MINUTES OF THE
SENATE Committee on Finance
Seventy-second Session
May 15, 2003
The Senate Committee on Finance was called to order by Chairman William J. Raggio at 4:33 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2003, in Room 2134 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 J. Raggio, Chairman
Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Vice Chairman
Senator Dean A. Rhoads
Senator Barbara K. Cegavske
Senator Sandra J. Tiffany
Senator Bob Coffin
Senator Bernice Mathews
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Gary L. Ghiggeri, Senate Fiscal Analyst
H. Pepper Sturm, Chief Principal Research Analyst
Mindy Braun, Education Program Analyst
Denise Davis, Committee Secretary
Senator Raggio:
We will discuss Senate Bill (S.B.) 191.
SENATE BILL 191: Makes various changes governing education to facilitate implementation of federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. (BDR 34‑635)
We have been considering Amendment No. 645, which has been distributed to everyone with an interest in the bill (Exhibit C. Original is on file in the Research Library.). We are going to consider another short amendment which I asked staff to propose (Exhibit D). I do not think there is anything in the new amendment which will cause anyone concern.
The new amendment proposes to delete Section 129 of S.B. 191, which appropriates $50,000 for evaluation of educational technology. As you will recall, we deleted $50,000 from the $10,000,000 for the educational technology segment, and we will consider that portion through the budget process. I think it should be included in the Legislative Counsel Bureau budget. We will discuss the issue Saturday, May 17, 2003.
We are adding a new Section 129 to S.B. 191, which will make a General Fund appropriation of $1.4 million in each fiscal year to the Interim Finance Committee. As you will recall, a segment in S.B. 210 was of interest to the committee, along with the presentation by the Grow Network regarding test score reports.
SENATE BILL 210: Makes various changes governing education and makes related appropriations. (BDR 34-636)
Although this language does not specify it, the appropriation will be utilized by the Interim Finance Committee upon appropriate presentation for contractual services of a consultant for the purpose of reporting test scores.
Senator Tiffany:
Are you referring to the bill I sponsored and Ray Bacon is involved with?
Senator Raggio:
We will include it here, but it will go to the Interim Finance Committee.
Senator Tiffany:
Will it be funded through the General Fund or with No Child Left Behind Act money?
Senator Raggio:
I think it has to be through the General Fund.
Mindy Braun, Education Program Analyst, Fiscal Analysis Division, Legislative Counsel Bureau:
Requests for proposals for programs similar to the Grow Network will be issued and will be funded through the General Fund.
Senator Raggio:
The new amendment will delete Section 130 of S.B. 191, which appropriates $7 million in 2004 and $8 million in 2005 for the at-risk school stipends. We have considered the stipends through the budget process; they are included in the Distributive School Account.
The new amendment will also delete Section 131 of S.B. 191, which appropriates $287,427 to conduct an educational financial analysis model program. We will consider this item in the Legislative Counsel Bureau budget; it should be in that budget because it is a continuation program. It addresses the Insite program.
To summarize, the new amendment will delete the existing Section 129 and replace it with a new Section 129, which will appropriate $1.4 million each year to the Interim Finance Committee for contract services similar to the Grow Network presentation. The examinations included will be the norm referenced test in Grades 4, 7, and 10; the initial administration of the high school proficiency exams in Grades 10 or 11, as appropriate; and the criterion referenced test in Grades 3, 5, and 8. This is the current language in S.B. 210, so we will not have to process S.B. 210 if we approve this new amendment. The new amendment will delete Section 130 of S.B. 191; the stipends are now included in the Distributive School Account. The new amendment will also delete section 131; the Insite money will be included in the Legislative Counsel Bureau budget.
SENATOR TIFFANY MOVED TO FURTHER AMEND AMENDMENT NO. 645 TO S.B. 191 AS PROPOSED IN EXHIBIT D.
SENATOR CEGAVSKE SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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SENATOR TIFFANY MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS AS AMENDED S.B. 191.
SENATOR CEGAVSKE SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Senator Raggio:
This meeting is adjourned at 4:41 p.m.
Denise Davis,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator William J. Raggio, Chairman
DATE: