Assembly Bill No. 203–Assemblymen Perkins, Collins, Horne, Anderson, Parks, Andonov, Arberry, Atkinson, Beers, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Chowning, Claborn, Conklin, Geddes, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goicoechea, Goldwater, Grady, Griffin, Hettrick, Leslie, Mabey, Manendo, Marvel, McCleary, Mortenson, Oceguera, Pierce, Sherer, Weber and Williams

 

February 26, 2003

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Referred to Committee on Education

 

SUMMARY—Creates Committee to Evaluate Higher Education Programs. (BDR S‑809)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.

 

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

 

AN ACT relating to higher education; creating the Committee to Evaluate Higher Education Programs; providing for its organization, powers and duties; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1. 1.  The Committee to Evaluate Higher Education

1-2  Programs, consisting of 12 voting members and 4 nonvoting

1-3  members, is hereby created.

1-4  2.  The following persons shall serve as voting members of the

1-5  Committee:

1-6  (a) Three members of the Senate, appointed by the Majority

1-7  Leader of the Senate;

1-8  (b) Three members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker

1-9  of the Assembly;

2-1  (c) Three members of the Board of Regents, appointed by

2-2  the Chairman of that Board; and

2-3  (d) Three members appointed by the Governor.

2-4  3.  The Governor shall appoint the following persons to serve as

2-5  the nonvoting members of the Committee:

2-6  (a) One person who is employed in the Budget Division of the

2-7  Department of Administration; and

2-8  (b) Three persons who are employed by the University and

2-9  Community College System of Nevada.

2-10      4.  The Chairman of the Legislative Commission shall

2-11  designate one of the members as Chairman of the Committee.

2-12      5.  The Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau shall

2-13  provide the necessary professional staff and a secretary for the

2-14  Committee.

2-15      6.  For each day or portion of a day during which they attend a

2-16  meeting of the Committee or are otherwise engaged in the business

2-17  of the Committee:

2-18      (a) The voting members of the Committee who are Legislators

2-19  are entitled to receive the compensation provided for a majority of

2-20  the members of the Legislature during the first 60 days of the

2-21  preceding regular session plus the per diem allowance provided for

2-22  state officers and employees generally and the travel expenses

2-23  provided pursuant to NRS 218.2207.

2-24      (b) The voting members of the Committee who are members of

2-25  the Board of Regents are entitled to receive travel expenses and a

2-26  per diem allowance at the rates established in NRS 396.070.

2-27      (c) The voting members of the Committee appointed by the

2-28  Governor are entitled to receive the per diem allowance and travel

2-29  expenses provided for state officers and employees generally.

2-30      Sec. 2.  The Committee shall:

2-31      1.  Examine and evaluate existing and planned programs at the

2-32  University and Community College System of Nevada and

2-33  determine the level of current need for those programs;

2-34      2.  Identify areas of high priority where needs are not currently

2-35  being met, including, without limitation, the areas of educational

2-36  programs for students who desire to become nurses or teachers;

2-37      3.  Determine whether it is feasible to reallocate existing

2-38  resources to meet the critical needs of the State of Nevada that are

2-39  not currently being met; and

2-40      4.  Determine whether appropriations from the State of Nevada

2-41  and student fee revenues are being efficiently distributed internally

2-42  at each campus of the University and Community College System of

2-43  Nevada.

 

3-1  Sec. 3.  The Committee may hold public hearings at such times

3-2  and places as it deems necessary to afford the general public and

3-3  representatives of governmental agencies and of organizations

3-4  interested in higher education an opportunity to present relevant

3-5  information and recommendations.

3-6  Sec. 4.  The Committee may employ such educational and

3-7  financial consultants as it deems necessary for this study.

3-8  Sec. 5.  The Committee may accept and use all gifts and grants

3-9  which it receives to further its work.

3-10      Sec. 6.  1.  There is hereby appropriated from the State

3-11  General Fund to the Legislative Commission the sum of $250,000

3-12  for the purpose of conducting an evaluation of higher education

3-13  programs as provided in this act.

3-14      2.  Any remaining balance of the appropriation made

3-15  by subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after

3-16  December 31, 2004, and reverts to the State General Fund as soon

3-17  as all payments of money committed have been made.

3-18      Sec. 7.  The Committee shall submit to the Legislative

3-19  Commission a report of its findings and any recommendations for

3-20  legislation before the commencement of the 73rd Session of the

3-21  Legislature.

3-22      Sec. 8.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003, and expires

3-23  by limitation on February 1, 2005.

 

3-24  H