Lawmakers already thinking about 2001 as hearings begin

Monday, Aug. 30, 1999 | 4:26 a.m.

Nevertheless, lawmakers begin public hearings next month to launch studies on school violence, taxes, university funding and other issues in anticipation of the session beginning in February 2001.

The interim studies result in up to half of all bills offered in the next legislative session. Most often, the studies revisit topics that were addressed in the previous session or which are expected to take center stage the next time.

Such is the case this year. There's a panel on school safety and violence in the wake of April's fatal shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. There's a panel on reapportionment, which lawmakers will tackle in 2001 to redraw political boundaries based on the 2000 Census.

And there is the controversial question of how much money should go to the University of Nevada campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, and to community college campuses.

This year, some southern lawmakers were prompted by Las Vegas members of the university Board of Regents to question why Reno gets more money per student than the faster-growing Las Vegas campus. Lawmakers avoided a major fight by adjusting the budget and promising evaluation from the interim study committee.

"We'll put heavy attention on that, whether we need to change the formula," Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

The Commission on School Safety and Juvenile Violence will include teacher and Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, a Las Vegas senator, law enforcement officials and educators.

"Do we have a problem with kids feeling alienated?" Parnell asked. "After Columbine, there are so many questions. Warning signs were overlooked. We have to make sure that's not happening here."

The commission will hold at least three hearings, in the Reno-Carson area, in Las Vegas and in a rural county. High school students will be invited to testify on what they see on their campuses.

The reapportionment and redistricting interim panel includes the leaders of both political parties in the Legislature.

Whoever has control of the Senate and Assembly after the 2000 elections will have the upper hand in determining where congressional, legislative and local government political boundaries will be for the next decade.

Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, said the panel she chairs will be low-key in the early going.

"We won't get into the juicy stuff of where the lines will go. We'll save that for the session," she said.