Assembly Bill 12
Revises provisions relating to the Department of Transportation.
Legislative Summary: AB 12 revises job experience requirements for some of the Deputy Director positions within the Department of Transportation (DOT). By changing these positions from classified to unclassified employees and adjusting the work experience requirements, the DOT will be able to more efficiently identify and promote internal candidates for future vacancies.
The Vegas Chamber supports AB 12 as a government efficiency measure.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure
Position: Support
Assembly Bill 54
Creates the Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety within the Department of Transportation.
Legislative Summary: AB 54 authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a committee on traffic safety, the purpose of which is to coordinate with regional transportation entities to gather information and suggest policy to enhance public safety. With the enabling language in AB 54, the DOT would be able to assemble commissions, working groups and task forces as necessary to review, study and make recommendations on reducing deaths and injuries relating to traffic accidents.
The Vegas Chamber supports AB 54 as a measure to reduce traffic fatalities in Clark County and Southern Nevada specifically, and Nevada generally.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure
Position: Support
Assembly Bill 61
Revises provisions relating to trade practices.
Summary: AB 61 revises and expands the authority of Nevada’s Attorney General regarding deceptive trade practices during a declared emergency or natural disaster. Specifically, to the issue of price gouging for consumer goods and services. Section 1 increases the punishment for such action to a category C felony and provides for a maximum civil penalty of $10,000. It also defines what constitutes a deceptive trade practice. Section 3 defines the types of goods and services as consumer goods and services used, bought, or rendered primarily for personal, family or household purposes. It also includes medical supplies and services used for the care, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of any illness or disease. It also includes services related to the repair or reconstruction of the property.
While the Chamber does not support fraudulent practices or related activities the Chamber is opposed to this bill as originally drafted because of the broadness of definitions as it relates to deceptive trade practices, goods and services. The Chamber is also concerned about the fines and penalties structures that were proposed, privacy issues, the statute of limitations and unintended consequences that may occur.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor
Position: Oppose
Assembly Bill 65
Revises provisions relating to ethics in government.
Legislative Summary: AB 65 addresses the powers of oversight held by the Commission on Ethics, the body which enforces Nevada Ethics Law for elected officials and public employees. AB 65 provides broader opportunities for the Commission to issue opinions and guidance to elected officials and public employees who request it, along with clarifications on the subpoena and investigatory powers of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission.
The Vegas Chamber supports AB 65 as a measure for accountability for elected officials and public employees.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections
Position: Support
Assembly Bill 68
Revises various provisions relating to education.
Legislative Summary: AB 68 provides clarifying language relating to the State Public Charter School Authority. As per Section 1, State Public Charter School Authority will increase the timeline to consider an application from 60 days to 120 days after receiving the application. Section 4, subsection 6, would consent Charter schools to remain financially viable by allowing the charter schools to eliminate the grade levels or campuses that received the lowest ratings possible. The ratings indicate an underperformance of the charter school and will result in termination of charter contract, restarting the charter school under a new charter contract, eliminating a specific grade level, or eliminating a particular campus. The Vegas Chamber believes this bill continually supports student achievements and the well-being of the Nevada education system.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Education
Position: Support
Assembly Bill 69
Revises provisions governing economic development.
Legislative Summary: AB 69 revises the composition of the Board of Economic Development by adding the Director of the Department of Business and Industry as a non-voting member to the Board. Section 2 of the bill clarifies that quorum for a meeting is based solely on the voting members of the Board. Section 3 renames the Division of Motion Pictures to the Nevada Film Office. Section 4 pertains to the appointment of the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of the Economic Development (GOED) by clarifying that a maximum of three names may be submitted for consideration.
The Chamber supports this bill because of its intent to improve the governance structure and provides clarity to several processes within GOED.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Revenue
Position: Support
Assembly Bill 81
Revises certain provisions governing voluntary health care services.
Legislative Summary: AB 81 would make changes to current law allowing medical professionals who have not practiced for three consecutive years to volunteer their services after receiving a sponsorship by a qualified organization. Volunteers often include recently graduated medical students and doctors from out of state who are licensed to practice. Addressing the doctor shortage is a priority of the Vegas Chamber as well as the Southern Nevada Forum, and this bill assists in providing services to our medically underrepresented communities.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assemblyman Gregory Hafen II
Position: Support
Senate Bill 27
Revises various provisions relating to education.
Legislative Summary: SB 27 provides several small-scale changes relating to K-12 education in the State of Nevada. One of these changes is the codification in law of procedures for spending on classroom materials by teachers. This provision allows local school districts to provide money directly to teachers to make their purchases under certain circumstances rather than requiring teachers to pay for materials and later seek reimbursement. Additionally, SB 27 provides support to higher educational institutions with programs for Teaching and Educator Preparation, making grant dollars from the Nevada System of Higher Education more easily accessible.
This bill originated from the Southern Nevada Forum’s Committee on Education and addresses the priority of expanding the teacher pipeline and supporting teacher retention. As a Southern Nevada Forum priority bill, the Vegas Chamber is in support.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senate Committee on Education
Position: Support
Senate Bill 66
Creates a Commission increasing student connectivity.
Legislative Summary: SB 66 will ensure students have access to computers and connectivity, reducing the digital divide in Nevada. SB 66 was rewritten in an amendment by the bill’s sponsor. Rather than creating the commission outlined in section 2, responsibilities of ensuring students have access to computers and internet connectivity would fall on the Nevada Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT). Another change from the original language changes the focus from K-16 to K-12.
The Chamber is in favor of the original K-16 language, as it would bring Nevada’s education system forward comprehensively.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senate Committee on Education
Position: Support
Senate Bill 95
Revises provisions relating to business entities.
Legislative Summary: SB 95 revises provisions to state law pertaining to business entities. Section 2 of the bill moves the definition of “publicly traded corporation” in NRS Chapter 78 to the front of the chapter. Sections 11 and 14 clarifies the ability to hold a stockholder meeting, by only virtual means, the fixing of the record date, and certain notice requirements for publicly traded corporations. Sections 32 and 35 updates the use of domestic corporation versus publicly traded corporation and require a corporation to remain publicly traded.
The Vegas Chamber supports SB 95 as it provides greater clarification, confirming changes and modernization as it relates to business law. These proposed changes will also allow Nevada to remain competitive with other states such as Delaware.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator James Ohrenschall
Position: Support
