MINUTES OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES Sixty-eighth Session May 17, 1995 The Senate Committee on Natural Resources was called to order by Chairman Dean A. Rhoads, at 2:30 p.m., on Wednesday, May 17, 1995, in Room 224 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman Senator Mark A. James Senator Mike McGinness Senator Ernest E. Adler Senator John B. (Jack) Regan Senator O. C. Lee COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen, Vice Chairman (Excused) STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Fred Welden, Chief Deputy Research Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau Kathy Cole, Committee Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: James Nakada, Supervisor, Nevada Tahoe Conservation District George C. Finn, Concerned Citizen Merv Matorian, Member, Board of Wildlife Commissioners, State of Nevada Ira Hansen, Concerned Citizen Chairman Rhoads opened the hearing on Assembly Concurrent Resolution (A.C.R.) 3. ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 3: Urges certain state agencies to cooperate with Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and local governments in Lake Tahoe Basin and to provide information within their fields of responsibility. James Nakada, Supervisor, Nevada Tahoe Conservation District, said: The Nevada Tahoe Conservation District includes Douglas, Carson City County, and Washoe counties. We deal directly and indirectly with the TRPA [Tahoe Regional Planning Agency] on a regular basis; consequently, it's assumed that I would say that I am in favor of this A.C.R. 3. We have memorandums of understanding [and] we have a number of activities that we deal with them. [However,]...if we have more communications with them, it certainly would help, especially, if a number of the bills before the Legislature are passed. [Those bills will] require more implementation of erosion control practices around the lake which TRPA is the primary agency involved. We, of the conservation district, are also very directly involved and we are listed among those for whom they wish the communication efforts to be made. Chairman Rhoads asked Mr. Nakada to give the name of the conservation district he works for. Mr. Nakada said he is working for the Nevada-Tahoe Conservation District. Chairman Rhoads wanted to know if that district is a Nevada entity. Mr. Nakada affirmed that it is and that it deals with the Nevada area around the lake. Through further discussion Mr. Nakada explained that the Nevada-Tahoe Conservation District has their physical office in California's Conservation District office. Through the sharing of office and personnel both districts are able to substantially reduce overhead expenses. In conclusion, Mr. Nakada stressed that the two districts already work together in planning sessions and they work directly with the TRPA in order to implement common goals such as conservation methods to reduce erosion and to maintain, retain, or improve the purity of the lake. George C. Finn, Concerned Citizen, said he was representing himself, a long-time opponent of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, on the grounds that it was "unconstitutional." Mr. Finn drew attention to the TRPA's board members and how they are appointed and not elected. He asserted that A.C.R. 3 is "inaccurate as it presupposes" that the TRPA is constitutional and that it has the authority to assist other agencies in their efforts to work together in the basin. Continuing on, Mr. Finn referred to the Nellis report with respect to the TRPA Compact (Exhibit C) and then declared, "I am opposed to anything that would perpetuate the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Compact." He further suggested that Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick also questioned "the constitutionality of the TRPA Compact" as noted in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, dated May 13-14, 1995 (Exhibit D). Mr. Finn concluded his testimony by reviewing various Assembly bills and their implications if they became law as they pertain to the TRPA compact. Senator Regan closed the hearing on A.C.R. 3 and opened the hearing on Assembly Bill (A.B.) 155. ASSEMBLY BILL 155: Prohibits person who has received refund for hunting license from being denied bonus points for additional chances to obtain hunting tag. Merv Matorian, Member, Board of Wildlife Commissioners, State of Nevada, said: We are opposed to A.B. 155... The application hunt committee, which is a subcommittee of our board did an extensive survey when they put this program together. This survey went through all the hunters of Nevada. We had a high response. It was recommended to the Board of Wildlife Commissioners that [the hunters wanted] to keep [their] hunting license in order to maintain [their] bonus points and [their] place in the draw for future drawings... Senator Adler asked if the Coalition for Nevada's Wildlife survey (Exhibit E) coincided with their survey. Mr. Matorian affirmed that many of their findings were the same. The discussion continued among the committee members and the witness. Fred Welden, Chief Deputy Research Analyst, Legislative Counsel Bureau, said, "This listing (Exhibit E) was provided by Joe Johnson who testified at the hearing last week about these entities and their composition. He just asked that the list be provided today." Mr. Matorian once again asserted that he was aware of those people on the list who opposed this bill. Ira Hansen, Concerned Citizen, said: I sat in on that coalition of whose membership you have in front of you (Exhibit E)... For the most part, people were concerned that any changes from the law, as it is now, might result in a loss of revenue for the department. There was a great deal of debate on the bill especially on the issue of whether or not any residents should receive a refund [if they did not hunt with their hunting license]. That list represents the overall opinion, but there was certainly a large minority that felt that at least the residents should [receive a refund]. It is a minor amount of money invested; it's between $5,000- $10,000. I should say for the record, that [this bill] would not affect me at all. I purchase a hunting, fishing, trapping license anyway, so this is not a personal thing to me; but it is somewhat of a fairness issue. It isn't really fair to force someone to purchase the license when they are not going to hunt and that's what this bill addresses. The fact is...this could amount to a substantial amount for family groups, often it is over $100 for an average family... The only reason this bill is opposed is because of the revenue aspect...and the fairness issue... Chairman Rhoads asked Mr. Hansen if he testified before in favor of this bill. He concurred that he had. SENATOR ADLER MOVED TO INDEFINITELY POSTPONE A.B. 155. SENATOR MCGINNESS SECONDED THE MOTION. Chairman Rhoads asked for any comments. Senator Adler said that he had a problem with the whole bonus program, as it stands; if we refund residents and not the nonresidents than we are not being fair. However, he made it clear that if they did refund nonresidents than the state would be looking at a huge fiscal impact. Chairman Rhoads then suggested that they hold the bill until the key sponsor of the bill, Assemblyman Sandoval, could address their concerns with regard to the language of the bill. It was agreed by the committee that it would help if they could come to some middle ground. It was decided by the committee to hold A.B. 155. Chairman Rhoads closed the hearing on A.B. 155 and opened the hearing on Assembly Bill (A.B.) 156. ASSEMBLY BILL 156: Clarifies period during which certain replacement tags to hunt big game mammals are valid. SENATOR ADLER MOVED TO DO PASS A.B. 156. SENATOR JAMES SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR JACOBSEN WAS ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.) ***** SENATOR ADLER MOVED TO DO PASS A.C.R. 3. SENATOR LEE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. (SENATOR JACOBSEN AND SENATOR MCGINNESS WERE ABSENT FOR THE VOTE.) ***** Chairman Rhoads adjourned the meeting at 3:05 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: Kathy E. Cole, Committee Secretary APPROVED BY: Senator Dean A. Rhoads, Chairman DATE: Senate Committee on Natural Resources May 17, 1995 Page