MINUTES OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Sixty-eighth Session May 30, 1995 The Senate Committee on Finance was called to order by Chairman William J. Raggio, at 8:00 a.m., on Tuesday, May 30, 1995, in Room 223 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Senator William J. Raggio, Chairman Senator Raymond D. Rawson, Vice Chairman Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen Senator Bob Coffin Senator William R. O'Donnell Senator Dean A. Rhoads Senator Bernice Mathews GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT: Senator Ernie Adler, Capital Senatorial District STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Miles, Fiscal Analyst Bob Guernsey, Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst Sue Parkhurst, Committee Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Janice R. Ayres, Executive Director, 15 Rural Counties RSVP Program C. Edwin Fend, State Legislative Committee Chairman, Area 9 Office, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Lucy W. Bouldin, Director, Storey County Public Library Joan G. Kerschner, Director, Department of Museums, Library and Arts John E. Neill, Chief, Fiscal Services, Department of Prisons Bill Curran, Chairman, Nevada Gaming Commission William A. Bible, Chairman, State Gaming Control Board Carolyn Rawles-Reiser, Director, Douglas County Public Library John P. Comeaux, Director, Department of Administration ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 24: Directs adjustment of sums of money from issuance of certain state general obligation bonds previously authorized for expenditure for certain purposes related to protection and preservation of natural resources. Senator Raggio noted the amendment to Assembly Concurrent Resolution (A.C.R.) 24, Amendment No. 555, has been reviewed by Jeanne L. Botts, Program Analyst, Fiscal Analysis Division, Legislative Counsel Bureau. He requested committee members to review the amendment (Exhibit C). The committee indicated approval of the amendment as written. SENATE BILL 79: Makes appropriation to Retired Senior Volunteer Program to expand Home Companion Program. Senator Adler, Capital Senatorial District, spoke in support of Senate Bill (S.B.) 79. The measure appropriates $32,000 for the Home Companion Program (HCP). Stating he has had experience with this program in the rural counties, the senator voiced the opinion it is an absolutely necessary program which provides a high level of services to elderly persons in their home at a minimal cost to the public. He suggested the program will save money because many of the people who are receiving home companion services through this program would perhaps otherwise be on Medicaid. Janice R. Ayres, Executive Director, Nevada Rural Counties Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Inc. (RSVP), testified next in support of S.B. 79. She characterized the Home Companion Program as very worthwhile and read the following passage from a handout provided to the committee (Exhibit D): "Our senior population is one of the fastest growing parts of our society today. For the first time in history, over 10 percent of our population is over the age of 65...." Ms. Ayres pointed out this statistic applies to the national population and that in Nevada, from 1980 to 1990 the state's senior population increased by 94.7 percent, making Nevada's senior population one of the largest in the U.S. Ms. Ayres said the RSVP has found that in the rural areas there are many low-income elderly persons who are homebound. The Home Companion Program is designed to help the homebound elderly stay in their homes as long as possible without having to be placed in a care facility. Ms. Ayres stated that care facilities are still necessary, but there is a waiting list for many of them; also, there are many persons in such care facilities who tell the RSVP they would not need to be in the facilities if they were provided with some assistance. Referencing the justification provided for the funding request in S.B. 79 (page 4, Exhibit E), Ms. Ayres noted that an article in the New England Journal of Medicine states the cost of nursing care in 1991 was $59.9 billion and continues to rise. The article also related that finding some alternatives to nursing homes is critical; if they are not found, by the year 2000 an additional 100 beds per day nationwide will have to be added to meet the demand. Ms. Ayres said the Home Companion Program has been determined to be very cost effective. She said she knows of no other program that can be administered for $320 per year, which is the approximate total cost of a volunteer (including the four types of insurance provided for every volunteer). Continuing, Ms. Ayres said what makes this program particularly valuable is that the RSVP imposes no age limit or income criteria. She said the organization has been working with the rural areas for so long that the personnel know the people who are in trouble and need help and can respond immediately without having to process a large volume of paperwork and qualifications. Often, volunteers would rather forgo services than require a bureaucratic paperwork and qualifying process, she stated. She reiterated the volunteers can, and do, respond immediately. With further reference to the RSVP's justification for this funding request (page 4, Exhibit E), Ms. Ayres said with respect to unfunded mandates placed upon counties by the state for long-term care of persons needing this assistance, the counties simply do not have the funds to assume the costs of placing people in nursing homes. She said people who do not need to be in such facilities do not want to be there, and their mental and physical health improves when they can remain at home and be provided with a companion. She called attention to a brochure provided to committee members (Exhibit F) which describes the HCP. Ms. Ayres read another passage from the previously referenced handout (Exhibit D), in which an elderly person relates: I can't express how much it has meant to have Janet come to visit. I was so lonely and depressed before she came, I didn't want to see another long and lonely day arrive. Now I can't wait for her visits. How sad it is to reach your golden years only to find yourself homebound with a phone that doesn't ring and a door that isn't knocked on. I'm so grateful that RSVP changed that for me. Ms. Ayres said the RSVP is continually asked to expand the Home Companion Program and has done everything possible to raise the necessary funds, but now a small amount of assistance from the state is being requested to enable expansion of the program. She said the RSVP holds five carnivals per year as well as golf events and other fund-raisers in order to be self-supporting, but the volunteer organization has had a shortfall every year for the last 3 years and cannot expand without assistance. Referencing the RSVP budget for 1995 delineated on page 4 (Exhibit E), Senator Raggio questioned Ms. Ayres regarding the rural counties' participation in funding the RSVP. He asked what the in-kind contributions consist of which were made by White Pine and Lincoln counties. Ms. Ayres replied the counties furnish an office for RSVP's part-time field representative as well as a telephone and some supplies. They also furnish gasoline for the agency's vehicles because of the need for transportation in the rural areas. Senator Raggio inquired if the RSVP has approached the participating counties for an increase in their contributions. Ms. Ayres answered yes. She said the counties are unable to increase their funding. She noted the economy in White Pine County has been very depressed. Senator Raggio indicated his question pertained to those counties that have been making cash contributions and asked if they are unwilling to increase their contributions. Ms. Ayres replied the counties have increased their contributions every year, to the extent they have been able to do so. In further questioning Senator Raggio asked if the funding commitments from the counties are firm. Ms. Ayres responded that to her knowledge, they are. She said some of the funds are received incrementally. The senator inquired as to the number of paid personnel in the program. Ms. Ayres said there are three full-time personnel and three part-time. Senator Raggio noted the program has a large number of volunteers and inquired whether they are all in the HCP, specifically, or if they are in the RSVP, generally. Ms. Ayres replied some of them are just generally in RSVP because the agency serves more than 220 different nonprofit organizations to enable them to deliver their social services. There are over 442 home companions, she stated, and there are volunteers who work in more than one RSVP program. For example, HCP volunteers sometimes perform other tasks. Some volunteers act as field representatives for the RSVP; otherwise, the rural counties could not be served, given the small paid staff. Ms. Ayres noted the attendance of some of the RSVP volunteers at this meeting. Senator Raggio said he is very familiar with the organization because his 96-year-old mother participated with the Washoe County RSVP for many years until she was no longer able to do so. Noting there has been no state funding for this program in the past, Senator Raggio asked how the program is funded in the larger counties. Ms. Ayres answered there is state funding for the RSVP program in both Washoe and Clark counties. She said for many years the Division of Mental Hygiene and Mental Retardation (MH/MR) was the sponsor of the Washoe County RSVP. She explained the federal program requires that the RSVP have a sponsor so that the agency does not receive the funds directly. She stated that for years, MH/MR had furnished the RSVP, as the program's sponsor, with offices, bookkeeping and accounting, and all administrative overhead. Additionally, the division had provided the program with funding of $40,000 per year. The program also received support from Washoe County. The program's sponsor at present is the university, Ms. Ayres continued. She said the rural counties do not have such resources. Senator Raggio asked which entity serves as the sponsoring agency for the rural counties' RSVP program. Ms. Ayres said the agency is the Nevada Rural Counties RSVP, Inc., a nonprofit agency. The senator inquired as to how the $32,000 appropriation (per biennium) would be utilized. Ms. Ayres replied the funds would be used strictly to add more volunteers to the HCP. She said approximately 100 more volunteers could be added to the program each year ($320 x 100 = $32,000). It was determined there was a discrepancy in the bill as written in that the amount of the appropriation in the original language was only $32,000 for the biennium rather than for each year of the biennium. Ms. Ayres said there was an amendment to the bill, Amendment No. 27. Senator Raggio noted Amendment No. 27 was not requested by the Senate Committee on Finance. Senator Adler said he had requested the amendment after the bill was introduced because it did not accurately reflect the language in the bill draft. Senator Raggio asked if the amount of the appropriation being requested is actually $64,000. Ms. Ayres replied yes. Senator Raggio commented that amendments should not be requested on behalf of the committee without the committee's consent. Senator Adler responded he did not believe the amendment was intended to be requested on behalf of the committee. Senator Raggio noted the amendment indicates otherwise. Senator Adler apologized for the error. In concluding remarks Ms. Ayres urged support for S.B. 79. She said she recently visited Lovelock and learned four senior citizens had committed suicide in that area within a 2-month period. They had been isolated and had no visitors or companions. Senator Raggio asked if a pool of volunteers would be readily available in communities such as Lovelock, should S.B. 79 be enacted. Ms. Ayres answered yes. C. Edwin Fend, State Legislative Committee Chairman, Area 9 Office, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), stated the AARP strongly supports S.B. 79 as a means of allowing older persons to remain in their homes, which is much less expensive than institutionalizing them. He said the average cost today for institutionalizing a person in a residential home is approximately $1,000 per month. The cost for nursing home care, which often is necessitated for an elderly person left unattended at home, is approximately $3,000 per month, Mr. Fend stated. Continuing, Mr. Fend said S.B. 79 can facilitate expansion of the HCP and other RSVP programs. He agreed with the points made by Ms. Ayres regarding the suicides of elderly persons in the rural areas. He said suicides are occurring in many of the state's rural communities because of such factors as the downturn in the mining industry. He cited as another factor that "we are living in a time of very extended families," and the elderly persons therefore frequently have no relatives in town or nearby who can offer support when they are experiencing depression and in other times of difficulty. Senator Raggio asked Ms. Ayres and Mr. Fend whether in their opinion the caseload of institutionalized care facilities would be lessened should the HCP be funded to the suggested level. Mr. Fend replied yes. He said the AARP has performed studies, and he referred to "case studies" (surveys of senior citizens) recently completed by the Division for Aging Services, Department of Human Resources on Washoe County, Clark County and the rural counties. He described the surveys as "very enlightening" as to the income of the state's elderly citizens and said they reflect the fact Nevada has a substantial elderly population. Mr. Fend said the last poll taken indicates Nevada has the fastest growing elderly population in the nation, surpassing Florida, California and Arizona. This fact emphasizes the necessity for programs such as the HCP, he stated. Senator Raggio requested Mr. Comeaux (John P. Comeaux, Director, Department of Administration) to confer with the appropriate agency to determine whether the funding for the HCP could be obtained from within the agency's budget, based on the assumption the program could result in reducing the agency's caseload. He stated he favors funding the program, but on a revenue-neutral basis. He said an adjustment by the Budget Division that is supported by the administration would be helpful in this regard. Senator Coffin spoke favorably of the potential for the HCP, which he said will provide a model over the years for the manner in which diminishing federal funds are expended. He said the Legislature will probably find it profitable for the state to provide funds for volunteer organizations to enable them to perform functions that were previously the responsibility of state agencies. He suggested the federal funds will be significantly reduced, and the provision of social services by volunteer organizations will be "the wave of the future" for not only the aging but for the youth and the poor. Senator Raggio said it is his understanding the HCP does not have a means test and is available to any elderly person who needs the services provided by this program. Ms. Ayres said this is correct. She testified the RSVP personnel know who are the low income elderly, and the HCP services are not being requested by the affluent but by those in need. She said another component of the RSVP program is that the volunteers are trained to know all of the resources available and can therefore access additional sources of assistance for elderly clients. Ms. Ayres noted the RSVP was the first organization in the country to develop this kind of program and has been asked at the national level to write up the program for use as a model by other RSVP agencies throughout the U.S. Senator Raggio requested a copy of the RSVP's detailed budget for FY 1996. He said further action will be held pending response from the administration regarding funding the HCP program through adjustments to the appropriate agency budget(s). He reiterated his support for the program. Senator Jacobsen commented there are many hidden benefits to volunteer programs such as the RSVP, and the volunteers offer many hours of unpaid service that sometimes go unnoticed. He said the program is well worthwhile. SENATE BILL 194: Directs state librarian to establish pilot project to provide grants of money to certain public libraries for purchase of books and library materials. Senator Jacobsen said S.B. 194 replicates legislation that was approved by the Senate Committee on Finance in the 1993 legislative session (S.B. 300 of the Sixty-seventh Session). SENATE BILL 300 OF THE SIXTY-SEVENTH SESSION: Directs state librarian to establish pilot project to provide grants to certain public libraries for purchase of books and library materials. The original legislation was somehow intertwined with a bill in the Assembly, Senator Jacobsen said, and ultimately the pilot project in this legislation was not funded. S.B. 194 seeks the funding that was to have been provided in the original legislation. Senator Raggio noted S.B. 194 contains an appropriation request of $250,000 and is apparently a priority for rural areas. Carolyn Rawles-Heiser, Director, Douglas County Public Library (DCPL), thanked Senator Jacobsen for sponsoring this measure, which she said is legislation that is essential in Nevada. She read testimony provided by Clark D. Lee, Chairman, Nevada Library and Literacy Advisory Council (Exhibit G), who was unable to attend this hearing on S.B. 194. (Financial information from the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies accompanies Mr. Lee's written testimony.) In his written testimony, Mr. Lee urged support for S.B. 194, which he said "will make a great contribution to collection development in Nevada rural libraries." He further stated the $250,000 appropriation in this bill will generate at least an additional $250,000 and possibly as much as $350,000 in matching funds. Senator Raggio inquired as to how matching funds would be generated. Ms. Rawles- Heiser replied the amount each library can receive is based on past expenditures and therefore rewards libraries that have expended adequate amounts for their library collections, rather than supplanting local funding. The minimum would be $500 for the smallest libraries. The senator asked if there is a proposal as to how the appropriation would be allocated over the biennium. Ms. Rawles-Heiser answered it would be allocated by the state librarian with advice from the Nevada Council on Libraries and Literacy, with special attention paid to the needs of the rural libraries and the libraries that have fewer resources. Ms. Rawles-Heiser commented that Nevada is "tied for last [place]" with seven other libraries in terms of state aid for public libraries. She said most states provide some type of state aid for public libraries. She remarked that Nevada's approach is good in that it encourages local support rather than reliance on handouts from the state. Senator Raggio pointed out that a few years ago Nevada approved a multi-million dollar bond issue, the revenues of which were available to all counties in the state. Ms. Rawles-Heiser said the funds from this source were for library construction and have since been expended. She also stated the public libraries currently do not receive state aid. She said Nevada ranks 48th in the number of books per capita held in public libraries, and S.B. 194 would enable the state's libraries to improve upon this situation. Noting that public libraries serve citizens of all ages, Ms. Rawles-Heiser said the bill would enable the library collections to be updated in a number of areas. Senator Raggio asked if the libraries and literacy council had applied to the budget office for inclusion in the Executive Budget. Ms. Rawles-Heiser indicated she did not know. The question was put to Mr. Comeaux, who said he did not think the funding request had been made. Senator Raggio inquired if the administration has a particular position on the request in S.B. 194. Mr. Comeaux replied no. Ms. Rawles-Heiser provided written testimony from Sally Edwards, Carson City Library Director, for inclusion in the minutes of this hearing (Exhibit H). Lucy W. Bouldin, Director, Storey County Public Library (SCPL), offered testimony in support of S.B. 194. She said the SCPL is a joint use facility that is also used by the Virginia City High School and the Storey County School District. She noted the SCPL is one of the newest libraries in the State of Nevada, having been organized in 1989, and serves a population of nearly 3,000 citizens. The library's current budget for books is $2,700, or 95.5 cents per citizen. The SCPL requests support for S.B. 194 as a vehicle to enhance its book budget. According to a formula developed some years ago by the American Library Association (ALA), Storey County's library should have a budget of $9,600. Ms. Bouldin said she does not anticipate such an amount will be forthcoming in the near future. The grant provided in S.B. 194 would increase the SCPL's book budget from the current level of approximately 28 percent of what it should be, according to the ALA formula, to approximately 41 percent. Continuing, Ms. Bouldin said the SCPL is attempting to expand its children's and young adult collections because it is felt that if children are presented at an early age with viable, enjoyable library experiences, they will carry those experiences with them throughout their lives. Joan G. Kerschner, Director, Department of Museums, Library and Arts, responded to Senator Raggio's early inquiry as to whether a request had been presented to the Budget Division to fund in the Executive Budget the pilot project proposed in S.B. 194. She said the library association has had a legislative plank for over 20 years and has developed a list of priorities. The current top priority set by the association is restoration of the state library's budget, and the request in S.B. 194 has a somewhat lower priority. Ms. Kerschner said the association voted not to request the appropriation for the pilot project as part of the Executive Budget, but she recalled a delegation was sent to discuss the matter with the Governor. She said she received no negative feedback regarding this request from that office. Ms. Kerschner further stated S.B. 194 is not part of the state library's regular budget nor of the Governor's recommended budget. The hearing on S.B. 194 was closed, and the committee's agenda with regard to budget closings was discussed. Senator Raggio scheduled a meeting of the Senate Committee on Finance for Thursday, June 1, immediately following the meeting of the Interim Finance Committee (IFC), for the purpose of closing a number of budgets and hearing a report of the joint subcommittee regarding welfare reform. He stated his intention that the committee will close the Distributive School Account and Class Size Reduction budgets regardless of whether or not the joint subcommittee assigned to these budgets has reached a decision as to the budget closing recommendations. He said the committee will also take action on other budgets that remain open. SENATE BILL 217: Makes appropriation to department of prisons for expenses related to Stewart conservation camp and Indian Springs conservation camp. John E. Neill, Chief, Fiscal Services, Department of Prisons, said S.B. 217 is a one- shot appropriation to provide for start-up costs and additional equipment for the expansion of the Stewart Conservation Camp (SCC) and the proposed 36-bed expansion of the boot camp program at Indian Springs. The appropriation is presented on page A-43 of the Executive Budget. Mr. Neill stated the prisons department has worked with the legislative staff to prepare amendments that reduce the costs in the one-shot appropriation request as a result of the participation of the State Public Works Board in the purchasing of equipment for the Stewart camp. Referencing a handout provided by the department (Exhibit I), Mr. Neill said the $273,661 for the Stewart facility can be reduced to $85,604 as shown on page 2 of the spreadsheet. The equipment request for the Indian Springs camp can be reduced from the original recommendation of $69,656 to $11,563 (Exhibit J). In discussion on the reductions in the appropriation, Mr. Neill said the main reduction is due to the fact it has been determined sufficient funds for the camp equipment will be available to the public works board. He noted the elimination of the $27,000 electric generator from the appropriation request represents a substantial amount of the reduction. Essentially the revised appropriation request would provide for additional culinary space and equipment, he stated. He pointed out the Stewart Conservation Camp facilities are antiquated. Senator Raggio asked when the new camp will be ready. Mr. Neill said completion of the camp is targeted for September 1995. The senator said committee members might wish to visit the new facility if time allows. Mr. Neill encouraged such a visit. Regarding the Indian Springs Boot Camp, Mr. Neill said the request in S.B. 217 provides for an additional 36 beds for the boot camp program alone and the necessary accoutrements. He said the largest part of the reduction to the appropriation request for this facility is due to the determination the actual amount needed for clothing and food could be provided within the agency's budget. Senator Raggio asked if the agency is comfortable with the inmate-driven costs presented on the spreadsheets (Exhibit I and Exhibit J). Mr. Neill said they should be fine. He mentioned, however, that if the non-NDF (Nevada Division of Forestry) boot camp scheduled to come on-line in September 1997 is approved by the Legislature, the associated costs would be added to S.B. 217. The additional amount would be $160,321. Senator Raggio inquired as to the kind of inmates who would be assigned to this camp. Mr. Neill replied the inmates would perform all tasks except fighting fires. This would include picking up trash, maintaining cemeteries, and performing community projects. The proposed camp location is in southern Nevada. In further questioning regarding the proposed non-NDF camp, Senator Raggio asked if the camp would be entirely new, requiring construction. Mr. Neill answered the camp would be an entirely new, 150-bed facility. The senator asked how much total additional cost would be entailed. Mr. Neill said the total additional cost for the one- shot appropriation would be $160,321. This would be used for supplies and equipment for the boot camp. Senator Raggio asked if the proposed project is a new addition to the prison budget. Mr. Neill replied yes. Senator Raggio ascertained the total projected cost of the proposed Clark County non- NDF conservation camp represents an addition to the agency's budget of $3.1 million plus $160,321 in the one-shot appropriation mentioned above. He stated action on this request will be deferred until the ultimate decision with reference to all prison budgets has been determined. He remarked it is apparent to this committee that notwithstanding what the administration has said about this issue, it is extremely doubtful a 35 percent release rate in the prison parole program will be achieved. He noted the release rate is currently hovering at the 30 percent level. With all the attention being directed at the parole situation due to the death of a police officer at the hands of a parolee, Senator Raggio continued, the information being received both directly and indirectly from those in authority on the State Board of Parole Commissioners or within the Division of Parole and Probation is that the 35 percent release rate cannot be realized. He said this conclusion is not related to the anti-crime legislative proposals currently under consideration. Continuing, Senator Raggio said he has for many years pressed the parole agencies and others, as a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, to demonstrate that a 35 percent release rate can be achieved without impairing the security of the public. He said the personnel involved have been hesitant to provide this assurance but have answered yes. The senator indicated he does not believe the 35 percent release rate is realistic. He voiced the opinion it will be necessary to provide for as many as 500 more inmates than the administration has even predicted, which will be costly. He said he has heard there is a need for a new prison in southern Nevada, probably a women's prison to allow use of the current facility entirely for male prisoners. He maintained that construction of the new prison will need to be accelerated and probably privatized; additionally, funding will probably need to be arranged for the purpose of housing approximately 500 inmates that have not been budgeted for, in out-of-state facilities. Senator Raggio said it is necessary to address this critical issue prior to closing the prison budgets as well as finalizing some of the other budgets. He asked Mr. Neill if he agrees or disagrees. Mr. Neill said he disagrees. He stated the department is currently preparing information on this matter for the joint subcommittees. Senator Raggio asked if Mr. Neill anticipates the need to add an additional 500 inmates to the budget calculations and projections. Mr. Neill replied it would be difficult to answer at this time. Stating his desire to clarify his position on this issue, Senator Raggio said he does not intend to be a party with the executive branch in funding a system that releases inmates from prison who should not be released simply to meet an artificial release rate of 35 percent. Senator Jacobsen said he trusts the prison industry program will be utilized to provide the items needed for the conservation camps to the extent possible. Mr. Neill assured him this is planned. Senator Jacobsen called attention to legislation in process that provides for the inventory of equipment and appurtenances currently in existence throughout the state, and he predicted this will result in the discovery of many items that can be used by the various state agencies. He said it is imperative for the state to obtain the maximum use from whatever equipment is available. Senator Raggio asked when the requested information will be furnished. Mr. Neill indicated his intention to provide the material by the following day if possible. He said he has been seeking information regarding the cost and availability of space in out-of- state prison facilities. Senator Raggio commented it has been learned there are beds for prisoners in out-of-state facilities, and the acquisition of the additional space needs to be expedited. Senator O'Donnell indicated surprise that Mr. Neill does not believe additional prison beds are needed. Mr. Neill replied he had not said this, but had said there has not been sufficient time to thoroughly study the situation that has developed within the last several days. He said he would defer to the director of the department to respond to questions regarding the need to expand the state's capacity to house additional inmates. Senator O'Donnell said the issue has been under discussion for several months and he has questioned the 35 percent release rate from the outset of the legislative session. He voiced surprise that Mr. Neill apparently believes there might be another solution to the problem. Mr. Neill answered that if the prison population will indeed expand as a result of lowering the release rate of prison parolees subsequent to the shooting of the police officer, alternatives will obviously need to be considered. He indicated he could not respond further at this time. SENATE BILL 401: Revises provisions governing regulation of gaming. Senator Raggio noted S.B. 401 has been processed by the Senate Committee on Judiciary and was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance with reference to the salaries. He invited testimony, but said the substantive part of the measure has been previously heard and the portion relating to salaries will probably be excised from the measure and addressed during consideration of the unclassified salaries and in the unclassified salary bill. Bill Curran, Chairman, Nevada Gaming Commission, said the reason for the representation of the commission at this hearing is that the agency is not included in the unclassified salary bill. He said legislative action on the unclassified salaries does not pertain to the commission, and the reason the commission seems to lag behind, historically, is that action to increase salaries for this agency requires someone to advocate on behalf of the commission. Senator Raggio invited testimony from Mr. Curran on the salary issue. Mr. Curran stated his intention to limit testimony to the question of the commission's salary bill. Mr. Curran commented it is rare he has the opportunity to appear before the legislative bodies to address gaming, the state's primary industry and the foundation of its economy. He indicated the commission salaries component of S.B. 401 is important because of the importance of the gaming industry to Nevada's economy. He said he has served on the gaming commission for 6 years and had struggled with his decision to reenlist for another term on the commission. He further stated there are numerous reasons why the decision is a difficult one, including the level of commitment required to properly perform the commissioner's function. Mr. Curran said the commitment required of those who serve on the gaming commission is enormous and has a tremendous impact on their financial lives because they give up their prime earning years to serve on the commission. Continuing, Mr. Curran stressed the importance of the functions performed by the commissioners to the state's well-being. He said being a gaming commissioner is rewarding and a great honor to those chosen to serve on the commission. He further remarked the gaming commissioners are all "volunteers" who are fully committed to their responsibilities, and if the Legislature decides the resources are simply not available to fund salary increases the commissioners will understand and will continue to perform their functions in the best manner possible. He noted the gaming commission did not seek a salary increase during the last legislative session, when the state was experiencing financial difficulties. However, he said, it is important for the long-term stature of gaming in Nevada that the commissioners, who have the responsibility of ensuring Nevada's status as the capital of gaming worldwide, have the tools necessary to perform their responsibilities. Mr. Curran said in many respects, gaming in Nevada has never been healthier. He remarked on developments in the physical landscape of gaming over the past 6 years, including the construction of many new major hotel casinos in Las Vegas alone. He said 6 years ago, gaming in Las Vegas was "almost ancient history," and he predicted developments in the next 6 years will be even more dramatic. He further testified the changes in the physical landscape do not begin to reflect the changes in the nature of gaming itself. Mr. Curran said the gaming commission's challenge, on behalf of the Legislature and the citizens of Nevada, is to remain current with regard to developments in gaming that take place in this state. He said gaming is no longer limited to Nevada. He pointed out the biggest casinos are not in Las Vegas but elsewhere, and he described the growth of the gaming industry in other states. He noted that in just a few years of gaming in Mississippi, the total receipts from gaming in that state already rival those of all of northern Nevada.0 Decisions that affect gaming are increasingly made on the East Coast, Wall Street and Washington, D.C., Mr. Curran continued. He said to perform their jobs properly the commissioners must have the resources to satisfy the financial and investment decision-makers on Wall Street. He indicated that decisions to invest a million dollars are fairly routine, but the decision to invest a billion dollars in Nevada is not made lightly. When the gaming commissioners meet with investment bankers and analysts on Wall Street, they are asked about the state's regulatory system, Mr. Curran said, and what distinguishes Nevada from so many other states that have gaming is not the physical accoutrements, but the stability of its regulatory and legislative system. He said the system has been evolutionary over the past 10 years and has been responsive to changes in the business and political environments; but the changes have not been draconian, as they have been in some states, because of the system's effectiveness. He voiced the opinion stability in the regulatory and legislative arenas is one of Nevada's biggest advantages over other gaming states. Continuing, Mr. Curran urged that the Legislature continue to provide the gaming commission with the necessary tools and resources to properly perform its function. He said the commission staff consists of three nonprofessional, clerical personnel, and their services are shared by the gaming commission and the gaming control board. Mr. Curran further testified there are needs for which financial resources simply must be available, including commissioners' travel on commission-related business. He said in the 6 years he has been on the gaming commission the state has paid for his business travel on only one occasion, that being a trip to Washington, D.C. to offer testimony on important regulatory measures. He cited several examples of business trips to New York, Atlantic City, Washington, D.C. and London for which he paid his own way. He said he is not complaining because the travel was worthwhile to him and to the state. The travel expense has generally not been charged to the state because the gaming commission's budget does provide sufficient funds for this item, he said, yet the commissioners have chosen to travel on commission business when it is regarded as essential to the state. Senator O'Donnell asked why the needs voiced by Mr. Curran are not addressed in some other measure than the bill under discussion. He questioned why there is not a mechanism whereby the gaming commission's salaries are addressed in an unclassified or classified pay bill. Mr. Curran replied, "You do this for the chairman of the control board. You have not historically done it for the gaming commission." He suggested one reason for this is that while the commission works closely with the gaming control board, which is its primary source of support and information, it is much different from the control board. As an example, Mr. Curran said, in contested hearings the gaming control board has the role of prosecutor, the licensee is the defendant, and the gaming commissioners are comparable to judges. Additionally, the gaming commission has legislative responsibilities that consume a significant amount of the commissioners' time. The commission is also involved in enacting regulations. Mr. Curran said the control board often proposes regulations, industry sometimes proposes regulations, and contentious hearings may result. Continuing, Mr. Curran said the gaming commission was initially intended by the Legislature to be separate, apart and different from the gaming control board, with the commissioners being accountable directly to the Legislature. Senator O'Donnell said there is no question the quality of gaming in Nevada is directly determined by the quality of the control and regulation, and the purity of gaming is of the utmost concern to the state and to the industry itself. He indicated support for salary increases for the commission, but said a mechanism is needed that provides for a review of the salaries for this agency during the same time period salaries for other state personnel are reviewed. He said the current process is awkward. He expressed the opinion it is important to maintain the highest quality of personnel on the gaming commission. Mr. Curran commented he personally has made a commitment to remain with the gaming commission. He said there are outside interests that seek to evaluate Nevada's regulatory system, its strengths, independence, and effectiveness, on objective criteria. He further stated the Wall Street contacts always inquire as to the salaries paid to the gaming commissioners as well as the amount of time spent on commission activities and the degree of independence exercised by the commission. He maintained it is very much in the state's long-term interest to provide incentive for first-rate personnel to serve on the gaming commission and to give the commitment necessary. Senator Raggio said the committee needs to further examine the current process with regard to addressing gaming commission salaries. He said he finds it completely unacceptable that gaming commissioners are apparently expected to pay their own travel costs for commission business. Stating it would not be acceptable to have the gaming industry pay for the commissioners' travel, the senator said funds must be provided in the budget for necessary travel. He said this issue will be revisited. Senator Raggio asked if the salary amounts set forth in section 12 of the bill are reasonable. Mr. Curran replied yes. He said the salary of his counterpart in New Jersey is currently $95,000 and the commissioners there earn $90,000. Noting the commissioners are not full-time in the legal sense, Senator Raggio asked how much time they actually devote to gaming commission activities. Mr. Curran responded the number of hours worked fluctuates from month to month, but he estimated the commission's work load requires the members to work the equivalent of half-time (with the commission chairman generally working more hours than the commissioners). Senator Raggio remarked that as a gaming licensee he knows from personal experience there is an enormous volume of paperwork to be reviewed by the gaming commissioners before their meetings. Mr. Curran said it is the complexity of the applications received by the commission, more than the volume, that explains the changes in the commission's work load. He indicated the material presented to the commissioners is increasingly more complex and technical, and therefore more time consuming, due to changes in the business environment. He commented there are no shortcuts, and time is required to process the applications. Mr. Curran noted the reason the commission chairman has a higher salary than the other commissioners, even though the volume of work might be the same, is the administrative responsibilities held by the chairman. He further noted there is virtually no clerical assistance provided by the state, and his personal secretary serves as his clerical assistant. Senator Raggio requested Mr. Curran to submit to the committee a reasonable estimate of the travel necessary for the gaming commissioners to conduct their regular duties. Mr. Curran said the level of travel also fluctuates, although having some funds budgeted for this purpose would certainly be helpful. Senator Raggio said the committee will consider including a reasonable amount for travel in the budget. Senator Coffin suggested the gaming commission needs to better control its work efforts to avoid being caught up in the minutiae with which the gaming control board becomes involved. He said the commission is supposed to strive to maintain a substantial distance from the functions of the control board. He remarked it is the full- time control board members and not the part-time gaming commissioners who are supposed to be involved with the minutiae of gaming regulation and control; the commissioners are supposed to be involved less in the day-to-day operations and more in determining policy. The senator asked if there is something that can be done to facilitate this. Mr. Curran expressed strong agreement with the points made by Senator Coffin, but he said part of the work performed by the commissioners pertains to the legal structure. He said as an example, the least part of the commissioners' work load consists of work card appeals. He stated that while this might not be regarded as the most important responsibility of the commissioners with respect to the system itself, it is vitally important to the people involved and to their families. Mr. Curran said the hearings involve a large volume of paperwork and require a substantial amount of the commissioners' time. He agreed the current situation is in need of improvement and said the commission is committed to finding a better solution. Pointing out the solution is not all financial, Mr. Curran said the gaming commission has been working with the newly established International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), which has been providing programs for gaming regulators throughout the world. He said the institute has agreed to conduct free training programs for the gaming commission, and he expects positive results from this venture. Senator Coffin stressed that if the commissioners perceive the need for the Legislature or the commission itself to reevaluate the commission's functions and operations, this should be made known. He said a full-time board sometimes overloads its advisory board with paperwork. Mr. Curran replied it would be a big mistake for the gaming commission to attempt to replicate the activities of the gaming control board because the two agencies have entirely different functions. He acknowledged the commission sometimes becomes involved with minutiae, but he said it is necessary to do justice to every application received. Senator Raggio requested Mr. Curran to furnish Bob Guernsey, Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst, with the commission's recommendations regarding the travel issue. Senator O'Donnell raised the issue of the commission's lack of clerical assistance and suggested the matter be examined by Mr. Guernsey. Senator Raggio commented on Mr. Curran's earlier statement that he utilizes his personal staff for the commission's clerical functions. Mr. Curran replied this has always been done. Senator O'Donnell said this is unacceptable. Mr. Curran stated, "You don't want a shadow gaming control board; you've already got the gaming control board. Our job is to be private citizens who have a different view, a different perspective; who [approach gaming regulation and control] from a different angle." Senator Raggio inquired whether the gaming commission utilizes gaming control board facilities for secretarial assistance. Mr. Curran replied no. He said all of the assistance is provided through the commissioners' private offices. Gaming Control Board - Page 669 Mr. Guernsey pointed out in reference to S.B. 401 the additional cost per year to increase the salaries for the gaming commission would be $53,000 per year. Contained within the salary detail for the gaming control board budget is a line item for commission salaries ($162,000), he stated. Senator Raggio ascertained the estimated $53,000 per year in S.B. 401 for salary increases would fund increases for the chairman and four members of the gaming commission. He suggested the increases could be provided by either amending the budget or including the funding in the bill. Discussion ensued as to how best to accomplish the salary increases. Senator Raggio indicated he would prefer not to amend the bill. He said in the future the gaming commission should be included in the unclassified list. He asked Mr. Comeaux if he agrees. Mr. Comeaux replied yes. Further action on this issue was postponed. Mr. Guernsey said it his understanding, in reference to the gaming commission's travel, funding for travel is contained within the budget for the gaming control board. Senator Raggio called on William A. Bible, Chairman, State Gaming Control Board (GCB), to respond to the testimony of Mr. Curran that he has paid his own travel expenses on business trips for the commission. Mr. Bible said the chairman may have made some trips for which he has not requested or sought reimbursement. He said he is relatively certain the trips generally are reimbursed by the control board when the requests are submitted. He offered to obtain supporting documentation from the agency files. Senator Raggio asked who approves the travel reimbursement requests for the gaming commissioners. Mr. Bible said they would probably be sent to the board chairman. He recalled at least two trips to Washington, D.C. for which the travel expense was reimbursed by the state. The senator voiced disapproval of the commissioners or the gaming industry paying the travel expense for commission-related business trips. Mr. Bible agreed that is not appropriate and the state should reimburse such travel costs. He remarked there are numerous opportunities for travel to jurisdictions throughout the world where gaming has been legalized and said he is routinely invited to attend conferences and other functions on business related to gaming control. He further stated the gaming commission's in-state travel is paid for entirely by the state. He said with regard to out-of-state travel, requests for reimbursement have been paid. Senator Raggio further questioned Mr. Bible regarding the travel budget for the gaming commission. He asked what amount is in the proposed budget. Mr. Bible estimated the amount at $7,500. He said much of the commission's recent travel has been to Washington, D.C. in connection with issues related to the Bank Secrecy Act and Indian gaming issues. Mr. Guernsey explained the closing recommendations for this budget (Exhibit K) after noting he had worked closely with Mr. Bible in preparing the recommendations. Regarding item 1 in the remarks on page 1 of the closing sheets, Mr. Guernsey said this is purely a technical adjustment on State-owned Building Rent. Mr. Guernsey said item 2 is the recommended deletion of the request to pay annual Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license fees. He noted the agency may disagree with this recommendation. He said the state is currently not paying the fees, and he is unaware of any other agencies for which the CPA fees are paid, including the Legislative Counsel Bureau. He indicated such a practice may be prohibited in the State Administrative Manual (SAM). Mr. Guernsey said the second part of this line item is the request to reimburse the Department of Personnel for a study conducted for the gaming control board, which is recommended for deletion per agreement with the gaming control board. Item 3 is the recommendation to increase the funding transfer from the investigative fund. Mr. Guernsey said a considerable amount of time is devoted to examining not just the expenditures, but also the revenue component of the budget relative to historical patterns and the growth in the industry. In discussion with the chairman and staff of the gaming control board it was agreed the transfer from the gaming investigative fund could be increased by $150,000 per year. Item 4 is an adjustment with regard to Vacancy Savings. Mr. Guernsey said approximately 3.68 percent of the agency's budget is contained within this category. He said it would not be desirable to require the agency to keep needed positions vacant, but the normal turnover of positions should be taken into account. Mr. Guernsey recommended adjusting this category in accordance with the suggestion by Mr. Bible to increase the amount of savings by $75,000 in FY 1996 and $50,000 in FY 1997. Continuing, Mr. Guernsey said items 5 through 9 (page 2, Exhibit K) are recommendations related to adjusting the effective date of hire for new positions to October 1, 1995 in accordance with the committee's standard policy in this regard. He said given the nature of the gaming control board it was felt the agency should have an opportunity to determine which positions are vital to begin on July 1 and which could be postponed to October 1. Three policy decisions are itemized on page 2 of the closing sheets. Regarding policy decision 1, Mr. Guernsey indicated support for the gaming control board's request to upgrade a number of requested new positions. He said in his opinion the agency is able to justify the requests. Staff offered no recommendations for the other two policy decisions. Policy decision 2 involves a request that additional salary funding be provided to allow the chairman of the gaming control board to pay 50 professional positions an additional $5,000 bonus per year per position (at an annual cost of $250,000). Policy decision 3 concerns a request for additional consideration in the unclassified pay bill of 2 percent in FY 1996 and 1 percent in FY 1997. Senator Raggio asked Mr. Comeaux and Mr. Bible if either of them objected to any of the technical adjustments. No objections were raised. Mr. Bible said the only item he has not discussed with Mr. Guernsey is the proposal to pay the annual CPA license fees, which he had proposed as an inexpensive means of assisting employees. He said as the budget has been restructured, additional compensation would be provided to professional employees through the bonus system. SENATOR RHOADS MOVED TO GRANT THE REQUEST THAT NEW POSITIONS BE UPGRADED AS OUTLINED IN POLICY DECISION 1 ON PAGE 2 OF EXHIBIT K. SENATOR MATHEWS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. * * * * * With reference to policy decision 2, the proposal to pay bonuses to 50 professional positions, Senator Mathews asked if the $5,000 bonuses would become part of the base salaries. Mr. Bible replied this would be his intent. He said the intent is to provide ongoing additional compensation for those individuals with professional qualifications, such as CPAs or attorneys. Senator Mathews inquired why the proposal is termed a bonus rather than a raise. Mr. Bible said he believes "bonus" was the term used by the fiscal analysis staff. Mr. Guernsey said he used the term because of uncertainty with regard to whether the additional compensation was to be included in the base salary of the employees, or whether the board chairman would determine to whom the bonuses would be awarded. Mr. Bible noted the recipients of the bonuses would need to meet certain professional qualifications. He said the bonuses are targeted at the professional positions in the agency that are experiencing the largest amount of turnover. In further questioning regarding the proposed bonuses for professional positions, Senator Mathews inquired as to the number of employees in the gaming control agency. Mr. Bible said there are slightly less than 400 employees at present. Senator Mathews asked if the 50 professional positions designated to receive bonuses are the top professionals in the agency. Mr. Bible replied they would not necessarily be the top professionals with the gaming control board, but are all unclassified positions. He noted the positions have not received the series of salary increases that have been granted to classified personnel. He said the personnel department was asked to study the board's salary structure. Senator Mathews expressed the opinion it is unusual to have a bonus included in the base salary rather than a percentage increase in salary. She said in this instance the amounts of the salaries are not known, and therefore the relative size of the salary increase as represented by the $5,000 bonus cannot readily be determined. Mr. Bible explained the size of the salary increase would depend upon the salary level of the persons targeted for the bonus, and the bonuses would be awarded to qualified employees at the lowest level as well as at the highest level. Senator Mathews voiced concern about the actual cost of the bonuses if they become part of the base salaries, with the resulting incremental increases of payroll expense that would add as much as 35 percent to the $250,000 allocated for the increases. Senator Coffin asked if the proposed bonuses were in an unfunded decision unit in the budget for the gaming control board. Mr. Bible replied there was an unfunded decision unit that indicated the unclassified salary structure within the board was to be studied over the upcoming biennium. The board was to return to the Interim Finance Committee as the studies were completed. The funds were not provided in the board's budget. Mr. Bible said the problem is that the unclassified salary structure has not kept pace with the state system, let alone other jurisdictions with which the agency competes in the gaming industry. He said it is not realistic to expect board salaries to be competitive with those offered in the gaming industry, but he said over the past year the gaming control board has begun to lose the core of the agency as long-time key personnel with valuable expertise seek employment elsewhere. Mr. Bible reiterated it is specifically these employees who have been targeted to receive the proposed $5,000 salary increases. He said employee turnover has decreased fairly dramatically since the legislative session began in January, and he attributes this to the probability that a number of the employees are waiting to see what the Legislature does with regard to the compensation package before making their decision whether or not to remain in public service. Senator Coffin asked if policy decisions 2 and 3 are essentially the core of unfunded decision unit 999. Mr. Bible answered they are part of that unit. The senator noted all of the positions targeted for the $5,000 bonuses will appear in the unclassified pay bill. Mr. Bible acknowledged this and said he is proposing language be written into the unclassified pay bill that would provide the board with the ability to grant the bonuses to 50 individuals who meet certain professional criteria. This group consists primarily of CPAs, but includes staff attorneys in fairly high level positions within the agency. Senator Coffin commented there are lower level positions that entail some risk because they involve investigative and undercover work that requires association with some unsavory elements among the population. He asked if any of these positions are contemplated for inclusion in the proposed salary increases. Mr. Bible replied they would be included if they qualify by virtue of meeting certain professional criteria, such as having a CPA license that is used in the course and scope of their responsibilities with the board. He voiced doubt there will be many individuals "situated in that manner." He said while the agency's employees are unclassified, the board is also statutorily required to adopt a personnel system that provides basic procedural protections, such as due process procedures for termination and recruitment and examination procedures. In further comment Senator Coffin noted the gaming control board is working to prevent casino robberies, which expose the personnel involved to physical risk. He suggested the lack of certain professional qualifications should not preclude these employees from being targeted for additional compensation. Mr. Bible indicated this group is provided for in the request for across-the-board salary increases of 2 percent in FY 1996 and 1 percent in FY 1997. He said he provided the committee with a preliminary salary survey conducted by the Department of Personnel that compared the salaries of the gaming control board's professional employees with those of similarly situated classified professional employees. The results indicated there is general parity in the salaries for enforcement personnel, but salaries for investigative employees lag by 7 percent and for audit personnel, 14 percent. Mr. Bible said the salary issue is partially responsible for the attrition that is occurring in the agency. Senator Raggio asked Mr. Comeaux to state the administration's position on policy decisions 2 and 3. Mr. Comeaux replied that in the Executive Budget amounts were included in the General Fund Salary Adjustments budget (page 471) to fund the results of the personnel study on the gaming control board's unclassified positions. He said the amount included is approximately one-half the amount suggested by Mr. Bible. Noting the committee is preparing to close this budget, Senator Raggio asked Mr. Comeaux if the administration supports the proposals in policy decisions 2 and 3. He said it is the chair's intention to defer these items until consideration of the unclassified salaries as a whole, but the committee would like to know the Governor's position on these issues. Mr. Comeaux replied, "The administration definitely supports funding increases to the extent necessary in the unclassified positions to stop the hemorrhaging that they have experienced." Senator Raggio stated, "That's a half answer." He requested Mr. Comeaux to at some point inform the committee as to whether or not the administration supports the proposals in question and the associated funding, which represents an addition to the Executive Budget. Senator O'Donnell said he regards the mechanism to fund the additional bonuses to professional employees as the wrong way to provide salary increases for the purpose of retaining the employees. He said if there is a problem, the case should be made for the desired salary adjustments and the adjustments should be made in the unclassified pay bill. He suggested the proposed mechanism gives excessive latitude to the administrator of the gaming control board with regard to the awarding of salary increases. The senator further observed the Legislature does not know who the 50 employees are who are targeted for the bonuses. Voicing his frustration with what he called a departure from the normal, Senator O'Donnell objected to the agency administrator having the authority to award salary increases predicated on that person's decision rather than on what the legislators regard as necessary "to keep people employed and to do a great job in state government." He said he is uncomfortable with the proposal under discussion but would entertain dialogue with regard to the unclassified pay bill to examine this issue for the purposes of longevity and continuity of service. Stating he understands the concerns expressed by Senator O'Donnell and shared them as he was working on the proposal, Mr. Bible said it would be extremely costly to award across-the-board salaries. He said he cannot extract information from the unclassified pay bill that details which employees would receive the salary increases. Commenting that is exactly his point, Senator O'Donnell said arbitrarily awarding $5,000 bonuses would destroy employee morale. Senator Mathews asked if the proposed bonuses would be in addition to the 4 percent recommended salary increase for state employees plus the increases proposed in policy decision 3 (2 percent in FY 1996 and 1 percent in FY 1997). Mr. Bible replied this is correct. Senator Raggio stated his intention to defer further consideration of policy decisions 2 and 3 pending receipt of the information requested above. SENATOR COFFIN MOVED FOR APPROVAL OF THE ADJUSTMENTS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF ON PAGE 1 OF THE CLOSING SHEETS (EXHIBIT K) AND ITEMS 1 THROUGH 9 ON PAGES 1 AND 2. SENATOR O'DONNELL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. * * * * * Gaming Control Board Investigation Fund - Page 679 Mr. Guernsey said the adjustment recommended by staff (page 6, Exhibit K) is the counterpart to the additional transfer to the gaming control board budget and reflects the additional $150,000 in each year of the biennium. SENATOR COFFIN MOVED TO CLOSE THIS BUDGET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADJUSTMENTS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF. SENATOR O'DONNELL SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. * * * * * Senator Raggio requested Mr. Curran to confer with Mr. Bible regarding reimbursement of the gaming commissioners' travel expenses, and to inform the committee if adjustments are necessary. Senator O'Donnell suggested one of the problems may be that Mr. Curran might feel uncomfortable asking Mr. Bible to approve his travel budget when the agencies are separate and distinct. Senator Raggio observed this is currently the only budget available to provide travel funds for the gaming commission. Mr. Bible said if this is a problem, commission travel could be separately budgeted. SENATE BILL 401: Revises provisions governing regulation of gaming. Senator Raggio observed that approval of this measure would have the effect of approving the commissioners' salaries, which can be done without amending the bill. He said the positions should be included in the unclassified salaries bill in the future. SENATOR O'DONNELL MOVED TO DO PASS SENATE BILL 401. SENATOR COFFIN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. * * * * * The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: Sue Parkhurst, Committee Secretary APPROVED BY: Senator William J. Raggio, Chairman DATE: Senate Committee on Finance May 30, 1995 Page