NEVADA LEGISLATIVE MANUAL State of Nevada SEVENTY-FIFTH SESSION of the NEVADA LEGISLATURE 2009 CARSON CITY Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau LEGIS L ATIVE MANUA L Page ii LEGIS L ATIVE MANUA L TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ vii CHAPTER I—MEMBERS OF THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE ....................... 1 Biographies of Members of the Nevada Senate ............................................ 3 Biographies of Members of the Nevada Assembly ....................................... 37 Members of the Nevada Legislature .............................................................. 87 Senate....................................................................................................... 89 Assembly ................................................................................................ 91 Members of the Nevada Legislature by District ..................................... 95 Senate .............................................................................................. 95 Assembly ........................................................................................ 96 Interim Committees and Subcommittees (2007-2008) ........................... 97 Senate Standing Committees and Leadership—2009 ............................ 103 Assembly Standing Committees and Leadership—2009 ....................... 105 CHAPTER II—LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE, FINANCIAL OPERATION, AND RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................... 107 Legislative Terminology ................................................................................ 109 The Legislative Structure ............................................................................... 109 Size and Apportionment ......................................................................... 110 2001 Reapportionment and Redistricting ....................................... 110 Membership Qualifications ............................................................................ 111 Vacancies ................................................................................................ 112 Officers and Employees ................................................................................. 112 Interest Groups and Media ............................................................................. 113 Press........................................................................................................ 113 Lobbyists ................................................................................................ 113 Legislative Powers, Privileges, and Responsibilities .................................... 114 Legislator Duties .................................................................................... 114 Privileges and Immunities ...................................................................... 116 Limitations on the Legislative Power ..................................................... 116 Crimes Against the Legislative Power ................................................... 118 Contracts in Which a Legislator Has an Interest .................................... 119 Reporting of Campaign Contributions and Expenses ............................ 120 Financial Disclosure ............................................................................... 121 Financial Operation of the Legislature .......................................................... 121 Legislative Fund ..................................................................................... 121 Legislator Compensation and Allowances ............................................. 121 Legislators’ Retirement ........................................................................... 122 Compensation of Employees .................................................................. 123 Endnotes for Chapter II ................................................................................. 124 Page iii LEGIS L ATIVE MANUA L Page CHAPTER III—LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE AND ACTION ........................ 127 Legislative Procedure .................................................................................... 129 Sessions .................................................................................................. 129 Legislative Leadership ............................................................................ 130 Legislative Officers: Senate ........................................................... 130 Legislative Officers: Assembly ...................................................... 132 Floor Leaders .................................................................................. 133 Procedure and Order of Business in the Senate and Assembly .............. 133 Quorum .................................................................................................. 134 Order of Business ................................................................................... 134 The Legislature in Action: A Bill Becomes a Law ....................................... 135 Organizing the Legislature ..................................................................... 135 Catastrophic Emergencies ........................................................................ 137 Bill Drafting ............................................................................................ 137 Prefiling of Bills ..................................................................................... 138 Fiscal Notes ............................................................................................ 139 Introduction and First Reading ............................................................... 140 Committees ............................................................................................. 141 Standing Committees ...................................................................... 141 Committee of the Whole ................................................................. 142 Select Committees and Conference Committees ............................ 143 Committee Hearing ................................................................................ 143 Notice of Bills, Topics, and Public Hearings .......................................... 144 Consent Calendar .................................................................................... 144 Second Reading ...................................................................................... 145 General File and Third Reading ............................................................. 145 In the Other House and Conference Committees ................................... 147 Deadlines for Legislation ....................................................................... 147 Enrollment .............................................................................................. 147 Gubernatorial Action .............................................................................. 148 Effective Date of the Bill ........................................................................ 148 Adoption or Passage of Resolutions ....................................................... 148 Petitions and Memorials ......................................................................... 149 Nonlegislative Initiatives to Change Statutes or the Nevada Constitution .................................................................. 149 Distinction Among Types of Legislation ....................................................... 150 Bill .......................................................................................................... 150 Skeleton Bill ........................................................................................... 150 Joint Resolution ...................................................................................... 150 Concurrent Resolution ............................................................................ 150 One-House Resolution ............................................................................ 151 Endnotes for Chapter III ................................................................................ 152 Page iv LEGIS L ATIVE MANUA L Page CHAPTER IV—LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL BUREAU AND LEGISLATIVE BUILDING .................................................................. 157 The Legislative Counsel Bureau .................................................................... 159 Legislative Commission ......................................................................... 160 Interim Finance Committee .................................................................... 161 Director .................................................................................................. 162 Audit Division ........................................................................................ 163 Legal Division ........................................................................................ 165 Research Division ................................................................................... 167 Fiscal Analysis Division ......................................................................... 170 Administrative Division ......................................................................... 170 Summary ................................................................................................. 171 Facilities and Services ................................................................................... 171 Legislative Counsel Bureau Offices ......................................................