MINUTES OF THE meeting
of the
ASSEMBLY Committee on Ways and Means
Seventy-Second Session
March 27, 2003
The Committee on Ways and Meanswas called to order at 8:09 a.m., on Thursday, March 27, 2003. Chairman Morse Arberry Jr. presided in Room 3137 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, 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.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mr. Morse Arberry Jr., Chairman
Ms. Chris Giunchigliani, Vice Chairwoman
Mr. Walter Andonov
Mr. Bob Beers
Mrs. Vonne Chowning
Mrs. Dawn Gibbons
Mr. David Goldwater
Mr. Josh Griffin
Mr. Lynn Hettrick
Ms. Sheila Leslie
Mr. John Marvel
Ms. Kathy McClain
Mr. David Parks
Mr. Richard Perkins
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:
Assemblyman Tom Collins, District No. 1
Assemblyman Joseph Hardy, District No. 20
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mark Stevens, Assembly Fiscal Analyst
Steve Abba, Principal Deputy Fiscal Analyst
Anne Bowen, Committee Secretary
Connie Davis, Committee Secretary
Assembly Bill 276: Makes appropriation for design of fencing for that portion of State Route 159 from Blue Diamond turnoff to northeast corner of Red Rock Canyon Park. (BDR S-82)
Assemblyman Tom Collins, District No. 1, Clark County, appeared in support of A.B. 276, which was an appropriation of up to $130,000 for a project in southern Nevada. Mr. Collins stated the fencing project had been implemented in other parts of southern Nevada, for example, between Utah and Panaca, Nevada. That project was a coordinated effort to install a fence to protect automobile drivers as well as livestock. Mr. Collins stated that anyone familiar with the Blue Diamond turnoff in the Red Rock Canyon Park area was aware there had been a highway there for a long time. In the past, State Route 159 had a speed limit of approximately 45 miles per hour; a few years ago the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) had increased the speed limit to 65 miles per hour. Since that increase in the speed limit, there had been more accidents involving both cars and livestock. The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) had a vacancy of approximately 40 troopers, which prevented them from patrolling the area with any frequency. Mr. Collins commented that he did not know why the NHP patrolled County Road 215 and not State Route 159, nor why the NDOT increased the speed limit to 65 miles per hour.
Mr. Collins stated that he had spoken with Jackie Crawford, Director, Department of Corrections, and representatives of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in southern Nevada. A coordinated effort between the NDOT doing the survey location and supervision of fencing, the BLM providing the fencing materials, and the honor camp inmates from the Department of Corrections doing most of the work, could make this an effective project that would save lives. This had been a serious problem that needed to be corrected, and fencing along portions of that property would benefit the area. Mr. Collins urged the Committee to appropriate the funds necessary to implement the project.
Catherine Barcomb, Administrator, Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses, testified in favor of A.B. 276. Ms. Barcomb stated that the Commission had held hearings with the NDOT and interested parties for years regarding the problem on Route 159. People in Las Vegas purchased loaves of bread to feed the burros along the highway, which drew the burros to the highway because it was an easy way to get food. People attempted to put their children on the burro’s backs for pictures. The result of enticing the burros to the highway had been increased numbers of accidents. Ms. Barcomb said the increased speed limit, as well as the urban sprawl, had been contributing to the dangerous situation and urged passage of A.B. 276.
With no further testimony forthcoming regarding A.B. 276, Chairman Arberry closed the hearing and opened the hearing on A.B. 327.
Assembly Bill 327: Makes appropriations for certain educational programs relating to language arts. (BDR S-900)
Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning, District No. 28, Clark County, spoke in support of A.B. 327. Mrs. Chowning stated that she was a former schoolteacher, education was extremely important in her life, as in all lives, and she brought two requests before the Committee. The first request was for an appropriation of $200,000 for support of a program in effect in the Clark County School District only. It was hoped that this program would become statewide because it was doing magnificent things for parents and their children. The program was an adult family literacy project called the Success Through English Program (STEP). Mrs. Chowning said “the lives that were being touched and the success that was already taking place for the families was phenomenal.” Adults were learning English, students in school were receiving help with their homework, and employment guidance was available.
Mrs. Chowning introduced Priscilla Rocha, who would provide further testimony, and stated that she would address the second request at a later time.
Mrs. Chowning continued by stating that she had first met Priscilla Rocha when Ms. Rocha was a fourth grade teacher, and was amazed at all the good that she had been able to accomplish in the community. Mrs. Chowning said, “Priscilla was absolutely a ‘firecracker.’ She was filled with energy. If I could have half of the energy she had I would be happy. Her dedication and expertise is phenomenal and I always demand accountability. I would not be bringing either of these projects to you if I did not demand an accountability report. At this time I will turn this over to Priscilla, who has been one of our State School Board members and she is now a Clark County School Board member. Whatever she touches you can guarantee that the accountability will be there.”
Priscilla Rocha thanked the Committee for the opportunity to testify about the Success Through English Program. The STEP was a district-wide program with seven adult English as a Second Language (ESL) sites, which began every 12 weeks. The students were pretested and posttested before being placed at their level of English. Ms. Rocha stated that as a former classroom teacher, she had decided to become involved in helping the parents because the parents were always removing their children from the classroom to translate for them. The STEP taught the student at literacy levels for grades one through four. Ms. Rocha said the most exciting part of the program was that when the student completed level four, there were two counselors who worked with the student and an adult student profile was compiled. Many of the students wanted to continue their education and would take advanced Teachers of English as a Second Language (TESL) courses at Desert Rose Adult High School. Those students had also begun working on high school proficiency and some of the students had indicated they would like to go to college as well. Ms. Rocha stated there were students from different countries who already had a career in a specific area, and once the students had learned English, the program would evaluate their transcripts to determine if they wanted to go to college to continue their chosen career. The project had been selected by the United States Department of Education to participate in a study to select the national model. Currently, there were 1,200 students attending classes at 7 school sites, and 15 school sites were waiting until funding was available for program services. Once this project was up and running, the United States Department of Education would fund $500 per student in the program. The teachers that worked with the project were all Clark County School District ESL endorsed teachers.
Ms. Rocha noted that a unique component of this program was the Homework/Tutorial Center. Young students, attending first through fourth grades, came to school with their parents. While their parents were in class learning English, the students were in another classroom working on homework assignments and receiving tutoring in reading, writing, and math. The parents were now able to communicate with the teachers during parent-teacher conferences and the parents were involved in the education of their children. The students in the Homework/Tutorial component of the program had shown academic advancement with fewer problems in the classroom. The majority of students participating in the STEP were casino workers who wanted to get ahead and climb the career ladder and the program wanted to give them that opportunity. Ms. Rocha told the Committee that there would be accountability for any funding provided by the Legislature.
Ms. Giunchigliani asked how the project was currently funded. Ms. Rocha responded that the project was funded through grants. Ms. Giunchigliani asked if the grants were from the federal government or local government. Ms. Rocha stated that the grants were from the federal government. Ms. Giunchigliani asked if the STEP received any local grants. Ms. Rocha responded that the project received Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Ms. Giunchigliani requested a list of the dollar amounts the program was currently receiving.
Mrs. Chowning testified in support of the second half of A.B. 327 by stating that she took great care and pride in bringing before the Committee only projects that would do the most good for communities. The second part of A.B. 327 was the request for funds for the Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada, and Great Basin Writing Projects. When the Education Reform Act was passed, the Legislature had promised that there would be funding to follow for teacher training and teacher development. Mrs. Chowning introduced Joan Taylor to explain the past successes of the National Writing Project and what the requested funding would mean to the future of both teachers and students.
Joan Taylor, Director, Nevada State Network’s Writing Project, stated that Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada, and Great Basin Writing Projects were 3 of more than 160 National Writing Project sites in the United States that worked to:
· Improve students’ written abilities by improving the teaching and learning of writing in the nation’s schools
· Provide professional development programs for classroom teachers
· Expand the professional roles of teachers
· Work in partnership with local universities
The National Writing Project operated on a “teachers-teaching-teachers” model. Successful K-16 writing teachers attended Invitational Summer Institutes at their local universities. During the school year those teachers provided professional opportunities for other teachers in the schools.
Ms. Taylor stated that over the past 20 years, the Northern Nevada Writing Project and the Southern Nevada Writing Project had been recognized as exemplary National Writing Project sites. They had established more than 600 teacher consultants in Nevada schools. Working in partnership with the University of Nevada System in Las Vegas, Reno, and Elko, those teachers had, at a grassroots level, sought and effected change in writing instruction and assessment in Nevada’s schools. An independent research company, Inverness Research Associates, evaluated the Writing Project work annually. Exhibit C, “State Totals and Averages Including Individual Site Data,” and Exhibit D, “Clark County School District STEP Adult Family Literacy Project Description” were provided to the Committee. The latest evaluation report from 2000 indicated that Nevada National Writing Project (NWP) sites provided 86 programs to 2,843 participants for a total of 46,624 contact hours. Ms. Taylor said this amounted to under $2 in state spending per student for excellent teacher training at a remarkably low investment.
Ms. Taylor continued and said the sites had been operating under the same budget since 1984, except for additional funding received from the 1999 session. State funding was leveraged with federal funding and one of the dilemmas had been not receiving enough state funds to be able to request matching federal funds.
Ms. Taylor said the state network had pledged to work together in an effort aimed at improving the writing proficiency of English Language Learner (ELL) students. There had been an opportunity to apply for federal funds and the goal was that all Nevada students would pass the high school writing proficiency examination. Of the 85 percent of students that passed the examination, few were ELL students. The 15 percent that could not pass the writing proficiency examination were ELL and special education students. The objective of the state network was to procure federal funds to match state funds in order to assist the students that had been unable to pass the writing proficiency examination.
Ms. Taylor stated that three teacher-consultants and three students wished to testify on behalf of A.B. 327.
Ms. Giunchigliani asked why the project was not part of the Regional Professional Development Program (RPDP) since that seemed to be the direction in which everyone was moving.
Ms. Taylor responded that the RPDP had built their leadership on the premise of the Writing Projects. The Nevada Writing Project could not procure federal funds through the RPDP as only Writing Project sites could receive leveraged money.
Ms. Giunchigliani stated she believed the Writing Project could segregate the dollar amount even though the RPDP did not really have a physical site. Ms. Taylor stated that could be done except for the fact that the National Writing Project owned each of their three sites and did not typically say “you can be part of another site and you can write to us for grant money.” When a site wrote a grant, it was written as the Northern Nevada Writing Project to the National Writing Project as the federal money was in the National Writing Project. Ms. Giunchigliani acknowledged that fact but believed it could be segregated or categorized in a budget to show where the dollars went, that the dollars were not subsidizing anything else, or supplanting any dollars. She speculated that there could be some other revenue stream through the RPDP, separate from federal grants. Ms. Taylor stated that the Writing Project funds actually went through the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN). One of the dilemmas of that partnership had been that a lot of the training was accomplished in the summer, and when the budget cuts had been proposed, the Writing Project funds had been cut. The UCCSN had not been able to touch the federal funds received for the Writing Project, because state funds had been eliminated.
Mrs. Chowning commented that there was an amendment to A.B. 327 because the Great Basin Writing Project had inadvertently been left out of the original bill.
Nancy Remington, Great Basin Writing Project, said that she wanted to address Ms. Giunchigliani’s question more specifically. She stated that she was involved with both the Great Basin Writing Project and the Regional Professional Development Program (RPDP). Each Writing Project site had a director, and the directors were all coordinators for the RPDP, so there was a definite partnership between the two programs. RPDP funds were also used in the Writing Project’s budgets. The match in funds that was shown had been in-kind funds from school districts, the RPDP, and the colleges and universities that were the host institutions.
Cindy Sharp, English, Social Studies, and Fine Arts Consultant, Nevada Department of Education, and Consultant with the Nevada Writing Project, testified in favor of A.B. 327. Ms. Sharp stated that as a classroom teacher for 20 years, the impact that the Writing Project had on her was incredible, and the skills that she had learned were used everyday at the Department of Education.
Jessica Barlow Daniels, National Board Certified Teacher, Carson Middle School, Carson City, Nevada, testified in favor of A.B. 327. Ms. Daniels stated that in 1999 the Disney Corporation had recognized the writing techniques she used in her classroom. When educators across the country had asked her what she considered the best professional development that she had ever received, her reply had been the Nevada Writing Project. In today’s educational arena and the “No Child Left Behind” project, teacher quality and student accomplishments had not only become big business, but they were everybody’s business. Ms. Daniels stated that as a master teacher, she could easily say that the Writing Project not only fed her spirit, it soothed her teaching soul, rekindled hopes, and illuminated the magic of teaching. It facilitated the finest and the most authentic, measurable student achievement. The Writing Project recognized that each teacher had the energetic exuberance of a kindergartner, the inspirational wisdom of a prophet, and the writing finesse of Faulkner, Hemingway, and J. K. Rowling, all rolled into one. The best part was that the project taught the teacher how to demonstrate all those natural abilities in one simple, 20-minute lesson. Ms. Daniels deferred to her students for a demonstration of the lessons of the Writing Project in action.
Shepherd Darquea, Brooks Greenlee, and Jennifer Adams, students at Carson Middle School, introduced themselves.
Miss Adams stated she would share a very simple writing project format that allowed students to express their feelings and read a poem she had written using that format.
FREEDOM
Freedom is the color of clear, crystalline blue Nevada skies in the sweet sunny month of May.
Freedom sounds like the beautiful, yet mysterious howl of a native pack of gray wolves gathering for an evening hunt.
Freedom tastes like the fresh country air in the rich pine forests, the spice of Pinion and Jeffrey casting the zest of the forest throughout our country.
Freedom smells like the calm, quiet American neighborhood, cut grass, cooking and flowers, the scent dripping into the chilly autumn streets strewn with leaves.
Freedom looks like an eagle in all its serene, splendid majesty, soaring over America’s mountains, forests and meadows.
Freedom makes us feel like the true Americans we are, but Freedom does not come without a price.
“A Rappin’ Rhyme for the Almighty Dime,” written and performed by Shepherd Darquea and Brooks Greenlee, was presented to the Committee.
With no further testimony forthcoming regarding A.B. 327, Chairman Arberry closed the hearing and opened the hearing on A.B. 404.
Assembly Bill 404: Makes appropriations to increase access to obstetrical and gynecological services. (BDR S-812)
Steven C. Hansen, Chief Executive Officer, Nevada Health Centers, Inc., testified in favor of A.B. 404. Mr. Hansen stated that Nevada Health Centers, Inc., was a nonprofit, federally qualified health center with the mission of serving underserved populations of Nevada. Nevada Health Centers, Inc. operated 14 clinics in Nevada that saw patients without regard to their ability to pay. Nine of the clinics were in the rural areas, one in Carson City, and four in the Las Vegas area. Funding sources were one-third federal grant, one-third patient revenue, and one-third county contracts or local contributions. Mr. Hansen said that he was before the Committee to talk about increasing the ability of his organization to provide obstetrical services in the Las Vegas area, to build capacity within their system, and to increase the number of women that received needed obstetrical services. Because Nevada Health Centers, Inc. was a federally qualified health center, it was covered under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which allowed the organization the privilege of not being required to pay for liability insurance. This made the Nevada Health Centers, Inc. exempt from some of the problems being experienced by other obstetrical providers in the Clark County area.
Mr. Hansen stated the second section of A.B. 404 would allow Nevada Health Centers, Inc. to recruit medical professionals to serve in the organization.
Carl Heard, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Nevada Health Centers, Inc., described the obstetrical services crisis in Clark County. Dr. Heard stated that 3 years ago there had been approximately 22,000 deliveries of babies in Clark County, and that rate seemed to have been growing at a rate of about 9 percent per year. Before the malpractice crisis there were just over 100 physicians delivering babies at that time. According to the Nevada State Medical Association, since the malpractice crisis began, there had been upwards of 30 physicians who had retired from the practice of obstetrics. Dr. Heard stated that while he believed that current efforts to solve the malpractice insurance crisis were well intentioned, his best understanding was that it would take between five and seven years to reach the desired effect. Expectant mothers were presently having a difficult time finding physicians to attend to them during the prenatal phase and deliver their babies. Mothers who received prenatal care late in a pregnancy had been clearly linked to the high risk of low birth weights in babies. Low birth weights presented a high risk of a child having developmental disabilities or other complications in the immediate time after birth. In 2001, before the malpractice crisis, Nevada had over twice the national average of women delivering babies without having received prenatal care. In 2002, Nevada was ranked 48th in the nation for access to prenatal care, and it could be assumed that in the next year or so, Nevada would be ranked right at the bottom. In 2001, numbers indicated that only 68.9 percent of women in Clark County received prenatal care beginning in the first trimester.
Dr. Heard said that A.B. 404, if funded as proposed, would allow Nevada Health Centers, Inc. to hire two obstetricians and two nurse-midwives. It was not uncommon for community health centers to have obstetrical care included in their scope of practice, and it was not uncommon that obstetrical care, due to a high probability of some type of funding being available for a child’s delivery, would grow beyond the scope of two obstetricians and two nurse-midwives. Dr. Heard stated that A.B. 404 would create a self-sustaining obstetrical program capable of delivering up to 1,000 expectant mothers’ babies and would enhance a proven program, with 26 years of success in this state, in delivering services to the underserved. It would also further leverage the organization’s ability to acquire federal money and private contributions to the program and encourage the organization’s relationship with “for profit” entities, including private physicians and private hospitals.
Dr. Heard stated the Nevada Health Centers, Inc., had three years of success in Clark County in building services, and in particular, in building some elements of the obstetrical safety network that was needed there. Currently, as a family practice-based program, obstetrical patients were seen up to 35 weeks and then were transferred to a private physician’s group, which provided obstetricians that delivered the babies. Unfortunately, their capacity had been exceeded many months ago and Nevada Health Centers, Inc. had been seeing pregnant women who did not have the ability to establish with an obstetrician.
Dr. Heard stated that Nevada Health Centers, Inc. would continue to build upon existing clinical sites and services. None of the requested funds would be used for simple overhead improvement; it was start-up money to be used for the hiring of professionals and the purchase of necessary equipment. The program would be specifically focused on continuing to develop the Cambridge Family Health Center, and there was a healthy cooperative relationship with Clark County. The Nevada Health Centers, Inc. was looking forward to assuming more space at the Cambridge Family Health Center, which would allow more obstetrical care to be provided.
Assemblywoman Leslie asked what the average salary was for an obstetrician in Nevada.
Dr. Heard stated that Nevada Health Centers, Inc. had done a regional salary comparison and discovered that the base salary for an obstetrician was approximately $160,000 to $180,000 per year.
Ms. Leslie stated that she had saved an article that had been published in the Reno Gazette-Journal recently, listing the ten top paying occupations in the country. The article had stated that obstetricians were tied for first place with anesthesiologists and surgeons, at $145,600 per year, making Nevada base salaries quite a bit higher than the national average. Ms. Leslie said her concern was why doctors should be helped to repay their student loans if nurses were not going to be helped as well, since Nevada was already 50th in the nation in terms of availability of nurses.
Dr. Heard stated the concept was that Nevada was woefully understaffed with medical professionals for a variety of reasons, one of which was the ability to entice them economically. That had been the intent of incentive programs, such as this one.
Ms. Leslie stated that she was on the Health and Human Services Committee and was well aware of all the reasons that Nevada had been unable to attract medical professionals. She wanted to go on record that she had a concern that Nevada was subsidizing one of the most highly paid professions in the nation.
Caroline Ford, M.P.H., Assistant Dean/Director, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Center for Education and Health Services Outreach, testified in favor of A.B. 404. Ms. Ford informed the Committee that the School of Medicine had been operating a rural obstetrical access program for the past six years with General Fund money. One of the experiences in trying to supply practitioners for underserved areas in rural Nevada had been the recruitment of those practitioners. Recruitment in an area like Fallon, which was not only rural but had the leukemia cluster as well, was virtually impossible. Some type of incentive program aided recruitment and retention.
Ms. Ford stated she would like to comment on some proposed technical amendments to A.B. 404. Exhibit E, Proposed Amendments to A.B. 404, was submitted to the Committee. Currently, statutes allowed only physicians to be eligible for loans through the program. There had been attempts at changing the statute in past legislative sessions. Ms. Ford said the proposed amendments would remove the term “physician(s)” and replace it with “practitioner(s).” In this manner obstetrical nurse-midwives, obstetrical nurse practitioners, and physician assistants could be included in the loan repayment incentive program. Another amendment to A.B. 404 was the removal of the specific money component. In 1989, when NRS 396.900 was crafted, the average debt load of medical school graduates was $22,500. The average debt load of physicians currently coming into the program averaged from $150,000 to $250,000. Ms. Ford stated that many other health professionals would like to join the Nevada Health Services Corps, but were prevented from doing so because of the wording of NRS 396.900. If the program were opened to practitioners, the Nevada Health Service Corps would determine the highest priority need for health care professionals, on an annual basis, and allow those individuals to come into the program. In Nevada, participants were bound contractually for 18 months, they were required to serve those unable to pay, and they were required to accept Medicare and Medicaid, Part B, on assignment.
Assemblyman Joseph Hardy, District No. 20, Clark County, testified in favor of A.B. 404. Mr. Hardy stated he would be in favor of the amendment suggested by Caroline Ford and commended her and her staff for their hard work. Mr. Hardy provided the following testimony for the record:
I have worn my Noah’s Ark tie today, as I felt it fitting for the occasion. I am here to pitch the bill, much like Noah pitched the Ark, to prevent it from leaking. We have entered a litigious climate, characterized by a precipitation of suits and torrents of torts. These are drowning the hopes of doctors and patients for their survival and safety. The trickle of physicians leaving their stations at the hole in the dike, to mix metaphors, is in danger of becoming a raging river, depleting our reservoirs of care for the citizens of Clark County. It is vital for some babies and their mothers that they are provided a way to float through these storms of adversity, as it was for Noah’s family. I would suggest that we not miss this boat called A.B. 404. Fund the ark of access to care. It is raining.
Ms. Ford stated that Exhibit F, “History of Funding Nevada Health Service Corps,” had been distributed for the Committee’s perusal. If the fiscal note attached to A.B. 404 were approved for the Corps’ part of it, it could be matched, dollar for dollar, with federal money. According to Exhibit F, over the years the Corps had had the ability to bring resources to the program.
Ann Lynch, Sunrise Hospital Medical Center and Sunrise Children’s Hospital, Las Vegas, testified in favor of A.B. 404. Ms. Lynch stated that the “for profit” medical community had been strongly supporting A.B. 404 financially, and with advice and cooperation. Ms. Lynch said it had already been agreed that if A.B. 404 was funded, Sunrise Hospital Medical Center would be more than happy to work with the obstetric program just as they were working with the “Baby Your Baby” program. In Clark County, Sunrise Hospital Medical Center and Channel 3 were the sole sponsors of the “Baby Your Baby” program, with the exception of the hot line, which was funded by the Legislature. Sunrise Hospital Medical Center had been the first hospital to enlist in the “Baby Your Baby” program and was still the largest provider to the program. The main concern was providing medical access to those who did not have access, and it was becoming more and more difficult as time went on. The hospital provided sliding scale fees for deliveries and for diagnostic materials that were required for prenatal care. Ms. Lynch reiterated that Sunrise Hospital Medical Center was very supportive of A.B. 404 and, if the bill was passed, would continue to expand and provide even more access to women who needed obstetric care.
With no further testimony forthcoming regarding A.B. 404, Chairman Arberry closed the hearing and opened the hearing on A.B. 340.
Assembly Bill 340: Makes appropriation to Douglas County for support of programs that are designed to prevent suicide. (BDR S-778)
Assemblyman Lynn C. Hettrick, District No. 39, Douglas County and portions of Carson City and Washoe County, testified in favor of A.B. 340. Mr. Hettrick stated this was a “short and sweet” bill and everyone remembered the resolution on the Assembly Floor several days ago regarding suicide prevention. Douglas County was one of the most active counties at present in trying to establish a suicide prevention group and become effective in trying to reduce the number of suicides. The Douglas County group had been extremely active by holding multiple meetings. Senator Mark Amodei and Senator Mike McGinness had become a part of the group as well. Mr. Hettrick stated the group needed funding in order to establish a system to prevent suicide. It was impossible to proceed without receiving funding in some way. A.B. 340 was a request for General Funds in the amount of $108,000 to support the suicide prevention program for two years.
Cindy Marchant, Suicide Prevention Network, Gardnerville, Nevada, read the following statement into the record:
I am here today to address A.B. 340 and urge its passing. The road that has led me to this table before you today began with the death of my son, Eric, in 1998. He was 13 years old and had just completed the 7th grade. My son always had a hard time fitting in at school, not only in middle school, but in elementary school as well. The level of bullying intensified once Eric was in middle school as did his pain and sensitivity to what was happening to him. June 22nd, one week after the end of 7th grade, Eric went to the basement of our home and hung himself.
One of the first things my husband and I did was to educate ourselves about suicide to try and understand what happened to our son. We found out that in our school district, kids don’t receive any suicide education until the 9th grade. Unfortunately, this wasn’t good enough for my son. Eric never made it to the 9th grade. It was just a couple weeks after Eric’s death that we heard about the Yellow Ribbon Program, a youth suicide prevention program based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. With the support of the Douglas County School District, we began planning to bring Dale and Darlene Emme, founders of the Yellow Ribbon Program, to Douglas County. Many people came together to make this happen, including Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Juvenile Probation, Family Support Council, Douglas Mental Health, East Fork Fire Department, Douglas County School District, and several local clergy. In February of 1999, Yellow Ribbon presentations were made at three middle schools, one high school, and two evening community events. The presentations were well received. Several young people turned in their Yellow Ribbon cards asking for help. These cards also reached the hands of adults, many using them to ask for help. From February 1999 through August of 2002, we didn’t have any teens lost to suicide. Last August we lost an 18-year-old young man from the Lake. He had recently graduated from Whittell High School.
While our group initially focused on youth suicide, the last three years we have broadened the scope of our prevention efforts to include all age groups and to assist survivors. A year ago we started a Survivors of Suicide support group, one of three in the state. At our first meeting we had 19 people show up. It was overwhelming, to say the least. Last November, we held a QPR training session in Gardnerville. QPR stands for question, persuade, and respond. Approximately 60 people attended and learned about the signs of a suicidal individual and what to do about it. This turnout shows us that people are concerned about the problem of suicide in their community and in this state.
In June 2002, with the guidance of the Partnership of Community Resources, our group became a 501(c)(3) organization, and we are now known as the Suicide Prevention Network of Douglas County. It is the goal of the Suicide Prevention Network (SPN) to provide awareness, education, prevention, and postvention services within our community. It is also a goal of the SPN to assist other communities. The Office of Rural Health in Elko has asked me to be a guest speaker at their upcoming conference called “Safe Kids: a Rural Perspective.” The community of Elko has had three recent youth suicides, all students. They have asked me to address teen suicide and have scheduled a special session for me to explain how our group here in Douglas County came together to reduce suicide deaths and help survivors in our community.
Losing a loved one to suicide is horrific. I am learning to live with the loss of my son but I am not sure I will ever come to terms with how he died. It was my husband who found Eric, probably within just minutes of his hanging. It was my husband who got Eric down and began CPR until the paramedics arrived. It seemed an eternity while doctors worked on Eric trying to revive him, only to be told they were unsuccessful. In our last moments with our son we begged him to wake up. We tried to bargain with God to just give us one more chance. But there were no more chances. I want to spare other families the horror and heartache of losing someone they love to suicide. Thank you.
Ms. Leslie commented that she had served on the Interim Committee on Suicide Prevention and wanted to tell Mr. and Mrs. Marchant how much she admired their perseverance, as they had appeared at every meeting where this issue had been discussed, and she could only imagine how difficult it must have been for them.
Mrs. Chowning stated that she wanted to extend condolences to everyone and congratulations, as well, for turning negative experiences into help. She further stated she had been the sponsor of the bill in 1993 that required prevention of suicide education in schools. Because compromises were always made, the compromise with that bill was that it would only be offered in secondary schools. Mrs. Chowning emphasized that material regarding suicide prevention was available. California had spent a great deal of money on their program and Nevada had been able to transfer their entire program to this state without spending any money on curriculum. The program had been shown to be very effective with students.
Father William Nadeau, representing the many concerned members of the Nevada clergy, testified in favor of A.B. 340. Father Nadeau stated that for years Nevada had had the highest rate of suicide in the United States. There was great concern about the tragedy and the Suicide Prevention Network of Douglas County earnestly desired to raise compassion, concern, awareness, and assistance, thereby radically lowering the heartbreaking death rate of young children, teenagers, adults, and seniors. The impact of suicide on a family, a community, and even a nation, had to be dealt with and eventually eradicated. Father Nadeau commented that the prevention program had unlimited potential, but needed help from the Legislature. The private, not-for-profit corporation included educators, law enforcement, juvenile probation personnel, mental health professionals, seniors, emergency medical technicians, suicide survivors, concerned family members, and the clergy. The Suicide Prevention Network had the strong support of the Douglas County Sheriff, the Douglas County Fire Department, counselors from the Douglas County Senior Center, as well as the Douglas County School District.
Father Nadeau stated that he remembered, as a clergyman of 35 years, suicide had once been an “untouchable” subject. In moral theology it had been made very clear that suicide was always morally wrong and always a sin. In pastoral theology it had been taught that people who committed suicide must be denied a Catholic burial. In pastoral counseling clergymen had been informed of some of the potential signs of suicide and that was the extent of the training. Father +Nadeau said fortunately, that had changed and the moral and pastoral understanding of suicide now encouraged Christian burials.
Father Nadeau commented that he had worked in a federal prison for 25 years and had been fortunate to have been educated in extensive suicide awareness and prevention, simply because it was so common in the federal prisons. Suicide was the outcome of psychological and possible neurological issues, a process generated by a series of many variables and factors. Any person had the potential to become suicidal when confronted with a situation that produced an emotional response and was believed to be absolutely inescapable or intolerable. The types of people committing suicide had been changing. In the past, suicide had increased as age increased. In recent times a dramatic number of young people had been choosing suicide even though the geriatric suicide prevailed. The majority of completed suicides were among whites, men completed suicide more frequently than women, men typically used guns, and women typically used pills.
Father Nadeau said that this was a preventable disease and a preventable issue. Douglas County’s Suicide Prevention Network was an existing pilot program that was very unique. With the help of the Legislature, it was believed that the program could be expanded, not only at the local level but also in the rural areas throughout the state.
Cheryl Bricker, Executive Director, Partnership of Community Resources, read the following statement into the record:
Mr. Chairman and members of the Ways and Means Committee, thank you for the opportunity to address the fiscal aspect of the Douglas County request for Suicide Prevention Programming. You have heard compelling testimony demonstrating our need. Suicide is indeed an issue that must be addressed as a community.
An effective method to deliver a Community Suicide Prevention model is to provide a stable, permanent staff member who 1) defines collaborative efforts amongst agencies, 2) seeks multiple sources of funding for future sustainability of suicide prevention programming, and 3) increases and maintains a well trained volunteer force that will in turn train youths, business people, parents, and seniors as to suicide warning signs and how to react to an individual’s most sensitive needs.
As you are aware, Douglas County’s grassroots community suicide prevention efforts began with the tragic loss of Eric Marchant. Since then, our volunteers have taken the Yellow Ribbon project a step further, extending our knowledge and experience in forming a network of response to suicide. Collaboration will now be taken to a higher level with the development of a Community Protocol in effect when suicide incidents occur. Through interagency collaboration, resources and services will be offered to survivors to help them through their loss. Funding sources to implement programming and training will be researched and grant applications submitted. The volunteer force will be continually trained and rewarded for their service. As in many Nevada communities, key motivators and volunteers move to other communities or can no longer commit to a rigorous volunteer schedule. Volunteers become exhausted and overwhelmed by the tremendous energy required to meet survivors’ needs. Volunteers become discouraged and need to take a break or even step away from a passionate cause. A system of ongoing volunteer training for Victim Advocates, Survivors of Suicide group facilitators, QPR, similar to CPR concept – Question, Persuade and Refer, trainers and Yellow Ribbon information dissemination is a vital component to ensuring continuity within a growing and transitional population.
The Douglas County Community has a plan, a purpose and a commitment toward the Prevention of Suicide within our county, within other rural counties, and within the State of Nevada. Our hope is to replicate our efforts across the rural counties of Nevada. While in her position at the Division of Aging Services, Mary Liveratti provided support and was instrumental in our community receiving a $5,000 grant to initiate Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention training to seniors. This grant is funded only through September 30, 2003. We continue collaborating with Ms. Liveratti in her new positions with the Department of Human Resources. Another agency that offers technical assistance to our Suicide Prevention Network is the Sanford Center for Aging at the University of Nevada, Reno. To date we have pledges of support from Douglas County business and private parties in excess of $33,000 for our first year’s efforts. These are matching pledges that are contingent upon your support of A.B. 340.
With a modest investment, the Suicide Prevention Network stands ready to help. Douglas County’s A.B. 340 is a one-time request for only $108,000 over a two-year period commencing July 1, 2003, and ending June 30, 2005. When the Legislature votes to grant our two-year request, we will be able to take what we have learned and help develop suicide prevention programs in other rural communities across Nevada. We will increase our collaboration to include the State of Nevada Department of Human Resources and reinforce our statewide and nationwide Suicide Prevention partners. These resources will provide a half-time person to coordinate training and volunteers and research and write grants and develop collaborative liaisons.
In further support of our request, I refer you to your own excellent Study of Suicide Prevention outlined in Legislative Counsel Bureau Bulletin No. 03-11. On page 8 of this document, the final paragraph of section II, paragraph A(2)(b) titled, Inadequate State and Local Programs, you will find these words, “Despite hearing much testimony about the inadequacy of existing services and programs, the Subcommittee received extensive information on two existing suicide prevention programs in Nevada that it judged to be good. One is the Crisis Call Center in Reno. . . .The second program is the Yellow Ribbon Program in Douglas County, a community-based suicide prevention program coordinated by the Suicide Prevention Network of Douglas County. The Subcommittee decided that these and other model program elements should be incorporated into a statewide suicide preventions program.”
At the same time, we are convinced that our proposal clearly satisfies the intent of S.C.R. 3. We are not duplicating activities nor taking anything away from S.B. 49. In fact, our request complements S.B. 49. We are a strong group of dedicated persons already in place and committed to provide an ongoing internal structure for awareness, prevention, and referral services to families of suicide as well as to potential suicides. Our proposal finds its roots in the traditions that have made Nevadans who we are, people reaching out to each other for the good of all. In short, this effort is the most appropriate means for rural communities that desire to lower their rate of suicide.
In closing, I would like to thank Assemblyman Hettrick and joint sponsors Senators Amodei and McGinness for their support for A.B. 340.
Bobby Wartgow, Deputy Fire Chief in charge of Emergency Medical Services, East Fork Fire and Paramedic District, Douglas County, testified in favor of A.B. 340. Mr. Wartgow stated that he was before the Committee in support of the many individuals who had taken so much time over the past few years to bring this very important situation to the Committee’s attention. Mr. Wartgow informed the Committee that the Fire Department continued to respond on a weekly basis to those types of incidents. Through education and early recognition of those at risk, it was hoped that the Suicide Prevention Network could make a difference.
Bob Rudnick, Chief Deputy, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, testified in favor of A.B. 340. Deputy Rudnick stated he had been a member of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department for 27 years and suicide prevention was a community-wide concern and awareness issue. It was also a professional issue as the Sheriff’s Department and the Fire Department dealt with this issue on a regular basis. Deputy Rudnick stated he had personally had the unfortunate task of dealing with family members because a loved one had taken their life. The education and awareness program that Douglas County was trying to employ at the present time was far superior to anything previously used. The first responders to those types of incidents were often law enforcement personnel. Deputy Rudnick stated that with the assistance and support of the Legislature, everyone involved with the project could make a difference.
Tammy Taylor, Parent Coordinator, Family Support Council, Douglas County, testified in favor of A.B. 340. Ms. Taylor stated that when she heard Cindy Marchant’s testimony it brought back a flood of memories and emotions surrounding the day that Mrs. Marchant had lost her son. The Family Support Council had received many telephone calls from school counselors about the effect that Eric Marchant’s suicide had on the youth of Douglas County. It had caused somewhat of a ripple effect. In a small community, suicide sometimes caused mimicking behavior among people of the same status and age group, and that is what happened in Douglas County on that day. Ms. Taylor stated that she felt very qualified to do what she did as a parent educator, but on that day and the weeks following Eric Marchant’s suicide, the Family Support Council employees and volunteers did not have adequate training, or an adequate plan in place, to deal with school counselors, or the community at large.
Mrs. Chowning stated that her question was directed to Assemblyman Hettrick, sponsor of A.B. 340. One item of concern was contained in Exhibit G, “Suicide Prevention Network Budget Summary,” was “Pledges (1st year) $33,000 Only if project is funded: School District, Service Clubs, Sheriffs Department, etc.” Mrs. Chowning said she would like to encourage the Douglas County School District to look at the material already in their possession regarding suicide that had come from California and had cost Nevada nothing. If those materials were put into circulation there could be some immediate direct benefits and there would be no need for the extra $33,000 because the material was already available.
Mr. Hettrick stated that the $33,000 was funding to run the operation so the Suicide Prevention Network would not have to request funding from the Legislature again. The School District, the Sheriff’s Department, and others had agreed to help fund the program, however, if the program did not receive the requested appropriation from the Legislature, the $33,000 would not be sufficient to run the program, and they would not be able to write grants and do everything they would like to do. Mr. Hettrick said the request for funds was about actually making the program run so that it could become self-sustaining.
Cecelia Lavelle, private citizen, testified in favor of A.B. 340. Ms. Lavelle made the following statement for the record:
My daughter tried to commit suicide when she was in high school, and fortunately, she failed. But, my husband left me with eight children under nine years of age and, trust me, suicide was a big part of my life, and depression and isolation. Through professional counseling for about 12 years, Alanon for about 20 years, along with classes on reconstructing my life, has been what my children responded to, whatever growing steps I went through. Every stage of my life I’ve gone into depression again. When I hit the senior years and getting into the Senior Center and not isolating, and I’m now in a class again for reconstructing my life. It is bringing me in touch with the things that I didn’t do when I was younger, but I can still do now. The psychiatrist said that it took four generations for our family’s thinking to digress the way it did, and if I didn’t do something to make it progress there would be no help for my children. My five oldest children are recovered from drugs and alcohol and my three youngest children never got involved in drugs and alcohol. So these programs really, really work. As senior citizens, we set examples for the people around us. I think most senior citizens get very depressed and isolated because they have nothing to look forward to, so any help that you could give us would really be appreciated. Thank you.
Assemblyman Parks stated that he was also a member of the Interim Study Committee for the Prevention of Suicide and was quite moved by many of the findings. Very often someone who was contemplating suicide would call into one of the crisis lines from Las Vegas, as there was no operation in Las Vegas that could handle those programs, and quite often those calls were forwarded elsewhere, even to the crisis call center in Reno. It was surprising that a community the size of the greater Las Vegas area had nothing solidly in place to address the suicide issue. Mr. Parks said that his recommendation was that anything that the Legislature did would produce benefits well beyond the boundaries of the particular county. A.B. 340 would have a “spillover” effect for other parts of the state, including southern Nevada.
Chairman Arberry stated he would like to make a comment concerning A.B. 340. Committee members might appear to have perfect lives when they were sitting on the dais, but those members had family problems like everyone else and “we understand your plight.” Chairman Arberry said that six years ago he had lost his nephew to suicide and it had a trickle-down effect. Chairman Arberry’s mother, who was his nephew’s grandmother, had no indication of the events about to take place when she had spoken with her grandson four hours before he committed suicide in the driveway of her home. The family felt that the young man’s suicide had pushed his grandmother to her death because the doctors could find nothing medically wrong with her when she died; she had simply lost the will to live. Chairman Arberry commended Assemblyman Hettrick for bringing A.B. 340 forward.
Lawrence Jacobsen, private citizen, testified in favor of A.B. 340. Mr. Jacobsen stated Douglas County was his county and he would be remiss if he did not speak up. Douglas County very seldom came to the Legislature asking for anything, as it was a “self-help county.” Most of the immigrants to Douglas County had been German or Basque and had a “habit of doing things on their own.” There came a time, however, when you just could not handle everything on your own, and Mr. Jacobsen asked for the full support of the Committee.
With no further testimony forthcoming regarding A.B. 340, Chairman Arberry closed the hearing and recessed the meeting at 9:37 a.m.
Chairman Arberry reconvened the meeting at 9:44 a.m. and opening the hearing on A.B. 368.
Assembly Bill 368: Makes appropriation to Douglas County for construction of emergency well at China Springs Youth Camp. (BDR S-1192)
Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, District No. 39, Douglas County and portions of Carson City and Washoe County, testified in support of A.B. 368. Mr. Hettrick stated that during previous Ways and Means Committee meetings when the China Springs Youth Camp had been discussed, it had been mentioned that there was a serious problem with the well. The water supply had been an ongoing problem at the camp, and currently water was being hauled in order to maintain the facility and keep it operating. Exhibit H, “China Springs Youth Camp and Aurora Pines Girls Facility Water System” was presented to the Committee. Mr. Hettrick stated federal money had been obtained to help drill a new well, but it required matching funds. Douglas County needed $75,000 to match $225,000 available from the federal government to drill the well. Without those funds China Springs would have no water and would be forced to haul water on a regular basis. In addition to the funds to drill a new well, $28,175 was needed to continue hauling water until the new well was drilled. The total amount needed was $103,175 to maintain services at China Springs Youth Camp.
Chairman Arberry asked when the last well had been drilled.
Steve Thaler, Director, China Springs Youth Camp and Aurora Pines Girls Facility, replied that the last time a well had been drilled was in 1997, which had been the longest lasting well since the camp had been opened. Normally wells lasted approximately two years, but the well drilled in 1997 had lasted for five years. Mr. Thaler stated that the China Springs Youth Camp, an all male facility, served 40 boys at a time, or 80 boys per year. The Aurora Pines Girls Facility served 16 girls at a time, or approximately 32 girls per year. The camps served 16 out of the 17 counties in Nevada. The China Springs Youth Camp had been in operation since the early 1980s and there had been water problems since that time. As the camp had grown over the years, there had been a decline in the ground water.
Bob Nunes, Director, Community Development, Douglas County, stated he had been involved with the China Springs Youth Camp for over ten years. Historically, the wells would produce from two to five years. A good deal of the problem had to do with geological formations. Douglas County had hired consultants who had considered various alternatives and other locations for the wells. Mr. Nunes said that, ultimately, the water supply at the camp was very limited. Long-term solutions to the water problem had been studied because continuing to drill wells was not considered to be the answer. Mr. Nunes referred to page 2 of Exhibit H, which was a map showing the possible long-term solution of connecting China Springs Youth Camp to the Fairgrounds Water System. The connection of the camp to a water system would be very expensive and could not be accomplished for four to five years. The present proposal was to drill a new well, approximately 600 feet deep, and be able to maintain the water supply for the next three to five years until a long-term solution to the problem could be implemented.
Chairman Arberry said he believed the biggest concern was that the proposed well would go dry. “It was like trying to hit the Megabucks.”
Mr. Hettrick stated that he understood, and no one wanted to keep returning to the Legislature to request money for another new well. However, there was a functioning camp in place serving over 100 children annually, and one way or another, water had to be supplied. The camp was at the end of a two-mile, very steep, dirt road. Fortunately, the past winter had been dry because if the road had been impassable because of snow, and the water trucks had been unable to navigate the road, the camp would have been totally without water. Mr. Hettrick reiterated that this was not a long-term solution, but there were no other options at this point, and water was needed at the camp.
Mary Walker, representing Douglas County, stated the County wholeheartedly supported A.B. 368. This matter was an emergency as the last well had dried up in November 2002. Potential fires were a concern as the location of the camp was in the wilderness area and it had been a year without much precipitation. Ms. Walker stated that any support by the Committee would be appreciated.
Lawrence Jacobsen, private citizen, Douglas County, testified in favor of A.B. 368. Mr. Jacobsen said that he was very familiar with the China Springs Youth Camp, as he had helped get it started in the beginning, and believed it was one of the best in the state. Perhaps the camp should not have been built at the present location because of the potential water problems, but it had appeared to be ideal at the time. Mr. Jacobsen asked for the Committee’s help and stated there would be no further requests unless it became a necessity.
With no further testimony forthcoming regarding A.B. 368, Chairman Arberry closed the hearing and opened the hearing on A.B. 399.
Assembly Bill 399: Makes appropriation for financial counseling for certain persons in danger of having residential mortgage foreclosed upon. (BDR S-597)
Chairman Arberry passed the gavel to Assemblyman Goldwater for the hearing on A.B 399.
Assemblyman Morse Arberry Jr., District No. 7, Clark County, testified in favor of A.B. 399. Chairman Arberry disclosed for the record that he was the owner of a mortgage company, but A.B. 399 would not benefit him in any way. Chairman Arberry stated that this bill came about because of a deep concern about the rising rate of foreclosures on houses, and some nonprofit organizations had requested legislation to assist homeowners with counseling to attempt to slow the foreclosure rate. Chairman Arberry read the following statement into the record:
A house is not just a house, it is a home. To some people a house can be the most important object they own. A house is a place where we raise our families, a place to come home after work and relax, a place to be proud of. Imagine how detrimental it would be if the mortgage on your house was being foreclosed. It would not only affect you, but it would also affect your entire family and their well-being. But what if there was help for you in the time of a crisis. A.B. 399 could be that aid in keeping your house and assisting you in your finances. A.B. 399 would appropriate $250,000 to the Housing Division of the Department of Business and Industry. This money would be used to provide a grant to certain nonprofit organizations to help pay the costs involved with the financial counseling to the persons who are in danger of mortgage foreclosure. The counseling must include information and strategies to avoid foreclosure. The funds also go toward advertising and availability of counseling. Any remaining money from the fund must be committed for expenditures after June 30, 2005, and would return to the state General Fund.
Chairman Arberry stated he would appreciate any support the Committee could give him on this particular piece of legislation.
Assemblyman Andonov noted that Chairman Arberry had stated that some of the funds were going to be used for advertising, and asked how someone in danger of having a foreclosure proceed against them could find out about this counseling.
Chairman Arberry said that after the nonprofit group was awarded funding, they would be allowed to advertise their services in order to get the word out that the service was available to help those who needed it. One of the key issues to be resolved, before a nonprofit group received funding, would be explaining to the Housing Division exactly how they proposed to make people aware of the service. Chairman Arberry further stated that there would be no charge for this service.
Assemblywoman McClain asked if there were figures available regarding senior citizens who had lost their homes due to foreclosure.
Chairman Arberry stated that he did not have any figures at the present time but could probably get some. Ms. McClain said she would be interested in seeing those figures because foreclosure on a home was a “double whammy” to a senior. Chairman Arberry commented that, since he was in the mortgage industry, he sometimes received calls from people who were on the brink of having their property foreclosed. Unfortunately, when parties were that close to foreclosure, there was very little that could be done, and it was hoped that this program would provide a mechanism to help seniors.
Scott Watts, President, Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans (NARA), testified that the NARA conditionally supported A.B. 399 but stated more information was needed. Affordable housing affected NARA’s members and other senior citizens. The NARA believed that everyone had the right to safe, decent, and affordable housing. A.B. 399 addressed counseling to assist in the prevention of foreclosure. Mr. Watts said that any kind of counseling could only be helpful but had some questions:
· Was the grant of $250,000 adequate to provide for the counseling needed within the state.
· How many nonprofit organizations would provide this service within the state and where were they.
· Was this counseling targeted to all homeowners or to specific categories, such as low income or seniors.
· How were at-risk homeowners being identified by the nonprofit organizations.
· How was the decision made as to who was counseled and who was not.
Mr. Watts stated that the NARA would like the answers to those questions before the effective date of July 1, 2003.
Charles L. Horsey III, Administrator, Housing Division, Department of Business and Industry, testified on behalf of A.B. 399, with certain reservations. Mr. Horsey stated he was present to attest to Chairman Arberry’s efforts and the tremendous need for credit counseling. It would appear to be very basic that when someone purchased a house, they would know what their obligations, responsibilities, and remedies would be, but that was not the case. That was especially true for first-time homebuyers. Mr. Horsey stated that his Department would attempt to retrieve from their database the information Assemblywoman McClain requested regarding foreclosures of houses belonging to senior citizens.
Mr. Horsey stated his primary concern regarding A.B. 399 had to do with the time element. By the time a foreclosure had commenced, in many cases it would be too late for any help. Any lender had a fiduciary responsibility to make the losses on a foreclosure as minimal as possible. In addition, foreclosure had to commence within a certain time frame in order to maximize the amount of monies that could be recovered on behalf of the note holder. Mr. Horsey commented that there were tremendous costs incurred when a loan became that far in arrears and, in addition, any flexibility the lender might have would be greatly reduced. The best remedy would be for the homeowner to receive the counseling earlier in the process, before foreclosure was necessary. One of the difficulties that the Housing Division had experienced was the fact that many people were reluctant to see a counselor when needed because of embarrassment.
Mr. Horsey said a new phenomenon that the Housing Division had been encountering was that homeowners had been refinancing their houses in record numbers because of the low interest rates, then using the proceeds from those new loans to pay off consumer debt. Unfortunately, people were not being counseled that if they did not change their spending habits the debt would reoccur within a couple of years, and that would increase the risks of bankruptcy and foreclosure.
Mr. Horsey stated that the Housing Division recognized the tremendous need for the service and the agency’s goal was to implement a credit counseling program, which would not require a General Fund appropriation, by the next legislative session. Currently, there were 6 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved counseling agencies, with 19 offices statewide, that provided default loan counseling. Mr. Horsey said he did not know how those offices operated, or if they were successful. One of the discoveries that the Housing Division had made while developing their counseling program was that approximately 21 percent of the people who borrowed money from the Housing Division were Hispanic and, therefore, the credit counseling that the Division hoped to offer was going to have to be bilingual.
Mr. Horsey commented that as in all things in life, there were good credit counselors and some that were not so good. For example, a good credit counselor would sit down with a borrower and explain the responsibilities, the options, and the remedies, until the borrower understood them. On the other hand, Mr. Horsey knew of cases where a borrower had been given a videotape to view at home and that fulfilled the requirement, but he did not believe that was a very effective tool.
Chairman Arberry stated he would like to work with Mr. Horsey and Mr. Watts on the language for A.B. 399. Mr. Horsey stated that credit counseling had become the number one priority for the Housing Division and they would like to work with Chairman Arberry on developing A.B. 399 further.
Ms. McClain stated she would be happy to commit the Clark County Senior Advocate Office to help with the advertising for the credit counseling.
Mr. Andonov requested a breakdown of the number of foreclosures across the state of Nevada along with demographics.
Mr. Horsey commented that Nevada presently ranked 16th in the nation in foreclosures and delinquencies. Nationally, most delinquencies and foreclosures were directly linked to job loss; however, in Nevada there were other contributing factors, such as gambling addiction.
Mr. Andonov commented that Mr. Horsey had mentioned that one of the major contributors to foreclosure was job loss, but asked if it was also loss of a spouse in the senior community. Mr. Horsey replied that it was a major contributor.
With no further testimony forthcoming regarding A.B. 399, Chairman Arberry closed the hearing and opened the hearing on A.B. 440.
Assembly Bill 440: Makes appropriation to Welfare Division of Department of Human Resources for statewide training program by Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence. (BDR S-309)
Assemblyman Wendell P. Williams, District No. 6, Clark County, testified in favor of A.B. 440. Assemblyman Williams stated that the project to provide a domestic violence training program for welfare intake workers had begun in 1999, when $50,000 had been appropriated by the Legislature. This program had been one of the most utilized within the Welfare Division and the original $50,000 appropriation had lasted for four years.
Paula Berkley, Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence, testified in favor of A.B. 440. Ms. Berkley stated the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence had been given the opportunity to develop the curriculum for the domestic violence training in the Welfare Division so that it complemented the domestic violence option within the Division. The goal was to create training to allow people to identify when there was domestic violence happening and do it in such a way as to protect the victim. If victims were given the wrong advice the problem would be exacerbated, rather than avoided. It had been discovered that domestic violence was the largest barrier that prevented welfare recipients from getting to work because if they had a domestic violence situation, they stayed home and subjected themselves to the violence, or they needed assistance to handle the situation. There were two reasons why the training had declined within the Division, one was lack of funding, and the other was having enough staff so that someone could be sent to training. Exhibit I, “Domestic Violence Training for the Department of Welfare,” was presented to the Committee. Ms. Berkley also presented Exhibit J, “Suggested Amendment to AB440,” which suggested 1) the class should be mandatory, and 2) the money should sunset if the Welfare Division’s requested eligibility worker and social worker positions were not funded.
With no further testimony forthcoming regarding A.B. 440, Chairman Arberry closed the hearing and opened the hearing on a proposed amendment to A.B. 19.
Assembly Bill 19: Provides for issuance of "United We Stand" special license plates. (BDR 43-217)
Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning, District No. 28, Clark County, testified in favor of an amendment to A.B. 19. Mrs. Chowning stated that A.B. 19 was the “United We Stand” special license plate bill and she had requested an amendment that would provide that the fees from the sale of the special license plate would be deposited in a contingency fund for hazardous materials. The proceeds would be used solely to provide financial assistance to the state or to local governments to support preparedness to combat terrorism, including, without limitation, planning, training, and purchasing supplies and equipment.
ASSEMBLYMAN MARVEL MOVED TO AMEND AND DO PASS ASSEMBLY BILL 19.
ASSEMBLYMAN GOLDWATER SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED. (Mrs. Gibbons, Ms. Giunchigliani, Mr. Hettrick, and Speaker Perkins were not present for the vote.)
********
The following exhibits were submitted to be made part of the record:
Chairman Arberry adjourned the meeting at 9:34 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Anne Bowen
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Assemblyman Morse Arberry Jr., Chairman
DATE: