Assembly Bill No. 219–Assemblymen Sherer, Angle, Carpenter, Christensen, Collins, Conklin, Geddes, Goicoechea, Griffin, Gustavson, Hettrick, Knecht, Koivisto and Oceguera (by request)

 

February 28, 2003

____________

 

Joint Sponsor: Senator McGinness

____________

 

Referred to Concurrent Committees on Government
Affairs and Ways and Means

 

SUMMARY—Requires Department of Administration to conduct study concerning feasibility and desirability of relocating certain state agencies to rural communities. (BDR S‑1088)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: Yes.

 

~

 

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

 

AN ACT relating to the economic development of rural communities; requiring the Department of Administration to conduct a study concerning the feasibility and desirability of relocating certain state agencies to rural communities; requiring the Department to recommend the relocation of at least one such agency; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

    Whereas, Rural America is home to one-fifth of the total population of the United States, is keeper of natural amenities and national treasures, and is the safeguard of a unique part of American culture, tradition and history; and

    Whereas, Today, rural America comprises over 2,300 counties, contains 83 percent of the land in the United States, and includes 56 million people; and

    Whereas, It has been said often that a strong rural economy plays an important role in maintaining a strong economy for an entire state; and

    Whereas, It is a well-known fact that economic development in rural communities is vital to the financial prosperity and survival of these communities; and

    Whereas, According to figures obtained from the 2000 census, approximately 14 percent of the residents of the State of Nevada live in rural communities and the remaining 86 percent reside in the urban areas of this state; and

    Whereas, Rural communities provide a high quality of life with such services and amenities that may be attractive to residents now living in urban areas; and

    Whereas, Efforts are under way by many organizations and public and private entities to promote economic growth and development in this state; and

    Whereas, One proposal that will serve to enhance the economy in the rural areas of this state is to relocate certain state agencies, or portions thereof, to rural communities; and

    Whereas, Today’s modern methods of communication and technological advances in telecommunications would serve to increase the feasibility of such a proposal by ensuring that information systems currently in use by state agencies in urban areas would operate effectively and efficiently in rural areas; and

    Whereas, Rural communities in this state would welcome the increase in population and economy that would result from such a relocation of one or more state agencies, or portions thereof; now, therefore,

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1.  1.  The Department of Administration shall

1-2  conduct a study of the feasibility and desirability of relocating

1-3  certain state agencies, or portions thereof, to rural communities.

1-4  2.  The Director of the Department shall appoint a committee of

1-5  such persons as he deems appropriate to conduct the study,

1-6  including, without limitation:

1-7  (a) Persons who are familiar with the operation of State

1-8  Government and the work performed by state employees; and

1-9  (b) Persons who are familiar with the services and amenities that

1-10  rural communities could offer to state employees, including, without

1-11  limitation:

1-12          (1) Lower costs of living;

1-13          (2) The aesthetics of rural life;

2-1       (3) Decreased commuting time;

2-2       (4) An environment free from pollution, traffic congestion

2-3  and high crime; and

2-4       (5) Methods of communication which are equivalent to those

2-5  that are available in urban areas.

2-6  3.  In conducting the study to determine the feasibility of

2-7  relocating a particular state agency, or portion thereof, the

2-8  committee shall first consider the mission and programs of the

2-9  agency to ensure that they do not require the employees of

2-10  the agency to perform their duties or provide customer service at a

2-11  specific location.

2-12      4.  In conducting the study, the Department shall conduct a

2-13  written survey of state employees who work in urban areas to

2-14  determine the number of employees who would be willing to

2-15  relocate to a rural community if the office in which they are

2-16  currently working were to be relocated. A copy of the survey must

2-17  be distributed to each such employee with the employee’s payroll

2-18  check, or copy thereof, and may be returned to the Director of the

2-19  Department through interoffice state mail.

2-20      5.  The Department shall submit a report of the results of

2-21  the study on or before September 1, 2004, to the Director of the

2-22  Legislative Counsel Bureau.

2-23      6.  The Chief of the Budget Division of the Department shall

2-24  consider the results of the study during the preparation of the

2-25  proposed state budget that will be presented by the Governor in

2-26  January 2005. As a result of the study, the Department shall

2-27  recommend the relocation of at least one state agency, or portion

2-28  thereof, to a rural community and include that relocation as part of

2-29  the proposed state budget for fiscal year 2006-2007.

2-30      Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

2-31  H