Senate Bill 149
Revises provisions relating to groundwater boards.
Legislative Summary: SB 149 addresses the process of formation of groundwater boards in State law. Currently, county commissioners may recommend to the State Engineer that a groundwater board be formed to manage an area designated as a groundwater basin. The Governor may then approve a plan submitted by the State Engineer and appoint members of a newly formed groundwater board. While this process has been codified in State law for decades, a groundwater board has not actually been formed since the mid 1960s, and no county has petitioned to form a new board since the early 1990s.
SB 149 would shift the appointing authority to the county commission of the county in which the designated groundwater basin resides. Additionally, this legislation would limit the county commissions to the formation of a single board per county.
The Chamber is in opposition to SB 149, as this would represent a significant change to water policy statewide that could have significant impacts on Southern Nevada’s water supply and management.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senate Committee on Natural Resources
Position: Oppose
Assembly Bill 99
Revises provisions governing public works.
Legislative Summary: AB 99 would change the threshold requirement for when prevailing wage must be used for public work and construction projects within the Nevada System of Higher Education from $100,000 to $250,000.
The Chamber supports the bill as it would allow for greater flexibility on these types of smaller public construction projects which will result in cost savings to taxpayers.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assemblyman John Ellison
Position: Support
Assembly Bill 177
Revises provisions relating to prescriptions.
Legislative Summary: AB 177 would require pharmacies to provide if requested by the customer a secondary instruction label in another language to be fixated onto the prescription bottle. This bill would also require pharmacies to post a notice of this service and the list of languages available to customers.
The Chamber has several concerns about AB 177. This includes the costs that would be associated with the requirement to print two labels on each prescription bottle and logistical challenges of implementing such a requirement at the pharmacy level.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson
Position: Oppose
Senate Bill 141
Revises provisions relating to public works.
Legislative Summary: SB 141 would remove the expiration date in state law that allows publicly funded construction projects to use Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR). The removal of the June 2021 expiration date would make CMAR a permanent option to state and local government entities as it relates to the bidding process.
The Chamber supports SB 141 because it provides greater flexibility during the bidding process for publicly funded projects and guarantees a maximum price, which will result in cost savings to taxpayers.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator Chris Brooks
Position: Support
Senate Bill 151
Revises Provisions Relating to Education.
Legislative Summary: SB 151 requires the board of trustees of a school district in a county whose population is 100,000 or more to develop an implementation plan to improve students' ratios to specialized instructional support personnel to meet the ratio recommended by the State Board of Education. This implementation plan will be submitted to the Department of Education on or before October 1 of each year. This bill creates accountability for our state to ensure that student success is personalized for each district, supporting our students' accomplishments and physical and mental well-being.
The bill recognizes the benefits of having a high-quality, comprehensive school counseling program in our state by investing in school counselors, school psychologists, and school social work and encouraging the completion of continuing education. Portions of the bill also highlight the importance of recruiting and retaining our essential workforce of school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers in the state of Nevada. With the necessary supports in place, school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers are uniquely equipped to promote academic success and help Nevada students become college-ready or career-ready.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop
Position: Support
Senate Bill 172
Revises Various Provisions Relating to Education.
Legislative Summary: SB 172 streamlines the access of K-12 education to higher education and the workforce pipeline. As proposed, this bill makes the dual credit program more accessible for high school students to enroll in a dual credit course at an approved community college, state college, or university. Section 5 eliminates requirements that entail students to apply for the dual credit course, wait for its approval or denial, and must have completed a prerequisite for the course.
The Vegas Chamber supports SB 172 as it provides high school students greater accessibility to receive dual credit to better prepare them for higher education and our future workforce.
Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator Moises Denis
Position: Support
