MINUTES OF THE

SENATE Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations

 

Seventy-second Session

February 11, 2003

 

 

The Senate Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operationswas called to order by Chairman Maurice E. Washington, at 3:30 p.m., on Tuesday, February 11, 2003, in Room 2144 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 Maurice E. Washington, Chairman

Senator Barbara Cegavske, Vice Chairman

Senator William J. Raggio

Senator Raymond D. Rawson

Senator Dina Titus

Senator Valerie Wiener

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

Senator Bernice Mathews (Excused)

 

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Robert E. Erickson, Research Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau

Brenda J. Erdoes, Legislative Counsel

Johnnie Lorraine Willis, Committee Secretary

 

OTHERS PRESENT:

 

Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Lobbyist, Ex-Senator, Carson City, Douglas County, and Lyon County

 

 

Senator Washington called the meeting to order and directed the committee’s attention to the proposed standing rules, Exhibit C. He said the rules had not changed much from last session. 

 

Senator Rawson asked whether the standing rules included a rule regarding cell phones. Senator Washington replied, “Yes, Rule 8 says all cellular telephones must be turned off while in the committee room.”

 

SENATOR CEGAVSKE MOVED TO ACCEPT THE STANDING RULES FOR THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND OPERATIONS.

 

            SENATOR WIENER SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATORS MATHEWS AND TITUS WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)

 

*****

 

Senator Washington informed the committee Robert E. Erickson, Research Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau, would give the committee an overview of last session’s activities, and possible issues for this session.

 

Mr. Erickson said the Committee Brief for Legislative Affairs and Operations, Exhibit D, addressed the jurisdiction of the committee, profiled some of the bills from this committee from last session, and outlined some of the studies that were approved. He informed the committee there were typically three studies per session from the Senate, and three studies per session from the Assembly. Mr. Erickson said the way the studies usually worked was each House identified which three studies it wanted, the other House then did not object and passed them through that House when presented.

 

Mr. Erickson said the Senate studies were late coming in last session and the Legislative Commission had to authorize those studies. 

 

Mr. Erickson said Exhibit D provided an analysis of joint sponsorship of bills and resolutions, which is different for individual sponsorship and committee sponsorships. He said the pass rate for bills that had a joint sponsor from the other House was around 40 percent, if the bill only had sponsors from its own House, the chance of getting a bill passed dropped to 24 percent. 

 

Mr. Erickson said the final part of the brief was an outline of the bills and resolutions that were being drafted, which could come to the committee during this session.

 

Senator Washington informed the committee it had received Bill Draft Request (BDR) R-175 for introduction.

 

BILL DRAFT REQUEST R-175: Directs Legislative Commission to appoint committee to continue review of Tahoe Regional Planning Compact.  

 

            SENATOR CEGAVSKE MOVED TO INTRODUCE BDR R-175.

 

            SENATOR RAGGIO SECONDED THE MOTION.

 

THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR MATHEWS WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.)

*****

 

The introduction of this BDR was later rescinded on February 25, 2003, and re‑introduced as BDR 17-175, which became Senate Bill 216.

 

Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Lobbyist, ex-Senator, Carson City, Douglas County, and Lyon County, said he had a couple of observations he would like to share with the committee. He said the faces of the medallions of the Great Seal of the State of Nevada, which decorate the west and east entries of the Legislative Building were in poor repair, and said he felt their condition was unacceptable. He conveyed the information that the seals came from Taiwan and each weighs a ton, making it difficult to take them down for repairs. 

 

Mr. Jacobsen said he has observed the Legislative Counsel Bureau did not have a calendar posted anywhere in the building. He explained in the past he had paid for calendars for the building, however, someone complained that his name was on them, and as a result, he stopped providing them. He said he would like to see nice calendars showing the whole of each month. Mr. Jacobsen commented he felt these calendars should be posted throughout the building and perhaps could be provided by the Legislative Counsel Bureau. 

 

Mr. Jacobsen explained he had always requested there be maps posted in the building. He said he had continuously requested there be a map room. 

 

Mr. Jacobsen said the maps in the legislative affairs room were very good, but he would like to see the maps extended further, and to have maps displaying each county by itself. He said this would help newcomers to identify some of the historic names throughout Nevada and to associate where in the State these famous sites were located.  

 

Mr. Jacobsen said the final thing he wanted to bring to the committee’s attention was the lack of any weather covering leading from the parking areas to the Legislative Building. He said when the addition was added to the building it was too expensive at that time to add covered walkways to the contract. Mr. Jacobsen said in observing the area he has seen a place on the south side of the parking garage where the cover could be extended, which would give protection from the weather halfway to the building.

 

Mr. Jacobsen stated the area on the other end of the parking garage was a disaster. He said when there is snow and ice on the ground it is very dangerous to walk there. He explained if the area were covered it would keep staff and visitors out of the wind and the rain. Mr. Jacobsen invited the committee members to walk the areas in question and see for themselves the problems. He said an expandable cover would easily work in the area and would be inexpensive.

 

Mr. Jacobsen indicated as he had time to walk around and review things, he would probably come back to the committee with more suggestions to improve the look of the building so staff and visitors could fully enjoy being here.

 

Senator Washington requested Mr. Erickson give the committee a report on the suggestions from Mr. Jacobsen and keep the ex-Senator advised as to what was going on. 

 

Senator Washington adjourned the meeting at 3:44 p.m.

 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

 

                                                           

Johnnie Lorraine Willis,

Committee Secretary

 

 

APPROVED BY:

 

 

 

                                                                                         

Senator Maurice E. Washington, Chairman

 

 

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