MINUTES OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Sixty-eighth Session April 17, 1995 The Committee on Health and Human Services was called to order at 1:30 p.m., on Monday, April 17, 1995, Chairman Jan Monaghan presiding in Room 119 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Mrs. Vivian L. Freeman, Chairman Mrs. Jan Monaghan, Chairman Mrs. Jan Evans, Vice Chairman Dr. William Z. (Bill) Harrington, Vice Chairman Mrs. Deanna Braunlin Ms. Barbara E. Buckley Mr. David Goldwater Ms. Saundra (Sandi) Krenzer Mr. Dennis Nolan Ms. Dianne Steel Ms. Patricia A. Tripple STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Pepper Sturm, Chief Principal Research Analyst OTHERS PRESENT: Sherry Leckliter Fawn Pasqua Ed Gantan Beth Thompson Scott Margullis Maribel Gutierrez Osiris Mungvia Holly Hawkins David Sevilla Adolfo Segura Teresa Fox Troy Hightower Corrine Nelson Destiny Shuli Amber Tate Gabriela Garcia Ian Curley Nancy Saitta, Senior Deputy Attorney General, Director of the Nevada Missing Children Clearinghouse Chairman Monaghan welcomed members of the Youth Solution who had come to testify before the Committee. Mr. Ian Curley, who works in juvenile probation in Carson City, stated a few weeks ago the teens he works with decided they wanted to have a Youth Solution Conference. They did not want their conference facilitated by adults but instead wanted to actually get together and come up with solutions to issues from their perspective. The teens came from Douglas County, Incline Village, Lovelock, Reno and Native American students from Woodfords. They held their Conference this morning and will be presenting their solutions. Teens as well as adults are concerned about all the laws being so quickly passed that effect juveniles. Maribel Gutierrez, a senior at Carson High School and member of Hola Carson City, introduced the Youth Solution presentation. She mentioned the importance of teenagers participating in solving current youth problems and added the Youth Solution is a group of very diverse teenagers from different parts of Northern Nevada. The conference participants spent the morning in small groups discussing the issues they were concerned with. Each group chose a representative to present their solutions. Beth Thompson, whose topic was "Getting The Schools to Work", stated her group identified 15 areas of concern. The three she will introduce are specialized classes, enthusiastic teachers and better technology and newer equipment. The group's top priority was specialized classes. They believe by offering specialized classes more students will stay involved which will help with college, jobs and reduce the rate of truancy and dropouts. To get these classes they need teachers who are willing to teach, support from the school district, town meetings to get the community involved and money. Mrs. Monaghan asked what kind of specialized classes would be desirable. Beth mentioned vocational classes in technology, for instance advanced computer classes. David Sevilla, Senior Class President at Carson High, testified his group developed 25 solutions to school problems. Two of the top three involved keeping the school safe and getting a student's point of view, for instance including students on administration committees. The best solution his study group came up with was to build another high school in Carson City. The group realized there were a number of problems associated with building a new school, however advantages outweighed disadvantages and included reduced class size, which would give more individual attention to the student. Access to the students who might live where the school would be built would be easier. In addition, a brand new high school would be an accomplishment for the community and the parents to take pride in and add to community spirit. David said the group felt it would also produce about 300 new jobs. Weaknesses to the project identified by the group included the expense and dropping back down to the AA Division where interscholastic sports are concerned. David also mentioned among the resources needed would be money from both the federal and state budgets and a place to locate the new school. Assemblyman Nolan mentioned he works with a youth group in Clark County and in talking to them about safety in schools, was surprised at their response when asked if the gang element was something they were conscious of that really threatened them. The teens' responded they knew the gang element was present and probably some kids carry guns or knives to school, but they knew where the problem is and how to avoid it, they have become acclimated to it and as a result it is not really a threat to them. He asked whether these teens share the same perspective. David replied there is no gang element at Carson High just a group of kids who think they are a gang, stay to themselves and really do not cause major problems. Assemblywoman Steel asked what was unsafe about the schools if there was not a problem with gangs. David responded there are a number of fights which more security officers would help eliminate. He added students do bring weapons to school and even though the administration knows about it, locating the weapons is difficult. Assemblywoman Braunlin noted David's group had identified 25 issues but only listed the top three and she requested a complete listing and any potential solutions the youth conference formulated. She mentioned the Education Committee would also be interested in the list. Teresa Fox and Troy Hightower introduced that group's issue, which was gangs. Teresa began the testimony stating gangs detract from a community by defacing property and intimidating students. They interfere with the teens who are going to school to get an education. Their group suggested 12 potential solutions to the problem of gangs among which were special activities for teens and someplace teens could go to stay out of trouble like clubs or maybe dances on the weekends. Another suggestion was peer counselors in school because the group felt it was easier to talk to someone their own age rather than an adult who is likely to become aggravated and upset. Troy stated the best solution was gang awareness and education about gangs which would let people know what the gangs were doing and what could happen to a person who becomes involved with them. He mentioned providing programs about gangs could result in a happier community, safer schools, more teen activities and more communication with the community. Weaknesses of the group's solutions included the budget required to accomplish the goals and teens wanting to attend the activities. Resources for the various projects could include fundraisers, advertisements and volunteers. Mrs. Monaghan mentioned some schools have peer mediators and asked whether the schools Teresa and Troy attended had any similar programs. Teresa replied she goes to Virginia City High School which presently has one counselor who is, she said, "not of great help". She believes he does not like to do his job so he just gives the students their classes but does nothing additional. There is no one to talk to at Virginia City High other than the principal or an available teacher. Mrs. Monaghan wondered whether the students could set up their own peer counseling. Teresa responded what usually happens when a teen has a problem is a friend will bring it to the attention of a teacher or staff member and that person will come and talk to the student. A group of students may occasionally go into a room with a teacher or available faculty member and discuss the problem. Mr. Nolan asked whether these students felt there was a real gang threat to their safety in their schools. Teresa replied at her school there really are no gangs, only a few people who claim to be in gangs, but she has no problem with them. There is more of a problem with how one dresses or looks rather than with racial discrimination or gangs. Troy Hightower commented where he attends school people claim to be in gangs but he also does not have much problem with them. The concern he has is when innocent people get killed over things like the type of clothing or colors they are wearing. Destiny Shuli presented testimony about dropouts. Her group believed students drop out of school because of drugs. A possible solution would be rehabilitation centers rather than juvenile halls. Her group also believed more money should be spent on student activities to occupy teenagers' time like clubs. Corrine Nelson representing the same study group, added another reason for a student to drop out of school is teen pregnancy. Possible solutions to that problem include mother and child programs within the school so the children could be looked after while their mothers were in school. Programs for teen mothers and babies should be expanded. Another reason suggested for the dropout rate is family problems. Possible solutions for that include counseling in schools that would include the whole family and low cost counseling centers with sliding fee scales. Destiny mentioned the violence in schools and felt that environment needs more structure, more security personnel, more random searches and even metal detectors because a lot of people do not feel safe in schools. Assemblywoman Buckley asked whether there had been any discussion within the group about how to convince teenagers not to get pregnant in the first place. Corrine replied her group discussed abstinence, protection, contraception and practicing safer sex. Spokesmen for the group reviewing drugs and alcohol were Scott Margullis and Adolfo Sequra. Adolfo testified the group believes drugs are destroying lives, especially young people's. Solutions proposed by the group included helping families come together, cleaning up the community, creating a safer environment and higher education. Difficulties associated with solving the problems included finding new friends and hobbies and enlisting peer and community support. Mr. Nolan asked how easy it was to get drugs in school and which ones were available. Scott replied it is very easy to obtain just about anything. Mr. Nolan asked what drugs are in the schools now. Scott enumerated marijuana, crank, coke, LSD and mushrooms. He added almost anything someone might want could probably be obtained. Adolfo believed what is really needed, because drugs are so easy to obtain within the schools, is more security in the schools and better education. Amber Tate testified about her group's topic, which was discrimination. She testified the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and skinheads are present in her school. Racism and ostracism lead to hurt feelings, she believed and to prevent that people should get more involved and familiar with others' cultures. Gabriela Garcia mentioned possible solutions the group devised included education to end the ignorance of each other's races and religions and not judging people on how they look. Support groups who agree with the goal of ending discrimination would be helpful as well as required classes in school about other people, their culture and background. Parents and the community should be taught to understand different cultures, religions and history of the various races. The teachers need educating so they can understand a student's point of view. Mr. Goldwater asked whether discrimination is considered not acceptable behavior by the administration, adults, teachers and counselors at the schools Amber and Gabriela attend. Amber replied some of the teachers at her school are racist. They "put you down; they think it is play but it really hurts people's feelings". She believed it has gone too far, especially where sex is concerned. Girls are judged by how they dress, how they look and how they act. Assemblywoman Freeman inquired what schools the girls were from. Amber replied she was from Carson Middle School. Gabriela said she was from Carson High School. Mrs. Freeman asked what the school administration does about incidents of discrimination when they are reported or if the incidents are ever reported. Amber responded a friend of hers reported sexual harassment. The perpetrator was suspended for three days. When he returned to school he tried it again, but this time resorted to physical abuse and knocked her down. Gabriela asserted discrimination also occurs in her school, but is never reported to any adults; the students just hear about it. Mrs. Freeman inquired whether the students do not feel comfortable reporting instances of discrimination. Amber repeated when an incident is reported violence usually occurs to the victim because people think the victim is a "wimp or something". Gabriela added usually if harassment were reported, rumors would fly around the school and the victim would get in trouble or beaten up for causing the perpetrator to get in trouble. Mrs. Freeman queried whether, during school assemblies, the school administration ever makes the student body aware that type of behavior will not be tolerated in school. Amber replied the administration does not and Gabriela agreed. Assemblywoman Evans mentioned the KKK and skinheads and asked what those groups offer young people or why young people might want to join. Amber responded one of her friends believed it gave her power to be white. This person, along with some friends would roam around school and start fights. Gabriela agreed at Carson High that same thing occurs. Ms. Krenzer asked whether the girls felt safe at school. Gabriela, saying she is friends with everyone, feels safe. She knows people may "cut her down" for her race but she is not hurt by that and feels sooner or later they will reconsider what they have said. She felt people should know her personally and not consider looks or race. Ms. Krenzer asked if people put her down because of her race and Gabriela agreed they do. Amber interjected at Carson Middle School she stays between all the factions because people decide a student is a particular type because of who they hang out with. Assemblyman Harrington inquired whether there is any choice in Carson City about where a student goes to school. Gabriela responded there is only one high school. Amber added there are two middle schools but a student must be zoned to one or the other. Dr. Harrington asked if the girls had a choice between public or private schools, would they use those choices. Both girls agreed if a student felt the situation at their school was unsafe, he or she should leave that environment. Mrs. Monaghan wondered if the school campuses were open or closed. Amber said the Middle School was a closed campus and Gabriela interjected Carson High's is open. Mr. Nolan commented the Committee had heard a lot about school problems but wondered what the girls felt about the quality of their education. He asked if students are able to go into a classroom and learn what the teachers are teaching. Amber replied if one asks too many questions, one is considered a "geek". Gabriela believed teachers should learn more about the students in their classes, their culture, background and interests. That way students would find it interesting to be in class and not fall asleep. Mrs. Freeman queried whether there were security guards in the girls' schools. Amber said there are none in her school and the principal and vice principal handle problems. However, around the soccer field and basketball court, where most problems occur, no one patrols. Gabriela replied Carson High School has three security guards, but noted they cannot be everywhere. Mrs. Freeman asked if this testimony meant there is a lot of violence occurring at the school grounds of which the principal and vice principal are not aware. Gabriela replied there have been a lot of fights at her school recently among the different races. Ed Gantan testified on his group's topic which was school violence. The group identified 13 issues, the top three of which were education about prejudice, teachers taking sides and cultural awareness. Education is important because we educate about other cultures so we will understand one another and there will be less violence. Ed elaborated that teachers take sides because they are not aware of the various cultures. He added we need a lot of community help and support to change the way we think about other cultures and different peoples. Ms. Krenzer asked if there was violence within the cultural groups too and if there was another factor to the violence. Ed agreed there is violence within the subculture against its own members. Ms. Krenzer asked how that could be addressed. Ed replied they are just arguing. Ms. Krenzer suggested anger resolution or conflict education which would teach how to handle anger and aggression. She asked whether Ed was ever afraid at school. He replied, "yes and no". Ms. Krenzer asked what the "yes" meant and Ed said it depended on whether it was a threat to himself or a friend. Ms. Krenzer asked if he had been threatened. Ed responded a couple of times. Ms. Krenzer wanted to know if it was physical violence, with fists, or whether the threat included weapons. Ed testified the problem starts with attempting to talk the problems out, intensifies to pushing and shoving, and then just escalates from there. Ms. Krenzer noted law enforcement was not listed as a solution by the group studying school violence and asked if stricter laws would help or if current rules are not being enforced. Also, she asked whether Ed felt safe telling someone in authority about a problem. Ed said the rules are enforced, although occasionally they may not be and things are just left alone. Ms. Krenzer asked if the laws are not strict enough. Ed believed they need to be a little more strict. Sherry Leckliter introduced teen pregnancy which was her group's topic. The group felt programs for teen pregnancy are needed including more housing for pregnant teens. The only such facility Sherry knew about takes five or six girls and has a waiting list. In addition support groups for parents and teens are needed so the teens know what is going on. She added day care at school and work would facilitate the teen mothers getting a better education or better job. Also mandatory child development classes should be instituted in high school so teen pregnancy does not occur in the first place. Fawn Pasqua presented the strengths the group came up with which included helping the teen through education to prevent pregnancy and teach about the care of a baby and support groups to prevent abuse at home and help the family unit. Weaknesses identified by the group included lack of money, official backing and community support. Resources needed to institute child day care at the schools included money, community involvement and volunteers who could assist at the day care center. Mrs. Monaghan asked about mandatory education and if teenage girls do not know what causes pregnancy or whether they are choosing to get pregnant. Sherry replied some teens are choosing to have a baby but do not think about the results. Sometimes protection breaks, they forget to take birth control pills, or something goes wrong. Mrs. Monaghan restated teens know what causes pregnancy and Sherry agreed but added a very few girls do not. Mrs. Freeman inquired if sex education is taught in area schools. Both girls replied that it is. Mrs. Freeman questioned if it is an elective. Sherry responded sometimes health classes only provide a small part of the whole. If those classes would show teens the real risks of having a baby, for instance the costs of everything connected with a baby and what the duties of child rearing are, it would really scare the teens. Health classes teach about AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and recommend use of these contraceptive devises, but they do not discuss what really happens and all the implications. Teens think having a baby is a game and that child rearing is so easy and attractive. Mrs. Freeman noted that each individual school district is allowed to have their sex education plan, but added when she has spoken at high schools the kids have asked why the adults did not tell them the way it really is. She asked if there were any parenting classes available in the schools. Sherry replied those classes should be available, but were not in her high school where the only class is a child development class. Mrs. Freeman asked which schools the girls attend. Sherry goes to Washoe High School because of the program she is currently enrolled in. She added there is a cyesis program in Washoe County but it is not available to her because of her structured living arrangement. She noted child development classes in regular high school only give their students plants and eggs to care for which are not real babies. Sherry added those classes help, but they do not give the real facts. Mrs. Monaghan interjected those child development classes only teach the stages of development but not the real life difficulties with a teen having a baby. Sherry agreed those classes provide little points but not the big picture. Mr. Goldwater asked what the barriers to obtaining different types of contraceptives might be and if any were financial. Mrs. Monaghan elaborated by questioning whether anyone can go to a store and buy a contraceptive or if there were any age limits. Sherry replied condoms are available, however girls are not comfortable with doctors doing the exams necessitated by some of the other forms of birth control. She noted exams and birth control pills must be paid for whereas condoms are free at the health department and again mentioned the danger that a condom might break or a teen forget to take a pill. Sherry emphasized one simply cannot make a mistake, girls have to be sure. Osiris Mungvia began her group's presentation on cultural issues by explaining that culture means a person's background. She added it is a tough issue to deal with. Her group advanced 25 solutions among which included working together to learn from each other's culture. She mentioned the need to get a good education and plan for the future. Scott Margullis mentioned another cultural issue involved school teachers learning more about different cultures instead of just the basics that could be learned in history classes. Other proposed solutions included after school groups which could educate each other about themselves and more multi-cultural activities. Resources to facilitate these changes included the need for substantial funds and support from the community, parents and the school district. Maribel Gutierrez ended the Youth Solutions presentation by thanking the Committee for hearing them today. She added any further information could be obtained by contacting Ian or Marge Curley at Hispanic Services. Mrs. Monaghan thanked all the teen presenters for a job well done and mentioned some of the Committee members had requested additional information about the issues and solutions. She requested the teens leave copies of their information for the Committee, (Exhibit C.). SENATE BILL 270 - Revises provisions governing duties of law enforcement agencies receiving reports of missing children. Nancy Saitta, Children's Advocate for the State of Nevada from the Attorney General's office and Director of the Nevada Missing Children Clearinghouse, spoke in favor of S.B. 270, (Exhibit D). S.B. 270 requests information currently being transmitted to the Nevada Department of Investigations regarding missing children instead be transmitted to the Clearinghouse which is located in Clark County. Her agency requested the change to enable it to work more efficiently and provide a repository for all this information. Also, because the Clearinghouse is the state entity charged with the obligation of making reports and recommendations regarding the missing and exploited population within Nevada, it is essential they have all the information in order to make an accurate report. Basically, because the Nevada Division of Investigation (NDI) already is very busy, they are anxious to have all information sent to the Clearinghouse. Ms. Saitta believes the Clearinghouse staff is sufficient to handle the additional data, the input and to develop the data base that would provide the available information to everyone within the state. S.B. 270 would change the statute to make it more consistent with what the Clearinghouse was designed to do. Assemblywoman Steel commented she is not familiar with the Clearinghouse and requested additional information about its funding and how it works. Ms. Saitta replied the Clearinghouse is funded as a division of the Office of the Attorney General. Ms. Saitta is the Director of the Clearinghouse as well as the Children's Advocate for Nevada. The Clearinghouse, in addition to being an investigative tool to assist law enforcement with the location and reunification of missing children, is also an entity within the state charged with the obligation of compiling statistics regarding Nevada's missing, exploited and runaway population. The Clearinghouse is also charged with the responsibility of providing educational programs and materials for virtually any legitimate agency that requests that information throughout the state. They currently have over 230 open investigated cases involving missing or abducted children. They assist every law enforcement agency within Nevada as well as being a member of a national network of clearinghouses which they assist if it is believed a child has been brought into Nevada's jurisdiction and similarly, the national clearinghouse assists them. Ms. Steel asked how the Clearinghouse normally receives its cases and whether they go through the Division of Investigation first and then come to the Clearinghouse. Ms. Saitta replied the cases themselves can come to them in any number of ways but typically law enforcement throughout the state will refer. When the law enforcement agency gets a report of a missing child they will also refer the victim's parent(s) to the Clearinghouse and an investigative file would be opened in that manner. With reference to the transmission of information, Ms. Saitta stated the only thing transmitted to the Clearinghouse from the Division of Investigation are immediate reports that come in on a missing child. What NDI would provide to the Clearinghouse on a more consistent basis by a change in the statute is information that comes in through the course of the investigation. As it stands now, all they get is the immediate information that comes in upon the report of a missing child. Ms. Steel asked if S.B. 270 would cause a financial impact on NDI. Ms. Saitta responded it would actually alleviate some of their caseload, so the answer would be absolutely not. ASSEMBLYWOMAN VIVIAN FREEMAN MOVED DO PASS ON S.B. 270. ASSEMBLYWOMAN PATRICIA TRIPPLE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. (ASSEMBLYMAN WENDELL WILLIAMS WAS ABSENT AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE.) Ms. Buckley asked if Chairman Monaghan would like a status report on A.B. 367, the bill concerning sewage lines, or if she would rather wait until the next Committee meeting. Mrs. Monaghan suggested A.B. 367 be taken up at the next Committee meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:35 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: Terry Horgan, Committee Secretary APPROVED BY: Assemblywoman Vivian L. Freeman, Chairman Assemblywoman Jan Monaghan, Chairman Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services April 17, 1995 Page