THE FIFTEENTH DAY
Carson City(Monday), February 15, 1999
Senate called to order at 11:08: a.m.
President Hunt presiding.
Roll called.
All present.
Prayer by the Chaplain, Lieutenant John Van Cleef.
Almighty God, giver of all good things: we thank You for the men and women who have made this nation strong; we thank You for the torch of liberty which has been lit in this land; we thank You for the faith we have inherited in all of its rich glory. Therefore, Lord, help the men and women of this honorable body as they labor on this day set aside to recognize the rich heritage handed to us by our forefathers. Strengthen their efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice, and to abolish poverty and crime. To You be the honor and glory forever and ever.
Amen.
Pledge of allegiance to the Flag.
Senator Raggio moved that further reading of the Journal be dispensed with, and the President and Secretary be authorized to make the necessary corrections and additions.
Motion carried.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
Madam President:
Your Committee on Government Affairs, to which was referred Assembly Bill No. 24, has had the same under consideration, and begs leave to report the same back with the recommendation: Re-refer to the Committee on Judiciary.
Ann O’Connell, Chairman
Madam President:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which were referred Senate Bills Nos. 69, 77, 87, 96, has had the same under consideration, and begs leave to report the same back with the recommendation: Amend, and do pass as amended.
Mark A. James, Chairman
MESSAGES FROM THE ASSEMBLY
Assembly Chamber, Carson City, February 12, 1999
To the Honorable the Senate:
I have the honor to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on this day passed Assembly Bills Nos. 55, 99, 125.
Susan Furlong Reil
Assistant Chief Clerk of the Assembly
MOTIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES
By Senator Rhoads:
Senate Joint Resolution No. 9—Proposing to amend the Constitution of the State of Nevada to provide that the state controller is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the governor.
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, JOINTLY, That section 19 of article 5 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 19. 1. A secretary of state, a treasurer, [a controller,] and an attorney general, shall be elected at the same time and places, and in the same manner as the governor. The term of office of each shall be the same as is prescribed for the governor.
2. Any elector shall be eligible to any of these offices, but no person may be elected to any of them more than twice, or more than once if he has previously held the office by election or appointment.
3. The governor shall appoint a state controller. The controller serves at the pleasure of the governor. The legislature may prescribe by law the qualifications and duties of the state controller.
And be it further
RESOLVED, That the amendment made to section 19 of article 5 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada by this resolution becomes effective on November 27, 2002, if it is approved by the voters at the general election on November 4, 2002. Notwithstanding the amendatory provisions of this resolution, the term of office of the controller elected at the general election in 2002, expires on December 31, 2006, unless the person so elected vacates the office before December 31, 2006. If the person elected to the office of the controller at the general election in 2002, vacates the office before December 31, 2006, the state treasurer shall, as soon as practicable, appoint a state controller.
Senator Rhoads moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
Senator O’Connell moved that Assembly Bill No. 24 be re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Motion carried.
INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING AND REFERENCE
By the Committee on Government Affairs:
Senate Bill No. 182—AN ACT relating to the City of North Las Vegas; revising the method for calculating the fee charged to a user of water for the beautification of the city; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator O’Connell moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Government Affairs:
Senate Bill No. 183—AN ACT relating to peace officers; providing that criminal investigators employed by the secretary of state have the powers of a peace officer; requiring criminal investigators employed by the secretary of state to comply with the standards of the peace officers’ standards and training committee; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator O’Connell moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Finance:
Senate Bill No. 184—AN ACT making an appropriation to the Eighth Judicial District Court for the continuation of its program of treatment for abuse of alcohol or drugs by certain persons; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Finance:
Senate Bill No. 185—AN ACT making an appropriation to the administrator of the courts of the Second Judicial District of the State of Nevada for the continuation of programs of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Finance:
Senate Bill No. 186—AN ACT making an appropriation to the North Las Vegas Library District for construction of a second library and certain architectural and engineering services; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Finance:
Senate Bill No. 187—AN ACT relating to education; establishing a program for the financial support of intersession school and summer school; authorizing school districts to submit applications for participation in the program; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Finance:
Senate Bill No. 188—AN ACT making an appropriation to the Department of Education to assist school districts in the recruitment or training of educational personnel to provide specialized services in areas of high needs where recruitment is difficult; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Judiciary:
Senate Bill No. 189—AN ACT relating to evidence; providing that a public record concerning a procedure which is routinely conducted by or at the request of a public official or agency and that produces objective results is not inadmissible under the hearsay rule; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator James moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Motion carried.
By the Committee on Commerce and Labor:
Senate Bill No. 190—AN ACT relating to the rehabilitation division of the department of employment, training and rehabilitation; renaming the vocational rehabilitation revolving account as the rehabilitation division revolving account; eliminating the services to the blind revolving account; providing for the transfer of the money in the services to the blind revolving account to the rehabilitation division revolving account; increasing the maximum permissible amount in the rehabilitation division revolving account; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Townsend moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion carried.
By Senator Titus:
Senate Bill No. 191—AN ACT relating to land use; requiring a person who proposes to develop a project of significant impact in the Las Vegas urban growth zone to submit an impact statement; prohibiting a local governmental entity from approving such a project in certain circumstances; providing a remedy for alleged violations; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Titus moved that Senate Standing Rule No. 40 be suspended and that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Remarks by Senator Titus.
Motion carried.
By Senator Rawson:
Senate Bill No. 192—AN ACT relating to common-interest communities; limiting the number of terms that an officer of a unit-owners’ association or a member of the executive board of an association may serve; providing for rules of procedure at a meeting of an association; providing for the approval of the valuation of units under certain circumstances; providing for voting at a meeting of an association only in person; providing for the passage of budgets of an association and assessments for capital improvements by a two-thirds vote; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Motion carried.
By Senators Rawson, O’Donnell and Jacobsen:
Senate Bill No. 193—AN ACT relating to emergency management; limiting the amount of the balance remaining in the emergency assistance account within the disaster relief fund at the end of a fiscal year that may be allocated by the state emergency response commission; providing for the activation of the state disaster identification team of the division of emergency management of the department of motor vehicles and public safety upon the request of a political subdivision in certain circumstances; making an appropriation to the division; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion carried.
Assembly Bill No. 55.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Motion carried.
Assembly Bill No. 99.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
Assembly Bill No. 125.
Senator Rawson moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Government Affairs.
Motion carried.
SECOND READING AND AMENDMENT
Senate Bill No. 30.
Bill read second time and ordered to third reading.
Senate Bill No. 100.
Bill read second time and ordered to third reading.
Senate Bill No. 101.
Bill read second time and ordered to third reading.
Senate Bill No. 114.
Bill read second time and ordered to third reading.
Senate Bill No. 115.
Bill read second time and ordered to third reading.
Senate Bill No. 118.
Bill read second time and ordered to third reading.
Senate Bill No. 120.
Bill read second time and ordered to third reading.
Senate Bill No. 123.
Bill read second time and ordered to third reading.
GENERAL FILE AND THIRD READING
Senate Bill No. 11.
Bill read third time.
Remarks by Senator Titus.
Senator Titus requested that her remarks be entered in the Journal.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill No. 11 very simply would repeal the year-and-a-day rule which states in order for a killing to qualify as either murder or manslaughter, the victim’s death must occur within one year and a day of the criminal act which caused the death. This year-and-a-day rule is an antiquated one which has its origins in English Common Law dating back some 700 years to a time when doctors knew very little about medicine and forensic science. It was originally adopted in Nevada in 1861, and it has remained on the books long after its utility has passed.
The purpose of the year-and-a-day rule originally was to ensure that the defendant’s actions were truly the cause of a death. If too much time had elapsed, how could the prosecutors prove the defendant’s guilt? How could they possibly account for possible intervening variables? Today, however, with breakthrough advances in medicine, science and forensic research, this is no longer a problem. As a result, the recent trend across the country has been to repeal the year-and-a-day rule that has been on the books for such a long time. Over half of the states have done this, either legislatively or judicially, and others are considering such action.
This issue was brought to my attention last year by the death of Chris Trickle, a young race car driver who was shot while driving on Blue Diamond Highway. He went into a coma and died 13 months later. Because he died more than a year and a day after he was shot, if the person is caught who committed that act, he can not be charged with murder. It is too late for this appeal to affect the Chris Trickle case. We can’t make it right for his family, but this can be Chris’s legacy to Nevada so that the families of any victims in the future will not have to suffer.
I urge you to support Senate Bill No. 11, the Chris Trickle bill, and repeal the year-and-a-day rule. Thank you.
Roll call on Senate Bill No. 11:
Yeas—21.
Nays—None.
Senate Bill No. 11 having received a constitutional majority, Madam President declared it passed.
Bill ordered transmitted to the Assembly.
Senate Bill No. 13.
Bill read third time.
Roll call on Senate Bill No. 13:
Yeas—21.
Nays—None.
Senate Bill No. 13 having received a two-thirds majority, Madam President declared it passed, as amended.
Bill ordered transmitted to the Assembly.
Senate Bill No. 31.
Bill read third time.
Remarks by Senators Amodei, Coffin and Neal.
Roll call on Senate Bill No. 31:
Yeas—19.
Nays—Coffin, Wiener—2.
Senate Bill No. 31 having received a constitutional majority, Madam President declared it passed.
Bill ordered transmitted to the Assembly.
Senate Bill No. 48.
Bill read third time.
Remarks by Senator Raggio.
Roll call on Senate Bill No. 48:
Yeas—21.
Nays—None.
Senate Bill No. 48 having received a constitutional majority, Madam President declared it passed.
Bill ordered transmitted to the Assembly.
Senate Bill No. 52.
Bill read third time.
Remarks by Senator Mathews.
Senator Mathews requested that her remarks be entered in the Journal.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill No. 52 amends NRS 177.050 to facilitate land swaps. The idea for such a bill originated in 1998, when Washoe County and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony wanted to swap a piece of land. During that process, they found that Indian tribes are not defined as public agencies. Thus, the two entities had to undergo a cumbersome process of setting up escrow accounts and exchanging checks.
Section 1 of Senate Bill No. 52 adds Indian tribes as public agencies who can sell, lease or exchange lands with other public agencies. Currently the City of Reno, the City of Sparks, and Washoe County can swap lands with each other, but not with Indian tribes.
Section 2 of Senate Bill No. 52 would allow a public agency to give property to an Indian tribe, as long as that property will be used for a public purpose.
Section 3 of Senate Bill No. 52 would allow Indian tribes to exchange land with school districts. This section was necessary because school districts are not considered public agencies. This section would allow land swaps between tribes and school districts to enhance school district locations. However, this section would not allow school districts to give property to Indian tribes.
Section 4 of Senate Bill No. 52 would require that such land exchanges be handled in accordance with the rules of a public agency rather than those of a school district.
Senate Bill No. 52 provides for a win-win situation.
Roll call on Senate Bill No. 52:
Yeas—21.
Nays—None.
Senate Bill No. 52 having received a constitutional majority, Madam President declared it passed.
Bill ordered transmitted to the Assembly.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Signing of Bills and Resolutions
There being no objections, the President and Secretary signed Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 10.
GUESTS EXTENDED PRIVILEGE OF SENATE FLOOR
On request of Senator Amodei, the privilege of the floor of the Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Ryanne Amodei.
On request of Senator Jacobsen, the privilege of the floor of the Senate Chamber for this day was extended to the following Webelo Cub Scouts: Tyler Aas, Jimmy Adams, Billy Durden, Peter Fritz and Michael Williams and chaperones: Julie Fritz, Gary Williams, Patty Williams, Lisa Durden and Anne Aas, also the following Boy Scouts from Troop 145: Michael Sturm, Joshua Rauch, Brian Murphy, R.H. Campbell, Erik Edwards, Erik Townsend, Loren Wooldridge and Chris Knight and chaperones: Shirley Knight, Bill Murphy and Rich Campbell.
On request of Senator McGinness, the privilege of the floor of the Senate Chamber for this day was extended to Johana Smith.
On request of Senator Porter, the privilege of the floor of the Senate Chamber for this day was extended to John Milburn, Jerome Czerwinski, Monika Czerwinski, Christine Milburn and Laurie Porter.
Senator Raggio moved that the Senate recess until 5:15 p.m.
Motion carried.
Senate in recess at 11:59 a.m.
SENATE IN SESSION
At 5:19 p.m.
President Hunt presiding.
Quorum present.
MOTIONS, RESOLUTIONS AND NOTICES
By Senator Rhoads:
Senate Joint Resolution No. 10—Urging the members of the Nevada Congressional Delegation to introduce and support legislation providing for the disposal of certain public lands in this state.
Senator Rhoads moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Motion carried.
The Sergeant at Arms announced that Assemblyman Bache and AssemblywomanTiffany were at the bar of the Senate. Assemblyman Bache invited the Senate to meet in Joint Session with the Assembly to hear an address by Senator Harry Reid.
The President announced that if there were no objections, the Senate would recess subject to the call of the Chair.
Senate in recess at 5:24 p.m.
IN JOINT SESSION
At 5:25 p.m.
President Hunt presiding.
The Secretary of the Senate called the Senate roll.
All present except Senator Townsend, who was excused.
The Chief Clerk of the Assembly called the Assembly roll.
All present except Assemblyman Marvel, who was excused.
Madam President appointed a Committee on Escort consisting of Senator Wiener and Assemblyman Anderson to wait upon the Honorable Senator Harry Reid and escort him to the Assembly Chamber.
Senator Reid delivered his message as follows:
Message to the Legislature of Nevada
Seventieth Session, 1999
Lieutenant Governor Hunt, Speaker Dini, Leader Raggio, members of the Legislature, and guests:
It was 100 years ago that a man by the name of Reinhold Sadler was elected Governor of the State of Nevada. He was the tenth governor of Nevada. He won the election by 63 votes. That sounds like a small number of votes, but really, my election was by a smaller percentage than his 63 votes. History seems to repeat itself. Governor Sadler’s election was contested and we, this year when the contest was filed, used the precedent set in the Sadler election to resolve the issue in my election.
I am a student of history. I believe that the lessons that we have learned over the last century can help us find our way through the next century. In addition, when I see how far we have come in the last 100 years, it inspires me to think how far we can go in the next 100—if we only have the courage, the will, and really, the imagination.
In the twentieth century, we saw the United States rise to become the most powerful nation in the history of the world.
During this same century, we saw Nevada grow from a collection of mining camps in a world dominated by the railroad and the telegraph, to the tourism and gaming capital of a world dominated by the microchip and the satellite.
In 1899, only 42,000 people lived in the entire State of Nevada, and most of those people around the Reno, Carson City area. Southern Nevada, even Searchlight, was virtually undeveloped then, and uninhabited. Today, our population is approaching two million people; and southern Nevada is the fastest-growing region, in the fastest-growing state, in our rapidly growing nation.
One hundred years ago, Nevada’s population was not only growing but becoming more diverse. The mines beckoned to the people of Europe—the Slavs, the Irish, the Italians, and the Greeks. Today, in 1999, our population is more diverse than ever, and a new generation of Nevadans hails from more far-flung corners of the globe, more so than ever before.
Although today’s new arrivals have skin of a different color than they did a century ago, they are, underneath that skin, no different.
Where the immigrants who contributed to the legacy and heritage of the 20th century were namedLaxalt, Dini, Raggio, Del Papa, and Giunchigliani; in the next century they will be named Sandoval, Herrera, Martinez, Wong, and Tran. But, whatever their names—and whether their families have lived in Nevada 100 years, or 100 days—they share the same dreams and aspirations in common with all Americans.
One hundred years ago, Governor Sadler’s first state of the state address reflected discouragement with a state debt of more than $563,000. The Governor despaired that the state would not be able to provide services to its citizens. History does repeat itself.
Our predecessors, one hundred years ago, overcame their doubts for the future, and made this century one of the greatest in world history. If anything, we are better positioned for the next century than they were for this one. Therefore, I look forward to working with our new Governor, Kenny Guinn, and this new legislature to help solve the problems of the next century. Both the Governor, with his impressive résumé as a school superintendent, corporate executive in both the banking and the utilities field, and as a university president, and an experienced middle-of-the-road legislature are both ingredients for success.
The national economy is undergoing the longest peacetime economic expansion in our history. The federal budget is balanced for the first time in more than 30 years. Violent crime rates are at their lowest rate in 25 years. Unemployment and inflation are at their lowest peacetime rates since I graduated high school. Nevada has been the fastest growing state in the nation for six straight years. No great crisis threatens the nation’s security.
This prosperity on the federal level gives us the opportunity to embark in a new era of partnership between all levels of government—one in which our state and federal officials work together, as partners, to share their resources and combine their visions to address Nevada’s problems. This model partnership is based on something I announced two years ago when I addressed this legislature at the Lake Tahoe Summit.
The Lake Tahoe Summit defined a new paradigm for this nation, a new model of partnership, and a new approach to solving the challenges dealing with improving our quality of life. This summit, convened on the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe, featured the President, the Vice President, five Cabinet Officers—and these five cabinet officers had met with over 1000 people on the ground—two governors of two different parties, four United States Senators, multiple Congressmen and women, two state legislatures, scientists from two University systems, members of the business community, the developers, the environmentalists, and the property rights activists. In his concluding remarks, the President said the concept of working together across state lines, party lines, and ideological lines to preserve the environment and promote economic growth was a model he could apply in Northern Ireland, in the Middle East, and in situations across our country.
Here in Nevada, almost two years after the summit occurred, we are continuing to live by and legislate by this concept of partnership. Today, I am proud to announce my plan to join with my friends, Congressman Jim Gibbons, Speaker Joe Dini, and Senator Dean Rhoads, to enact a public lands bill for northern Nevada. Congressman Gibbons, Speaker Dini, Senator Rhodes will you please stand¾and speaking of the benefits of partnership, Jim will you please ask your lovely wife, partner, and Assemblywoman, Dawn Gibbons to stand as well. This body will benefit from her energy and her dedication to public service.
Congressman Gibbons and I will introduce a bill in both the House and the Senate that will allow BLM land in northern Nevada to be sold at auction, with the proceeds to be used to help improve rural areas of the state.
It is based on the Southern Nevada Lands Bill we passed last year, and we are in the process of meeting now with state, counties, outdoors community, miners and environmentalists to gain input for this legislation. I have already acknowledged the help of Dean Rhodes, but this is something he has worked on for years. I personally appreciate the interest he has shown. We are going to do something on a national level to meet the demands rural Nevada has.
I ask each of you, especially those of you from Clark County, to work with us to implement this program and help Senator Rhodes and the Speaker on the state level. If we succeed in this endeavor, we will show the people of Nevada—and really the nation—a new framework for cooperation—not only between the two governments, but also between two political parties. Let us call this unified approach the “Nevada Model.” It is a model I want to use on both the national and the Nevada level to improve our quality of life. I used it in my new position as the Assistant Senate Minority Leader when we crafted our agenda this year. One of the cornerstones of this agenda is a bill based directly on The Patients’ Bill of Rights, drafted in Carson City by Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley. Assemblywoman Buckley, please stand so we can recognize you for your good work.
Our national Patients’ Bill of Rights, modeled on Assemblywoman Buckley’s bill, ensures that patients receive the care they have been promised and paid for. It makes doctors directly responsible for care, not bureaucrats and bean counters, and seeks to address all those consumers who are in ERISA plans and thusly not eligible for the benefits in state bills like Assemblywoman Buckley’s. It is the only Patients’ Rights Bill out there with teeth because it gives patients the right to sue HMOs. Do you know there are only two groups of people who can’t be sued in this country- HMOs and foreign diplomats? This enforcement mechanism will not raise costs, but it will raise service for millions of Americans.
I will continue to lead efforts to pass the Patients’ Bill of Rights this Congressional session and make Assemblywoman Buckley and her health care coalition proud. In addition, speaking of partnerships, this bill is supported by over 200 organizations and also doctors, lawyers, nurses, and patients. Why hasn’t it been passed? Because one organization opposes it, the healthcare industry. We will see what will happen when the 200 go up against the one. Maybe we will come out ahead this time.
We based our Patients’ Bill of Rights on a Nevada bill but today here in the Assembly and the Senate, two hearings were held on bills which are based on my national Contraceptive Coverage bill. Each year there are more than 3.6 million unintended pregnancies in this country, close to half of these end up in abortion. Insurance companies and HMOs cover abortions, vasectomies, and tubal ligations, but a majority of them will not cover contraception.
My federal bill, also known as the Snowe-Reid Bill, requires insurance companies or HMOs who cover prescription drugs to cover the cost of prescription contraceptives as well. Last year, after a tough fight, we passed a smaller version of this bill for federal employees. Today, my wife Landra testified in support of a state bill in the Senate supported by Minority Leader Dina Titus and a bill in the Assembly written by our own Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani. It is an incredible honor to have two such skilled legislators working on contraceptive coverage here in Nevada. I ask them to stand and be recognized for their work for equity in prescription coverage. We must make health care equally accessible and affordable for men and women. We tend to bash health care delivery organizations and insurance companies and most of the time they deserve it, but it’s only fair to point out that Sierra Health, a Nevada based company, has extended contraceptive coverage to all their enrollees. We should applaud that. Another piece of national legislation which is receiving a lot of attention from the White House and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle is my bill establishing a system to conduct background checks for employees of nursing homes. This bill, called the Patient Abuse Prevention Act, is modeled on a Nevada law passed last session, thanks to Assemblywoman Vivian Freeman and former Assemblyman Jack Close. Assemblywoman Freeman, please stand. Nursing home safety is an issue which touches us all, because 43 percent of all Americans will spend some time in a nursing facility sometime in their life. A national system of background checks will help both patients and facility managers keep workers with abusive or criminal records out of long-term care facilities. As the fastest growing senior state in the nation, Nevada is facing the challenges of an aging population earlier than almost anywhere else in this country. By the year 2030, more than 34,000 Nevadans will be over the age of 85. They and their families deserve safe facilities.
And speaking of facilities—thanks in large part to the efforts of Bill Raggio, Lawrence Jacobsen, Governor Miller, Assemblyman Mark Manendo and many others in this room, plus Nevada’s veterans’ groups, and the assistance of the federal government¾we will finally break ground this year on Nevada’s first Veterans’ Home. I look forward to working with all of you and Governor Guinn on a second Veterans’ Home in northern Nevada. This partnership on all levels of government helped move us to the top of the VA’s list for homes last year. This year Senator Bryan and I look forward to working with Representatives Berkley and Gibbons who both were placed on the Veterans Committee in the House. This is good for Nevada’s 250,000 deserving veterans.
Partnership is not only important for our aging population and our veterans but it is also an important concept to be used for the challenges facing our youth. Every day in America, 3,000 children drop out of high school—3,000 a day; not a month or a week, but a day. Nevada, I am sorry to say, has the highest teen dropout rate in the country.
Last year, New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingaman and I introduced a bill, which passed the Senate with 74 votes, creating a $150 million national grant program to take local programs which are working to reduce dropouts and expand them into districts which need them most. We here in Nevada have experimented with some of these kinds of programs that seem to be working.
One of these local efforts is the “Hola Carson City” program, which encourages Hispanic students to stay in school until they graduate through the creation of a locally produced television show. I have been appearing on “Hola Carson City” for the past four years, and I am proud to say that tonight’s speech is being taped by these talented young people. Let us give them a round of applause. Nevada has an exemplary program that started here in Carson City on a wish and a prayer and now will be nationally known.
Keeping our children in high school is just the first step. We must also do more to increase the number of Nevadans going to college. Nevada has one of the lowest rates of students attending college in the nation. Only 38 percent of all Nevada students attend college and only 17 percent of them ever graduate. Ideas like the Governor’s “Millennium Scholarships” are good starts although questions about how they are funded and who is covered by them need to be worked out here at the state level. The State of Nevada does need a program, and I think you have to take a close look at the program the Governor has proposed. With the Governor’s experience in education, which I have talked about, we need to take a closer look.
I have been a strong proponent of a similar program on the federal level called “Hope Scholarships,” which have been helping Nevada students of every age and economic group attend university, community college or technical training programs with a $1500 yearly tax break.
My other chief education initiative which is directly based on local, state and federal partnerships is our school construction bill. This bill will help fund new schools and renovate schools across the country as well as here in Nevada. We have all kinds of problems in Nevada. Take little Lincoln County, they have no economic base. They have schools there which need badly to be renovated and replaced, but they have no way to do it. If you go to the other extreme with Clark County, it is a rapidly growing community, the eighth or ninth largest school district in the country. We need to pass this legislation on a national level. It would pay the interest on bonds taken out by local school districts. The decision where to build schools and when to renovate schools would remain in local hands. The federal government’s role would be to free up resources to help fast growing communities and those that do not grow so fast, to keep up with student populations. School construction is the other side of the coin for class size reduction. Our bill could bring more than $70 million to Nevada each year for school construction. Superintendents like Brian Cram are spending more time supervising construction than supervising education.
When it all comes down to it, this “Nevada Model” is really about communities making choices. What kind of Nevada do we want to leave for our children? Last session I ended my speech talking about the importance of saving Lake Tahoe. As Mark Twain said, “the fairest place on all the Earth.” The summit not only allowed us to begin the work to preserve this jewel of the Sierras, but it gave birth to a process and an idea—the notion of livable communities—the notion that communities can come together and work in partnership with all levels of government and with the private sector to set their own directions for growth and improvement.
One group who has come together in such a manner, has done so to save Walker Lake and the Walker River. In addition, they understand this idea. They have two challenges: to preserve Nevada’s agricultural greenbelt and save a lake of which there are only 22 like it left in the entire world. Interior Secretary Babbitt has recently visited Walker Lake and pledged federal resources and assistance. He has also pledged to honor the Lake Tahoe model that we have set up and to work with all interested parties.
I ask each of you to support these efforts to save Walker Lake. But I have to comment, each of you speak of the importance of states rights. Why then is it necessary for the federal government to save Walker Lake? Shouldn’t that be the responsibility of the state? The federal government is here because the state has defaulted on its responsibilities.
In southern Nevada, we are presented with a perfect opportunity to put the concept of “livable communities” to the test. As Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and its suburbs break records for growth, I want to make sure that growth doesn’t break us. To protect our nation’s quality of life, we need to advance smart growth and livable community policies that are driven by state governments in partnership with the federal government—that’s you and I. I encourage each of you to make these issues your top priority. If we manage our growth responsibly, we will manage our future responsibly.
Proper regional planning combined with financial incentives and prioritizing of funds must be employed to ensure that our roads, highways, mass transit systems, waterways, and schools can keep pace with growth. In doing so, we will connect and protect our communities into the next century and have Nevada continue to be the envy of the world.
I have secured a commitment from Republican Senator John Chaffee of Rhode Island, the chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, to hold a field hearing in Las Vegas this spring on “livable communities” and the specific legislative proposals we will be pushing through Congress. Vice President Gore has also committed to coming to southern Nevada in May to meet with local and state officials on strategies for dealing with urban sprawl and ways to promote livable communities on the national agenda.
A few weeks ago, Governor Guinn stated that we must ask ourselves what the proper role of our government is going to be. I could not agree more. We need to decide what our priorities are.
Will ours be a state that fulfills its commitments to its people—to our children, to our seniors, to our veterans, and most of all, to those ordinary, everyday citizens who work hard, play by the rules, sacrifice for their families and who form the backbone of this state? Or will ours be a government of auditors and accountants, focused only on a bottom line that may measure the costs of modern society but which ignores the very things that make life in that society worth living?
As former lieutenant governor, a former assemblyman, a county board member and a city attorney, I know that this Legislature and our new Governor can meet virtually any challenge. However, in doing so, we cannot sacrifice the very things that make our state livable and valuable.
One hundred years ago, our predecessors were drawn to Nevada by the lure of precious metals. We still have a booming mining industry; but today, even more people are drawn to the state by the lure of something far more precious and more elusive: a sense of security, of community; a better way of life. Let us, today, resolve together to make the attainment of that better life our legacy for the next century. Thank you.
Senator Raggio moved that the Senate and Assembly in Joint Session extend a vote of thanks to Senator Reid for his message.
Motion carried.
The Committee on Escort escorted Senator Reid to the bar of the Assembly.
Senator Care moved that the Joint Session be dissolved.
Motion carried.
Joint Session dissolved at 5:55 p.m.
SENATE IN SESSION
At 6:04 p.m.
President Hunt presiding.
Quorum present.
Senator Raggio moved that the Senate adjourn until Tuesday, February 16, 1999 at 4:15 p.m.
Motion carried.
Senate adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
Approved: Lorraine T. Hunt
President of the Senate
Attest: Janice L. Thomas