MINUTES OF THE meeting
of the
Assembly Committee on Ways and Means
AND THE
Senate Committee on Finance
JOINT Subcommittee on K-12/Human Resources
Seventy-Second Session
April 8, 2003
The Assembly Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance, Joint Subcommittee on K-12/Human Resources, was called to order at 8:13 a.m., on Tuesday, April 8, 2003. Senator Raymond D. Rawson presided in Room 3137 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.
Senate COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman
Senator Barbara Cegavske
Senator Bernice Mathews
Senator William J. Raggio
Assembly COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mrs. Dawn Gibbons
Ms. Chris Giunchigliani
Mr. Lynn Hettrick
Ms. Sheila Leslie
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Mr. David Goldwater, (excused)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Gary Ghiggeri, Senate Fiscal Analyst
Steve Abba, Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst
Bob Atkinson, Program Analyst
Lila Clark, Committee Secretary
Connie Davis, Committee Secretary
BUDGET CLOSINGS
HEALTH DIVISION, VITAL STATISTICS
EXECUTIVE BUDGET PAGE HEALTH – 7
Mr. Bob Atkinson, Program Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau, introduced Budget Account 101-3190, Vital Statistics. Mr. Atkinson said that decision unit E-300 of The Executive Budget recommended approximately $15,000 the first year of the biennium and $13,000 the second year to restore the funding for the trauma registry. Mr. Atkinson said that the staff of the Division had indicated the activity in the trauma registry was lower in the base year than would be required to maintain a viable trauma registry. He said he was not certain but he believed that might have been due to staff vacancies. Mr. Atkinson said the Division had requested funding for training on the new birth and death certificate requirements that were required by the U.S. Standard. Mr. Atkinson said that staff believed the request appeared to be reasonable and should be approved.
Mr. Atkinson said that decision unit E-907 would transfer the federal Data Utilization and Enhancement Grant from the Health Administration account to BA 101-3190, where it would be more appropriate.
Mr. Atkinson stated that with the two decision units he had discussed, staff recommended that BA 101-3190 be closed as recommended by the Governor.
Senator Rawson said that the general public did not hear a great deal about the trauma registry but he believed it was an important registry because it contained base information that needed to be kept current. He asked for input from the Subcommittee.
ASSEMBLYMAN HETTRICK MADE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE BUDGET AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN GIUNCHIGLIANI SECONDED THE MOTION.
Senator Rawson asked for discussion on the possible increase in fees.
Mr. Atkinson stated the fees that were collected for birth and death certificates were not deposited in the budget account, they were deposited directly to the General Fund. Mr. Atkinson said the Subcommittee had been informed by staff from the Health Division that the fees in Nevada were approximately $1 less for birth certificates and $2 less for death certificates than the average of the surrounding states. Mr. Atkinson said those fees produced approximately $576,000 for the General Fund each year. He said the fees were statutory so statutes would have to be changed to increase those fees. Mr. Atkinson said that any increase in the fees of approximately $1 to $2 would produce $50,000 to $75,000 annually. Mr. Atkinson added that changing the fee structure would not affect the closing of the budget account because the funds would be deposited directly into the General Fund. Mr. Atkinson stated that the compelling argument for an increase in fees would be for the increase in the General Fund revenue. He said the birth certificate fee currently charged in Nevada was $11 and in surrounding states the fees varied from $7 to $18, averaging $12.10. Mr. Atkinson said Nevada charged about $1 less than the average charge in surrounding states and increased fees were not built into The Executive Budget.
Assemblywoman Leslie informed the Subcommittee that she had a bill scheduled before Committee to raise fees for a death certificate to support the child death review teams.
Senator Rawson said that an increase in fees was not part of the budget under discussion and would be visited at a separate time. Mr. Atkinson confirmed that increases in fees would have no effect on the budget account.
Assemblyman Hettrick suggested that the fee could be increased and if Assemblywoman Leslie’s bill passed the money would be spent on the purposes set forth in the bill, or if the bill did not pass the increased fees would go into the General Fund. He said that if the Subcommittee took no action and then Ms. Leslie’s bill did not pass, there would be no additional funds generated.
Assemblywoman Leslie asked if a portion of the fee charged for birth certificates went to fund the Children’s Trust Fund for child abuse prevention programs. Mr. Atkinson said he believed there was $3 added into the cost for support of those programs.
Chairman Rawson asked Mr. Hettrick if he wanted to amend his motion.
ASSEMBLYMAN HETTRICK MOVED TO AMEND THE MOTION TO INCREASE THE FEES $2.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (Senator Raggio, Assemblywoman Gibbons and Assemblyman Goldwater were not present for the vote.)
BUDGET CLOSED.
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HEALTH DIVISION, HEALTH AID TO COUNTIES
EXECUTIVE BUDGET PAGE HEALTH – 16
Mr. Bob Atkinson, Program Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau, stated that The Executive Budget recommended the elimination of Budget Account 101-3209 in decision unit E-600. That decision unit would remove the General Funds and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control funding that had historically been in the account. Mr. Atkinson said the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control funding would continue to be provided to the counties through the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Account but the General Fund money that had been included in the account would be eliminated. Those funds had been passed through as unrestricted revenue to the counties and were not earmarked for any special purpose. Mr. Atkinson stated that The Executive Budget recommended that the General Fund portion of it be eliminated. He said the per capita rate had been $1.10, but during the early 1990s it was reduced to 55 cents and the 1999 Legislature raised it back to 80 cents and that was maintained by the 2001 Legislature. The 2001 Legislature issued a Letter of Intent that the upcoming biennium should include a rate of $1.10 with 75 percent of that coming from the General Fund. Mr. Atkinson said that if it was the Subcommittee’s desire to restore that 75 percent of the $1.10 rate of General Fund money, that would require $1.6 million the first year and $1.7 million the second year of the biennium. Mr. Atkinson stated that the Washoe County and Clark County health districts had come before the Subcommittee and requested that the funding be restored. Subsequently, the districts submitted a letter suggesting that it could be funded at a rate of 11 cents per capita as a budgetary placeholder because there was no statutory requirement to provide the funding. The representatives of the health districts felt that if the account was abolished there would be no chance for future funding.
SENATOR CEGAVSKE MOVED TO CLOSE THE BUDGET AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN LESLIE SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (Senator Raggio and Assemblyman Goldwater were not present for the vote.)
BUDGET CLOSED.
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HEALTH DIVISION, COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL
EXECUTIVE BUDGET PAGE HEALTH – 45
Mr. Bob Atkinson, Program Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau, said that in Budget Account 101-3220, decision unit E-900 recommended a transfer of the Federal Tobacco Prevention and Control Grant and the three employees included in that grant from the Health Administration budget account to Budget Account 101‑3220. He said that as a technical adjustment, two new Administrative Assistant II positions had been added that had been approved at the February 2003 Interim Finance Committee (IFC) meeting. Mr. Atkinson recommended that the budget account be closed as adjusted.
SENATOR CEGAVSKE MADE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE BUDGET AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
SENATOR MATHEWS SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (Assemblyman Goldwater was not present for the vote.)
BUDGET CLOSED.
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HEALTH DIVISION, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE
EXECUTIVE BUDGET PAGE HEALTH – 54
Mr. Bob Atkinson, Program Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau, stated that Budget Account 101-3215 had a great deal of federal funds and a small General Fund appropriation. He said the General Fund money in the account was primarily used to support the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) medication category as initiated by the 1997 Legislature. Mr. Atkinson said the appropriation recommended in The Executive Budget was recommended to continue at $1,350,000 each year for the AIDS medications. Mr. Atkinson said he had received information from the Division that there were currently 616 participants in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and there was no waiting list for the program.
Mr. Atkinson stated that, as a technical adjustment to the account, a new federally funded Biostatistician II position had been added that had been approved at the April 2003 meeting of the Interim Finance Committee. Mr. Atkinson recommended that the account be closed as adjusted.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN LESLIE MADE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE BUDGET AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF.
SENATOR CEGAVSKE SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (Assemblyman Goldwater was not present for the vote.)
BUDGET CLOSED.
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HEALTH DIVISION, WIC FOOD SUPPLEMENT
EXECUTIVE BUDGET PAGE HEALTH – 78
Mr. Bob Atkinson, Program Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau, said Budget Account 101-3214 was entirely funded with federal funding. He said there were approximately 41,000 participants in the program and he recommended the budget be closed as recommended by the Governor.
SENATOR CEGAVSKE MADE A MOTION THAT THE BUDGET BE CLOSED AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR.
ASSEMBLYMAN HETTRICK SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (Assemblyman Goldwater was not present for the vote.)
BUDGET CLOSED.
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HEALTH DIVISION, PUBLIC HEALTH TOBACCO FUND
EXECUTIVE BUDGET PAGE HEALTH - 93
Mr. Bob Atkinson, Program Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau, stated that Budget Account 263-3212 was funded with the interest earned from the Trust Fund for Public Health. He said the Trust Fund for Public Health received 10 percent of the tobacco proceeds and that was put into a permanent fund and only the interest could be spent. Mr. Atkinson said the level of the fund was anticipated to be approximately $17.4 million at the end of FY2002-03 and was projected to be $24.9 million at the end of FY2004-05. Mr. Atkinson said he recommended that the account be closed as recommended by the Governor.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN LESLIE MADE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE BUDGET AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN GIUNCHIGLIANI SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (Assemblyman Goldwater was not present for the vote.)
BUDGET CLOSED.
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There being no further business, Chairman Rawson adjourned the meeting at 8:28 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Lila Clark
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Chairman
DATE:
Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, Chairwoman
DATE: