committee had handled a wide variety of subjects, such as planes, trains, automobiles, lowering of the railroad tracks in Reno, and the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) issues.

 

Chairwoman Chowning talked about how the Committee had worked on monorail legislation in 1997.  Because of that work, she said, the monorail project in Las Vegas, which had received attention throughout the world, was coming to fruition.  She stated that last session the Committee endorsed legislation related to the Civus bus, which had been the subject of worldwide attention.  Chairwoman Chowning explained that the Civus bus is like a small version of a subway in that it is longer than a bus and the bottom of the bus just clears the street pavement.  She said that Civus bus service initially would start in North Las Vegas.

 

Chairwoman Chowning introduced the members of the Committee and asked each Committee member to introduce himself or herself and identify the area of Nevada they represented.  The Committee members then furnished information about themselves.

 

Chairwoman Chowning next presented the staff members of the Committee.  She introduced Margi Paslov-Thomas, Senior Research Analyst; Jackie Valley, Committee Manager; and Bill Fowler, Committee Secretary.

 

Chairwoman Chowning then requested that members of the audience come to the witness table and introduce themselves.  Bob Fairman said he represented Trailways, the American Bus Society, Carson City, and himself, and he stated he had worked in the transportation industry for 45 years.  Dennis Baughman explained that he was Chief of NDOT’s Communications Office, and during legislative sessions, he worked as a legislative liaison.  Daryl Capurro mentioned that he is the Managing Director of the Nevada Motor Transport Association, Inc. (NMTA) and that he had represented the trucking industry for more than 34 years.  Ronald Levine, Assistant Managing Director, NMTA, pointed out that he had worked primarily in commercial enforcement during his 25-year career with the Nevada Highway Patrol.  Mr. Levine said this was the third year he would be working for the NMTA.  Joe Carter, Legislative Representative, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, mentioned that he had worked in the railroad industry for 32 years.  Mr. Carter offered to help the Committee in any way that he could.  Bob Campbell of the Campbell Company, which represented various taxi and limousine companies in Las Vegas, said he looked forward to working with the Committee during the session.  Jimmy Gomes, also of the Campbell Company, stated that he worked with Mr. Campbell.

 

Chairwoman Chowning mentioned that the Committee had considered many different methods of transportation during past sessions.  She emphasized that all participants should use courtesy and work with one another.

 

Chairwoman Chowning introduced and discussed various aspects of the Standing Rules of the Assembly Committee on Transportation, Seventy-second Session, 2003 (Exhibit C).  She pointed out that the approved Standing Rules of the Assembly were included.

 

Chairwoman Chowning requested that the roll be called.  All members were present except Mr. Manendo.

 

Chairwoman Chowning pointed out that: (1) seven or more members of the Committee constituted a quorum (2) eight or more members of the Committee were required for a two-thirds majority, and (3) it took eight or more members of the Committee to vote for reconsideration of a bill or for passage of a bill or resolution.  She mentioned that it would be appreciated if a Committee member would advise the Chair if he or she planned to vote differently on a measure on the Assembly Floor than he or she had in Committee.

 

ASSEMBLYMAN COLLINS MOVED TO ADOPT THE STANDING RULES.

 

ASSEMBLYMAN GUSTAVSON SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.  (Mr. Manendo was absent for the vote.)

 

 

Chairwoman Chowning then asked Margi Paslov-Thomas, Senior Research Analyst, to comment on the Committee Brief (Exhibit D) and review the State of Nevada 2003 Legislative Session 120-Day Calendar (Exhibit E).

 

Ms. Paslov-Thomas said she would present an overview of the Committee Brief (Exhibit D) and a review of the 120-day session deadlines.  She stated that the Committee Brief provided general background information and summarized selected issues concerning the Assembly Committee on Transportation.  She also discussed the jurisdiction of the Committee.  Ms. Paslov-Thomas pointed out that during the 2001 Legislative Session, the Committee reviewed a total of 49 measures and approved or reported out 39 measures, and the Governor signed into law 30 of those measures.  She said that some of the significant issues considered by the Committee during the 2001 Legislative Session included drivers’ licenses and registration, young drivers, special license plates, traffic laws, aviation, mass transit projects, motor vehicle repair and sales, and rental cars. 

 

Ms. Paslov-Thomas then summarized some of the major measures heard by the Committee during the 2001 Legislative Session, which were approved by the Committee and subsequently passed by the Legislature.  She mentioned the reorganization of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety into two agencies, which were previously named the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public Safety.  She said that this change came about because it was determined that the missions and functions of the two agencies were vastly different.  She discussed the Committee’s consideration of several measures related to drivers’ licenses and registering motor vehicles. She said the legislation had allowed the DMV to release photographs from driver’s license records to authorized governmental entities, and DMV inspection stations were permitted to renew vehicle registrations. 

 

Ms. Paslov-Thomas next talked about measures affecting young drivers.  As examples, she cited the change in age a person must be to obtain a driver’s license, the period of time an instruction permit or learner’s permit must be held, and a tiered passenger restriction based on the age of a person when a driver’s license was obtained.

 

She then reviewed legislation that pertained to special license plates, including those that endorsed rodeos, protection and restoration of the lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake, commemoration of the history of atomic testing in Nevada, and support of the preservation of federal lands outside Las Vegas, appreciation of animals, support for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, and recognition of firefighters.  Ms. Paslov-Thomas indicated that beginning on January 1, 2003, the DMV must receive at least 1,000 applications before it could authorize a special license plate, and that the 1,000 applications must be received by the DMV within 2 years from the effective date of the enabling legislation, in order for it to be issued.

 

In regard to traffic laws, Ms. Paslov-Thomas said legislation was signed into law that provided: (1) signs for school crossing zones were to be uniform and designated the hours during which vehicles were required to be operated at reduced speeds, (2) passengers under 18 years of age were no longer permitted to ride in the cargo space of vehicles in certain situations, and (3) drivers of slow-moving vehicles on two-lane highways had been required to turn off roadways when there were five or more vehicles following behind his or her vehicle.

 

Ms. Paslov-Thomas talked about three aviation-related matters.  One measure now required the boards of county commissioners in counties with populations of at least 400,000 to create advisory committees on aircraft noise.  Another bill mandated the creation of a trust fund for aviation, which was to be administered by the director of Nevada’s Department of Transportation (NDOT).  The final measure increased the period of time during which a county may lease property for airport facilities or arrange for services.

 

The next area discussed by Ms. Paslov-Thomas concerned mass transit.  She talked about creation of the California-Nevada Super Speed Ground Transportation Commission, which was authorized to arrange for the financing of the construction of a super speed ground transportation system.

 

Ms. Paslov-Thomas talked about rental car issues.  She said passed legislation allowed rental car agencies to assess higher fees, which resulted in increased revenues to the state General Fund; rental car agencies were permitted to increase the daily fee they charged their customers for waivers of damages; and rental car agencies were allowed to charge a daily fee for extra drivers.

 

She next touched on transportation reports that will be presented to the Committee or the Legislature during the 2003 session.  The reports covered the following: (1) the requirements for the construction and maintenance of highways for the next 10 years, (2) the requirements for the construction and maintenance of highways for the next 3 years, and (3) the 12-year plan for resurfacing state highways.

 

Ms. Paslov-Thomas said there were transportation issues that could come before the Committee during the 2003 session.  She mentioned young drivers and drivers’ licenses, identification cards, a military exemption from the governmental services tax, motor registration renewal, restrictions on the release of certain state transportation plans, special license plates, limousines, taxicabs, motor carriers, motor vehicle registration, transportation of hazardous and radioactive materials, and traffic laws.

 

Ms. Paslov-Thomas reviewed the key dates related to bills for the 2003 session.  She also discussed the list of important agency officials and interest groups involved in transportation matters.  The list of key dates of February 10, February 24, March 17, March 24, April 11, April 22, May 16, and May 23, and important agency officials and interest groups was attached to the Committee Brief (Exhibit D).

 

Chairwoman Chowning reviewed certain bills that had been passed out of the Committee during previous sessions.  She mentioned transportation of nuclear and hazardous waste, fathers who neglected to pay child support, privacy issues related to drivers’ licenses, rental car issues, limousine regulation, and young drivers’ license issues.

 

Assemblyman Knecht thanked the staff for the very good Committee Brief.  He commented that the Needles Highway Bill and A.B. 171, concerning motor vehicular repair and sales had been in an earlier draft of the Committee Brief (Exhibit D), and he wondered why those two items were not in the final version of the Committee Brief.  Ms. Paslov-Thomas said they had been taken out because she noticed they were Senate transportation matters, rather than Assembly transportation matters.

 

Chairwoman Chowning then asked the other Committee members to make additional comments if they wished to do so.

 

Assemblyman Goicoechea stated that he represented District No. 35.  He explained that he had been a county commissioner for the last 16 years.  He said he was bringing some real issues to the Legislature.

 

Assemblyman Sherer mentioned that it was great to be here, and he was excited about serving on the Committee.  He said that he represented District No. 36.

 

Assemblyman Knecht explained that he represented District No. 40, which included Carson City and Washoe City.

 

Assemblyman Atkinson stated that he represented District No.  17, which encompassed Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

 

Assemblyman Gustavson mentioned that he represented Washoe County District No. 30.  He mentioned that he was interested in transportation issues.

 

Assemblyman Collins explained that this would be his fifth time on the Committee and that he had enjoyed it.  He said he represented District No. 1.

 

Assemblywoman Ohrenschall pointed out that members of the Committee went out of their way to listen to all people who wished to present testimony.  She stated that she represented District No. 12 in Las Vegas.

 

Assemblyman Claborn said this was his favorite Committee.

 

Assemblyman Carpenter stated that he enjoyed being on the Committee.

 

Assemblyman Oceguera mentioned that he was glad to be back on the Committee.  He said that although he was originally from Fallon, he now represented part of Clark County.

 

Chairwoman Chowning stated that Nevada was well represented on the Committee in that its members were from all over the state.  She then recognized Mr. Joe Guild who represented companies in the insurance and railroad industries of Nevada.

 

After the members of the Committee had spoken, Chairwoman Chowning reminded the Committee members that they would be touring the License Plate Factory at the Department of Corrections on February 6, 2003.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:27 p.m.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

William E. Fowler

Committee Secretary

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

 

                        ___

Assemblywoman Vonne S. Chowning, Chairwoman

 

 

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