Friday, April 17, 1998 | 3:44 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Legislative leaders voted Friday to acquire new faster and lighter laptop computers for members of the 1999 Legislature, replacing the $6,000 models that are less than two years old.
The Legislative Commission backed the recommendation of Ron Nichols, manager of information systems, that new computers are needed to handle more information.
The only dissenting vote came from Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, who questioned whether there would be new computers every two years for lawmakers. Nichols said he didn't know the answer. But he said the computer purchased two years ago is out of production.
Nichols said these computers still have value but they must be sent to the factory every time for repairs.
Tiffany said it appears the only reason for getting the new laptops is that they are more convenient and faster. Most lawmakers, she said, didn't use the computer in 1997 except to play solitaire and "to look up their stock options."
She said, "This makes us look bad and it's bad policy." She called these computers "expensive tools" and said it appears the Legislature doesn't look like it knows where it is going if it acquires new units every two years.
Sen. Joe Neal, D-Las Vegas, said, "The Senate didn't play games on their computers."
A survey showed 37 of the 47 lawmakers who responded used their computers during the 1997 session. But many are not using the technology when not in session.
The commission accepted a suggestion from Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, that the Legislature only lease the number that members want. If a lawmaker doesn't want the computer, the Legislature should not lease it.
The plan calls for selling the present models to state agencies. The Legislature will then direct the state Purchasing Division to buy new laptops, which the lawmakers will lease for $70 a month apiece for the expected four-month session. The legislator could keep the computer for the rest of the term, or could turn in the unit which would be then shuffled off to a state agency.
Nichols said the new laptops would have bigger screens and be able to access more information.
The major complaints about the present units were that they were heavy, slow and the screen could not be read.
The commission also adopted a policy to offer the public a new subscription service on the Internet in the 1999 Legislature. Information on bills, agendas and other legislative items is available at no charge.
Nichols will provide a "bill tracking service" to keep up how a bill is progressing. Email will be sent to the subscriber reporting a change in the status of the bill.
For tracking 20 bills or less, the charge would be $20 per month. For more than that, it would be $50 a month.
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