Laptops little used, lawmakers say

Friday, Jan. 9, 1998 | 9:28 a.m.

Sen. Bill O'Donnell, R-Las Vegas, said Thursday all but a couple of the computers given the 63 legislators are gathering dust in their homes.

Ron Nichols, the Legislature's information systems manager, said that if 15 legislators use their computers, "that would be a lot."

Nichols told the lawmakers' Subcommittee on Computer Application that he prepares written copies of e-mail messages once a week for 25 legislators.

The copied messages are mailed to the legislators' homes. By the time they arrive, some of the messages are 13 days old.

Lawmakers, who also have computers for themselves and their secretaries in their Legislative Building offices, can use the laptops to communicate with constituents and colleagues, to access information on the Internet, to take notes during hearings, and to access information about state law, proposed legislation, budget figures and legislative records.

The 1997 Legislature was the first one in which legislators made wide use of computers and Internet technology.

But Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, said only five or six senators regularly used their computers. Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, estimated that 10 members of his chamber used their computers regularly.

While he makes copies of e-mail messages for 25 legislators, Nichols said that does not mean the remaining 38 legislators read their messages. Some never look at any of their e-mail messages, he said.

The committee instructed Nichols to survey all legislators - by regular or "snail" mail - on whether they make use of the computers. The results will be released at a subcommittee meeting.

Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, questioned whether Nichols will receive accurate results.

"You will get a lot of lies," Coffin said. "A person sitting there with a $6,000 computer isn't going to say he isn't using it."

But Assemblyman Jack Close, R-Las Vegas, said the survey could push some legislators into learning how to use the computers.

"I think it will bring awareness to members that they are supposed to use them," said Close, chairman of the subcommittee.

Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, said he never uses his legislative computer and admitted he left it in his office when the session adjourned in July. Instead he prefers his personal computer.

"I had nothing but problems with mine here," he said.

O'Donnell, who has operated a computer company, said the modems and processing devices in the legislators' computers rapidly are becoming obsolete.

He suggested the computers should be returned to Carson City and given to state agencies. New computers should be purchased - at about $3,000 each - for legislators prior to the next session in 1999, O'Donnell said.

"If you want a computer for your personal use, then buy one," he added.