Legislative commission names leaders and members of ongoing and study committees

The Legislative Commission named the chairmen and members of more than 20 ongoing and study committees Wednesday.

Among the major studies undertaken by legislators this interim are reviews of the Public Employee Benefits Program; affordable housing in Nevada; criminal sentencing, pardons, parole and probation; and public-school financing.

Findings of those committees will be presented to the 2007 Legislature along with recommendations and legislation designed to implement them.

Seven of the committees are ongoing statutory bodies ranging from the Committee to Consult with the Director - which basically does the planning for the next legislative session - to the Committee for the Review and Oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Marlette Lake Water System.

In addition, there is the standing Legislative Committee on Health Care, the Committee on Education and the Committee on Public Lands.

This interim, Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, will lead Health Care while Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, heads Education.

Other chairmen and chairwomen named Wednesday's include:

• Commission on Special License Plates - Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas.

• Committee to Consult with the Director - Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas.

• Subcommittee to Review Regulations - Assemblyman John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas.

• Information Technology Subcommittee - Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora.

• Legislative Security Subcommittee - Assemblyman John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas.

• Public Employee Benefits Program - Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City.

• Oversight of the Audit Regarding Children under Governmental Care - Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno.

• Adequacy of School Financing - Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks.

• Affordable Housing - Marcus Conklin, D-Las Vegas.

• Study to Protect Natural Treasures - Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas.

• Committee on High Level Radioactive Waste - Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas.

Several other committees including Public Lands and TRPA-Marlette oversight select their own chairmen.

Most of the committees have a budget of about $10,000.

However, some larger panels and those which hire consultants such as Health Care, have significantly larger budgets. Health Care's estimated budget is $414,814 for the interim and Public Lands has a spending plan totaling $119,369.

Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Lorne Malkiewich said the final list of members named to each committee will be available in a few days.

- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.