MINUTES OF THE meeting
of the
ASSEMBLY Committee on Transportation
Seventy-Second Session
March 25, 2003
The Committee on Transportationwas called to order at 1:42 p.m., on Tuesday, March 25,
2003. Chairwoman Vonne Chowning
presided in Room 3143 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada, and,
via simultaneous videoconference in Room 4401 of the Grant Sawyer State Office
Building,
Las Vegas, Nevada.
Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Guest List. All exhibits are available and on file at the Research Library of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.
Note: These minutes are compiled in the modified verbatim style. Bracketed material indicates language used to clarify and further describe testimony. Actions of the Committee are presented in the traditional legislative style.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mrs. Vonne Chowning, Chairwoman
Ms. Genie Ohrenschall, Vice Chairwoman
Mr. Kelvin Atkinson
Mr. John C. Carpenter
Mr. Jerry D. Claborn
Mr. Tom Collins
Mr. Pete Goicoechea
Mr. Don Gustavson
Mr. Ron Knecht
Mr. Mark Manendo
Mr. John Oceguera
Mr. Rod Sherer
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:
Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, Minority Floor Leader, District No. 39, Douglas County and Carson City
Senator Maggie Carlton, Senatorial District No. 2, Clark County
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Marji Paslov Thomas, Committee Policy Analyst
Nancy Elder, Committee Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT:
Susan Martinovich, P.E., Assistant Director of Engineering, State of Nevada, Department of Transportation
Valerie Smith, Intern for Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, Nevada State Legislature
Ray Foss, Representative, Kids’ Fishing Derby, Douglas County
Susan Slocum, Representative, Kids’ Fishing Derby, Douglas County
Reverend Phil Carolin, Executive Director of the Citizenship Project, Las Vegas
Julia Van Weydeveldt, Private Citizen, Las Vegas
Maria D. Mejia, Private Citizen, Las Vegas
Rick Bennett, Director of Government Relations, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Paul Grace, Legislative Advocate, Nevada State Rifle Association, Reno
Ron Dreher, President, Peace Officers Research Association of Nevada (PORAN) Reno
Martha Barnes, Administrator of Central Services and Records Division at the Department of Motor Vehicles, Carson City
Chairwoman Chowning:
Good afternoon. The Assembly Committee on Transportation will come to order, both here in Carson City, and probably some people in Las Vegas will be in attendance as well. [Roll was taken and everyone was marked present.]
Today we have special license plate bills. First of all, we have one short item of business to take care of. Would the people who are involved with A.B. 197 come forward? We gave them one week to report back to us. We just need to know what their progress is, and then we are going to give them one more week to try to reach a conclusion. Also for the Committee, we will be taking A.B. 370 first, and then A.B. 207, and then A.B. 115.
Assembly Bill 197: Makes various changes concerning certain applications submitted to Department of Transportation by governmental entities for easements or licenses or permits for encroachments on certain highway rights-of-way. (BDR 35-342)
Susan Martinovich, P.E., Assistant Director of Engineering, State of Nevada, Department of Transportation (NDOT):
In follow-up to last week, we subsequently had a meeting with the League of Cities and with NACO (Nevada Association of Counties), and went through some issues and processes. We jointly agreed there are ways we can work to fix it. The League of Cities would like to present a bill that says we will jointly agree. NDOT would like to have a letter of understanding. One has been drafted, but they have not had the opportunity to review it. During this next week we will look at finalizing what will be brought forward to this board.
Chairwoman Chowning:
Is there anyone from the League of Cities who wishes to state anything for the record? [There was not.] Next week we will have some conclusion.
Susan Martinovich:
Yes. I will ask if that could be on Thursday rather than Tuesday, as I will be out of town.
Chairwoman Chowning:
Yes. We will postpone that until April 3. Thank you very much, and we thank all of the parties who have been working so diligently.
Assembly Bill 370: Provides for issuance of special license plates for support of Kid’s Fishing Derby and provides for design, preparation and issuance of special license plates by petition to Department of Motor Vehicles. (BDR 43-1310)
Assemblyman Hettrick, will you come forward please and give your presentation on A.B. 370. This is our first special license plate hearing of the day.
Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, Assembly District No. 39, Douglas County and Carson City:
[Introduced himself.] The lady sitting next to me is Valerie Smith, my intern for the session. Valerie participated in the Kids’ Fishing Derby. I would like to get into the bill in a few moments. Committee members, if you would indulge me, Valerie is a very good student, she carries a 3.9 average and she is an excellent athlete on the varsity softball team.
Valerie Smith, Intern for Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, Nevada State Legislature:
I believe the Fishing Derby is a really fun thing for the young kids to do. They go out and fish, and while I am not a real “outdoorsy” person, it gave me a chance to go out and fish and have some fun.
Assemblyman Hettrick:
A.B. 370 is to support a Kids’ Fishing Derby that takes place in Douglas County. We have a unique park that has a stream that runs right through the middle of it. Each year that stream is stocked with fish, and we invite all the kids in Douglas County to come down and go fishing. They are almost all assured to catch fish. It is exciting and fun to see. These kids are thrilled to get to go down there, have a wonderful time, and catch fish. It is a great function.
I want to eliminate Sections 3 through 6 of the bill. The Speaker has a bill that deals with this, and he has worked with some of the people who would be involved. He has amendments that would take care of some of their concerns, but I do not have those amendments. That would leave this bill to be nothing but a special license plate bill. The people could use the money to fund this. They believe they could get 1,000 plates sold; I talked to them about that. They would appreciate our ability to pass this, so they could continue with this fine event.
Chairwoman Chowning:
With 1,000 orders at $25 each, that means that immediately $25,000 would be secured for this project. What will be done with this $25,000?
Assemblyman Hettrick:
The people who would be in charge of that are here. I would let them testify to how the bill will be used to fund the event.
Chairwoman Chowning:
Also on page 2, subsection 5, in case something happened and the Kids’ Fishing Derby, Inc., were dissolved, then the language allows for a successor, for its programs and charities to be put into place. Also if Lampe Park were no longer available, there would be a successor location. Is that your desire? What kind of charitable activities would you envision?
Assemblyman Hettrick:
There is a possibility that we would have a successor location because the Hussman family in Douglas County just donated a park across the street. The stream there, runs all through that park as well. It may move to a bigger area just so they can get more kids. They are just playing it safe, so if they ever had to move from that location, they could.
Chairwoman Chowning:
About how many children have participated in this and for how many years so far?
Ray Foss, Representative, Kids’ Fishing Derby, Douglas County:
[Introduced himself.] One thing I wanted to point out is that the Kids’ Fishing Derby has always been free to kids, always has been, always will be. It doesn’t cost the kids anything. We provide the poles for them. We provide all the fish, tackle, and the bait. We have people there that volunteer to help the kids. They clean the fish, and we have prizes for the kids. All this has taken place through donations from businesses and individual residents within the community. This bill would really help us and help support the Derby to continue. [He provided a 3-page handout that included a drawing of the proposed design (Exhibit C).]
Susan Slocum, Representative, Kids’ Fishing Derby, Douglas County:
[Introduced herself.] I work for Douglas County Parks and Recreation, and I am a Douglas County Representative on the Board of Directors for the Kids’ Fishing Derby. The Fishing Derby is 14 years old. It started with about 500 children. We now limit it to 2,500 children, who fish over a two-day period. We sell out about four weeks before the event, and we are turning away hundreds of kids every year. The fish come from both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nevada Division of Wildlife. With the future budget concerns, we have been told that at some time, we will no longer be provided with free fish. We will probably pay approximately $3 per trout to be able to continue this program, so we are looking at about $40,000 per year to maintain this program, once we lose the donation of the fish from the state and the federal side. We have put together about $25,000 over the past 14 years, and it was put into a CD [Certificate of Deposit], but at this point, that is all the funding that we have to maintain the program.
Chairwoman Chowning:
I guess that answered my question about the $25,000. That would buy a whole lot of fish. It sounds like fun, and I would like to attend myself, but I guess I can’t, as I am older than 12 years old. Does anyone have any questions?
I think the Committee is familiar with the special license plates. All we have questions about are what the funds will be used for, and whether the need will be met.
[The Chairwoman continued.] Does the bill state that something has to be in the design? It says, “Using any colors or designs that the department deems appropriate.” It must depict children fishing at a canal. This is a design that would possibly be used.
[There were no further questions.] We are closing the hearing on A.B. 370, and we are opening the hearing on A.B. 207.
Assembly Bill 207: Provides for issuance of special license plates for support of naturalized citizenship. (BDR 43-1087)
Senator Maggie Carlton, Senatorial District No. 2, Clark County:
Thank you again for the opportunity to be here. Unfortunately, the primary sponsor of this bill, Assemblywoman Pierce, was called away. She will be back very soon, but I offered to present this for her, so I will just read her statement into the record if that is fine with you.
One of the more profoundly moving experiences of my life, occurring following September 11, 2001, as my colleagues all know, the tourist economy that our state depends on, came to an immediate halt. Between 15,000 and 20,000 hotel workers lost their jobs, literally overnight. Many people, agencies, and organizations came together to mount a relief effort, all headquartered under one roof at the culinary union. The best in people truly came out. We had hundreds of volunteers who literally worked day and night to help our fellow workers, neighbors, and friends who were all in need. Truly the saddest part of the relief effort was to see unemployed workers turned away from the food stamp registration table.
Several years ago Congress decided that legal immigrants, and I do stress legal immigrants, cannot qualify for food stamps. I got to see firsthand the value of U.S. citizenship in the most practical way possible. Nevada could not exist if it were not for immigrant labor; yet many immigrants remain on the margins of our society. They work very hard, pay taxes, and follow the laws. Their kids make up a large percentage of the Clark County School system, yet they cannot vote for the school board nor have a direct voice in their own children’s future because they are not citizens and they cannot vote.
The citizenship project is a nonprofit organization that assists immigrants to become U.S. citizens. Again I am stressing legal immigrants to you. You must be a permanent, legal resident of the U.S. to apply for citizenship. The citizenship project gives legal immigrants the tools they need to become a U.S. citizen. From the application process to the teaching of English, Civics, American History, the Citizenship Project gives those hardworking members of our community the tools they need to become U.S. citizens and achieve their American dream. With that, I would like to introduce to you, Reverend Phil Carolin, Executive Director of the Citizenship Project.
[Senator Carlton explained she needed to attend another Committee meeting, but would be happy to return to answer questions.]
Chairwoman Chowning:
There are other people who can answer technical questions about the bill?
Senator Maggie Carlton:
Yes. If you noticed on this bill, all the members of the Senate Transportation Committee are cosponsors on this meritorious piece of legislation.
Reverend Phil Carolin, Executive Director of the Citizenship Project, Las Vegas:
I am Father Phil Carolin; I’m on the Bishop’s staff of the Episcopal Diocese in Nevada.
Julia Van Weydeveldt, Private Citizen, Las Vegas:
[Introduced herself.] I’m from Morocco, Casablanca. I am happy to be here to support the license plates.
Reverend Phil Carolin:
She is one of our newest U.S. citizens.
Maria D. Mejia, Private Citizen, Las Vegas Nevada:
[Introduced herself.] I am originally from Mexico City. I’m here to support this because this program helped me so much. They helped me to build confidence, and to continue my studies in this country. Now I am going to study more English and earn my degree. I am a very proud American citizen.
Reverend Phil Carolin:
Thank you for the opportunity to come here. I have prepared some very brief remarks in support of the bill before you, and I have prepared some handouts that would make the presentation even briefer (Exhibit D). I would like to present the immigrant worker’s Citizenship Project in a quick “who, what, why, when, how” format. Hopefully, it will provide you with a clear picture of our program.
Simply stated, the Citizenship Project serves the legal immigrant community, a community of not less than 120,000 legal immigrants in Clark County alone, by providing free naturalization services to achieve U.S. citizenship. Legal immigrants, to become citizens, must be holders of a green card or a registration card for not less than five years. Naturalization services include helping our clients to fill out the ten-page application, to assemble the documentation, to enroll in our English and Civics classes, and to prepare for their Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) interview.
[Reverend Carolin continued.] Our nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization opened its doors 18 months ago on October 1, 2001, and has already demonstrated some impressive results. Nearly 1,000 ten-page applications with documentation have been submitted to the INS in the process, which includes fingerprinting and a background check. From the time of submittal to the testing and interview, it typically takes from 8 to 12 months. Yet, over 250 of our earliest clients, like Julia and Maria, have already gone through the process and the ceremony and have become U.S. citizens. A lengthy application, a test in civics, and an interview account for barriers to citizenship. Until our arrival, the immigrant population was too often abused when the unscrupulous have charged outrageous fees for filling out the application. They often abandon their clientele to face a test given in English, oral and written, on the United States Constitution and other matters, with no preparation. They condemned them to failure, and of course, the loss of their application fee of $310.
Today, this project has handled over 10,000 telephone and drop-in inquiries. We know the barriers, both real and imagined, to citizenship. We charge no fees for our services. We are a staff of 6, including 2 teachers, 3 citizenship specialists, and myself. We guide the legal immigrants through the application and document process, we stay with them in our classes, and then when they are ready, we conduct mock interviews. Our staff and volunteers have now served illegal immigrants from 57 nations. One of the handouts I prepared for this meeting (Exhibit D) has this list of countries and the number of people served.
Let me conclude this brief presentation through a very personal perspective, aimed at completing this picture, this “who, what where, when, why, and how.” Since the 1960s I have been deeply involved in refugee and immigrant matters, and deeply conscious of the United States as a land of immigrants. Today’s statistics certainly bear this out. Over 11 percent of the U.S. population, roughly 32 million people, are foreign born. Recently from 1995 to 1999, I brought in 450 Bosnian refugees to Las Vegas. My resettlement task was clear, “Help them to help themselves” with food clothing, shelter, transportation, medical, and all else, by concentrating on one matter:securing employment.
[Reverend Carolin continued.] I need to quickly inject here, since I am wearing a collar today, that there is no mention of religion today, or in fact, during the last 40 years, since we are talking about the American philosophy of giving everyone full dignity, certainly the goal of all spirituality. The employment rate for my refugees is 100 percent, but these legal immigrants will not be fully empowered until they are U.S. citizens with the full rights, privileges, and protection of this great land. This employment effort concentrated on the hotel industry that put me in even greater touch with the immigrant community, as nearly all my refugees were trained by the culinary academy, a tuition-free school run by management and labor.
This Citizenship Project formed itself in 2001. When the Culinary Union and another heavily populated immigrant organization united, we obtained $200,000 from Clark County. We leased the building in downtown Las Vegas at Sixth and Clark, hired a staff, trained volunteers, and sought additional dollars from all sources. Raising money has been our major problem. The project is labor intensive and calls for a monthly budget of $26,000. However, with some unique arrangements, some pro bono professional help, volunteers, and a lot of sacrifices, we are currently fully functional on less than half of this budget. As you know, foundations have taken heavy losses in their portfolios. Governments have revenue shortfalls, and other sources are contributing less. We have been able to secure some donations in the $5,000 to $10,000 category. Recently Park Place Entertainment handed us a check for $25,000. We need help for the population of legal immigrants, which is very large, and we have just begun. We want to serve all of Nevada. Thank you for giving us this opportunity.
Chairwoman Chowning:
I think the members of the Committee, along with myself, would like to thank you, because all of the work and commitment you are showing comes through loud and clear. Not only are the people you are serving grateful, but we are, too. The number of countries that you have helped is 57. The largest number is from Mexico. That brings me to my question. In the bill it says that the design must include a depiction of the Aztec calendar. Is that something that you think is an item of stability in the bill, or would you think that possibly something that would depict all of the countries would be acceptable?
Reverend Carolin:
First of all, it is not our logo. Our logo is a representation of our colors done in a bright sun and red, white, and blue. I came up with this logo simply because the vast majority of the legal immigrants are Mexican-Americans. Everywhere you go in Mexico you see that Aztec calendar. It is on key chains; it is in every souvenir store. It is here, there, and everywhere. I could grab something that I could market very quickly and provide a lot of revenue. We have worked very hard on getting this out to every existing immigrant community that we can touch within the county. It is not going to change our outreach; it is simply a highly marketable license plate. have gone into every major gaming corporation. I’ve gone everywhere. It has never been hard for me to raise money. It is just a different atmosphere.
Chairwoman Chowning:
It never has been before, but it is now. Is that what you are saying?
Reverend Carolin:
People are very supportive, but everyone is crying poor-mouth, and many with substantial reasons.
Chairwoman Chowning:
I have one more question, and then I am sure members of the Committee do. Is each of the persons that take this class charged $310?
Reverend Carolin:
No, the $310 is the cost of the immigration filing; $260 is for filing, and $50 is for the fingerprints.
Chairwoman Chowning:
So the applicant does pay that?
Reverend Carolin:
Yes, Maria paid it. It is also another barrier. We have probably had 400 to 700 people who wanted to fill out the application, but they could not come up with $310.
Chairwoman Chowning:
So the money that is raised from the license plate would be $25,000, and then it would increase with the additional sale of the license plates. Could you just tell us what those funds would be used for?
Reverend Carolin:
Salaries, benefits, operational costs, and heavy equipment costs. To make us more efficient, we have computerized this with INS forms and INS permission.
Julia VanWeydeveldt:
It took me a long time to become an American citizen. Thanks to this organization that helped me a lot with the forms and learning the history, they gave me the confidence and the dream that I always wanted to achieve. I am a registered nurse, and thanks to them I am able to continue right now. I am so happy and proud to be an American citizen. Without this organization, I would not be here right now. I have sent a lot of people I know, who were having a hard time becoming an American citizen or with speaking English, to this organization. Indeed they came, and they all got the help they needed. I helped one person go to their interview, and I was so proud. Some of these people have taken their GED, and they are very happy. I thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity.
Chairwoman Chowning:
We are proud of you too. After all, people can lead you there, but you are the one who has to do the work. Congratulations. How many months did it take you from beginning to end?
Julia VanWeydeveldt:
When I received the letter, they said it could take a year; however, it took less time than that. I was able to get all the help I needed. I was very nervous, but I went to the interview so comfortable. I am so happy.
Chairwoman Chowning:
Maria, did you want to say something else to us?
Maria D. Mejia:
Yes. Thank you for this program. I am an American citizen now, and they helped me so much. I am learning more English and now I want to help my co- workers, because I am motivated to help them. This program took me nine months. It is very fast, and that is why I am very happy.
Assemblywoman Ohrenschall:
I just want to congratulate all of you for your hard work and your efforts. As the daughter of an immigrant who saw her mother go through everything that you have gone through, it seems to me that you are doing fantastic work, especially with the emphasis that you are giving on total assimilation into our culture and our economy. It is so important for somebody to be able to keep his or her self-respect and to become a full, functioning member of our society. Congratulations to all of you. Keep up the good work.
Assemblyman Knecht:
I just want to say, “Welcome here.” We are glad you are here. You make us proud to be Americans. Rev. Carolin, you are doing noble work.
Chairwoman Chowning:
[There were no further questions or discussion.] Thank you very much. The project that you are undertaking, and the people that you are helping, and what they are accomplishing on their own is absolutely extraordinary. The hearing on A.B. 207 is closed. The hearing on A.B. 115 is open.
Assembly Bill 115: Provides for issuance of special license plates indicating support for rights guaranteed pursuant to Second Amendment to United States Constitution. (BDR 43-52)
Assemblyman Gustavson,District No. 30, Washoe County:
[Introduced himself.] In a nation governed by the people themselves, possession of arms to defend the nation was deemed absolutely necessary. This right is protected by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. A gun was an everyday implement in early American society. An author of the Constitution, Thomas Jefferson, recommended its use. The right of the people to keep and bear arms is enshrined in the Bill of Rights on equal footing as the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and trial by jury. Under the Nevada Constitution, Article 1, Section 11, “Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes.”
This license plate is being proposed not only to allow the many sportsmen and sportswomen to show their support for the Second Amendment, but also more importantly, to raise money for the scholarship fund for tuition, fees, and expenses of a dependent child of a law enforcement officer or other emergency personnel killed in the line of duty. I do have an amendment to the bill to that effect (Exhibit E). See page 2, line 35 to line 39. The amendment changes what is said to read, “to require the fundraising money to be deposited in the Trust Fund for the Education of Dependent Children created pursuant to NRS 396.545, which is a University of Nevada scholarship fund for tuition fees and expenses of a dependent child of a law enforcement officer or other emergency personnel killed in the line of duty.”
You also should have received a letter from Carolyn Herbertson from the National Rifle Association (NRA), which was sent to Chairwoman Chowning and to myself in support of the bill (Exhibit F).
Chairwoman Chowning:
So the bill is not different from any other special license plate bill except that you are amending where the funds would go.
Assemblyman Gustavson:
It doesn’t say exactly what the design would be in there, as it is left open to the department which is considering the possibility of having a contest to come up with the best design. The plate I sent around was one that I had asked my son to design on a computer. My idea was to use a dark blue background with white lettering, and to have “Battle Born” to represent Nevada, but we are open to any and all suggestions.
Chairwoman Chowning:
Is there anything in particular in here that says “Battle Born” must be on the license plate?
Assemblyman Gustavson:
No, it doesn’t.
Chairwoman Chowning:
The $25,000 that would be raised right away would go directly into this scholarship fund? [Mr. Gustavson answered affirmatively. The Chairwoman invited others to come forward to testify on behalf of A.B. 115.]
Rick Bennett, Director of Government Relations, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV):
I am here today to speak on behalf of Dr. Jane Nichols, Chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada. We are here to speak specifically to the amendment, which would deposit funds raised from this license plate to the trust fund for the education of dependant children. We support that amendment. If you have any questions specific to that trust fund, I will try to answer them or I will get the information for you.
Chairwoman Chowning:
For how many years has this trust fund been in place?
Rick Bennett:
I will get that information for you. I’m assuming it has been in place for a while, because it makes reference to the University of Nevada Scholarship fund, when in fact we are no longer referred to in that fashion. The NRS 396.545 actually makes reference to the Board of Regents, administering that trust fund.
Chairwoman Chowning:
We would like to know how many years this trust fund has been in place, and possibly how many children have been able to benefit from this scholarship program.
Rick Bennett:
I have asked for information related to how many people have accessed or used that fund, as well as how much money might be in that fund currently, but I just made that request a couple of hours ago. I have not received the information yet. One other thing that did come to mind, the current statute makes reference to the State Treasurer actually receiving the money, depositing it with other state funds, and investing it, and it makes reference to all interest income earned being credited to the trust fund. I believe with the license plate that is specific to UNLV, the part of the money that is generated from that goes into a scholarship fund as part of the Alumni Association. I believe we have actually tried to create an endowment fund, so we don’t actually spend all the income that comes in each year, but [rather] save a portion of that so it is endowed and will go on for many years to come.
Chairwoman Chowning:
We would ask that you work with the sponsor of the bill.
Paul Grace, Legislative Advocate, Nevada State Rifle Association, Reno:
[Introduced himself.] I represent over 2,700 members of the Nevada State Rifle and Pistol Association. We strongly support anything involving the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Quite a number of our members have already expressed interest and are lining up to get plate number one. Quite a few of our members have expressed interest [although] I was unable to get anyone to break work to come to the Las Vegas room to testify. We would probably [want input] regarding what the plate should look like. We are very much in favor of A.B. 115, and a large number of our people want a plate.
Ron Dreher, President, Peace Officers Research Association of Nevada (P.O.R.A.N.):
We stand in support of A.B 115 with those amendments because the proceeds do go to benefit the children through the scholarship programs of our fallen officers.
Chairwoman Chowning:
[There were no further questions.] Ms. Barnes, would you make your blanket statement on all three of the bills that we have heard today?
Martha Barnes, Administrator of Central Services and Records Division, Department of Motor Vehicles
The Department has submitted a fiscal note for all three of these bills in the amount of $15,707. Appropriations are not requested due to the revolving account previously established to cover expenses with the production of a new plate. I would also like to have an amendment for A.B. 115, to add language to section 1, subsection 2: “The department will determine whether the license plate can be manufactured for other types of vehicles, following the approval of the final design. If special dyes are needed to produce the plate for other vehicle types, the cost of the dye and the modifications necessary for the issuance of a license plate pursuant to this section, must be paid for from private sources without any expense to the state of Nevada.”
Chairwoman Vonne Chowning:
You only need to add that amendment to A.B. 115 and not to the others?
Martha Barnes:
Yes, that is what was requested by the sponsor.
Chairwoman Chowning:
Is this a DMV amendment or a sponsor amendment?
Assemblyman Gustavson:
This is a sponsor amendment. I neglected to bring that up, but I knew she would.
Chairwoman Chowning:
So DMV agrees with that? [Ms. Barnes indicated the affirmative. There were no questions. A copy of the amendment was provided (Exhibit G).]
We will close the hearing on A.B. 115 and we will open our work session on A.B. 77.
Assembly Bill 77: Authorizes certain inserts in tail lamps on motorcycles. (BDR 43-220)
Chairwoman Chowning:
I am sure everybody remembers this bill. There have been two states that have passed such a measure, Minnesota and Washington. This bill allows a blue light of no larger than one-inch in diameter to be a part of the taillight of a motorcycle. There is one amendment that you can see on [the first page of] your work session document (Exhibit H) that would delete “or purple” because there is no such item, so it does not make any sense to have it in the bill.
If you look in tab A, there were letters of support from the Washoe County Sheriff, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the Nevada Sheriff’s and Chief’s Association. In tab B there was one letter of opposition from the Department of Public Safety, Nevada Highway Patrol. I find it very disappointing that the Nevada Highway Patrol did not appear here personally in front of the Committee to voice their opposition. The Highway Patrol Association stated that they had not had any communication, and they were under the assumption that there was no opposition. Their members stated they were in support. The Chair will accept a motion.
ASSEMBLYMAN SHERER MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS A.B. 77
ASSEMBLYMAN CARPENTER SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairwoman Chowning:
Are there any other items that need to be brought to the Committee? There are none. [Chairwoman Chowning adjourned the meeting at 2:41 p.m.]
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Nancy Elder
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning, Chairwoman
DATE: