MINUTES OF THE
	ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

	Sixty-eighth Session
	May 24, 1995


The Committee on Economic Development and Tourism was called to 
order at 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, May 24, 1995, Chairman 
Schneider presiding in Room 321 of the Legislative Building, 
Carson City, Nevada.  Exhibit A is the Agenda.  Exhibit B is the 
Attendance Roster.


COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mr. Michael A. (Mike) Schneider, Chairman
Mrs. Dianne Steel, Chairman
Mr. Mark Manendo, Vice Chairman
Mr. Thomas Batten
Mr. Jack D. Close
Mr. David Goldwater
Mrs. Gene Wines Segerblom

COMMITTEE MEMBERS EXCUSED:

Mrs. Maureen E. Brower, Vice Chairman

GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:

None

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mr. Donald O. Williams, Chief Principal Research Analyst


OTHERS PRESENT:

Ms. Karen Garaventa Baggett, Commission on Economic 
Development

SENATE BILL 81 - 	Designates square dance as official folk 
dance of Nevada.


Assemblywoman Gene Segerblom presented information developed by 
her intern who could not be present at the meeting (Exhibit C). 
 Research indicated the bill could designate the Pine Nut 
Harvesting Dance as the official state dance and Basque Dancing 
as the official state folk dance.

The intern's report read, "The Pine Nut Harvesting Dance, also 
known as a Pow Wow, has been performed by the Walker River Tribe 
of the Paiute Indians for over 100 years.  This is a social 
round dance unique to the indigenous people of Nevada for whom 
most of our towns, cities, and counties are named.  Basque 
dancing was brought to Nevada around 1850 with the gold rush. 
 Dancing was a right of passage performed only by Basque men. 
 Dancing became a manifestation of their culture which was 
easier to learn than the language.  Thus dancing began to define 
what it meant to be Basque.  In 1960 the first Nevada Basque 
Festival was held in Sparks."

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 37 -	Recognizes square dance 
as American folk dance. 
(BDR R-2051)

Mrs. Segerblom explained A.C.R. 37 was developed to replace S.B. 
81 in order to mirror other states who have adopted such 
legislation through a resolution instead of a bill.  The 
resolution recognizes square dance as an American folk dance. 
Alluding to her pioneer heritage, Mrs. Segerblom testified she 
never participated in square dancing, nor did her parents.  She 
did not feel that Nevadans could claim the square dance as their 
native dance.

Mrs. Segerblom reported she had met with Mr. Robert Hoover, 
representing Legacy Folk Dance of the States, who testified 
before the committee on March 15, 1995 on behalf of the bill. 
 Mr. Hoover recommended changing the language in the resolution 
to "recognizes the square dance as the American folk dance of 
Nevada" or "for Nevada."  Mrs. Segerblom indicated she was not 
in favor of the change, however, informed Mr. Hoover the 
language would be presented to the committee for their 
consideration.


According to research developed by Mrs. Segerblom's intern, 
California recognizes the swing dance as their state dance and 
the square dance is the official state folk dance.  Utah's 
legislation reads, "Square dancing means the folk dance which is 
called or prompted to the dancers and includes squares, rounds, 
clogging, line and heritage dances.  Square dancing is selected 
and designated to be the state folk dance of Utah." 

Mrs. Segerblom stated she conferred with several senators who 
agreed square dancing was not the native dance of Nevada.

MS. STEEL MOVED TO INDEFINITELY POSTPONE S.B. 81.

MR. GOLDWATER SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

MR. CLOSE MOVED TO ADOPT A.C.R. 37.

MRS. SEGERBLOM SECONDED THE MOTION.

THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Ms. Steel asked about the status of A.B. 386.  Mr. Williams 
reported the Assembly bill drafting office was working on it.

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.



RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:


	
Janine Sprout,
Committee Secretary

APPROVED BY:


____________________________________________
Assemblyman Michael A. Schneider, Chairman

____________________________________________
Assemblyman Dianne Steel, Chairman


Assembly Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
May 24, 1995
Page