Bid to reduce size of Board of Regents dies

Jennifer Knight and Cy Ryan

Thursday, May 15, 2003 | 11:16 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill that would have reduced the Board of Regents from 13 to nine members sailed through the Assembly but died quickly Thursday in the Senate Finance Committee.

Assembly Bill 353 was scheduled to be heard by another Senate committee earlier this month until it was suddenly transferred to Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio's Finance Committee.

"It would be inappropriate to pull the rug out from new members and make them run for re-election," said Raggio, R-Reno. "I think the status quo should be maintained for the 13 members."

The Legislature added two regents during the 2001 session, but AB 353 would have required the terms of all board members to expire in 2005, with only nine members able to run for election in their place.

"The one request that we have is to have the opportunity to finish what we started," said Regent Brett Whipple, one of the newest members on the board.

Regent Jill Derby, a 14-year member, suggested that the reduction would upset the board's committee structure and stretch responsibilities over a wider swath of constituents with less resources.

"I would suggest that changing the structure of the board introduces a certain uncertainty to the board that we don't have now," Derby said.

The bill was drafted shortly after regents were blasted for their lack of collegiality last year because of infighting. Discussions became racially divisive and behavior of some board members was called to task.

"Maybe the board got a message," said Regent Steve Sisolak. "There certainly has been much more harmony on the board. Hopefully the board will maintain their decorum."

The Assembly bill was two-pronged. It also asked for stricter rules governing the release of student information.

The bill, as it stands now, says the regents must get permission from students before releasing their names to commercial ventures, such as credit card companies.

A controversy developed last year when it was disclosed that student names were being given to some companies. The regents adopted a policy that would require more prominent notification to students who did not want to have their name and address given out to credit card companies and other outside agencies. The Assembly bill goes further by asking that a form be presented to students asking them if they want to opt out of the release of information.

That portion of the bill was married with the portion that reduced the board of regents. The committee approved AB 353 but deleted the section that would reduce the size of the board.

The assembly still has to decide on another resolution that would change the structure of the Board of Regents.

Amendment Joint Resolution 11 would reduce the size of the board but make a portion of the board appointed by the governor instead of elected by the people.

Taking away election power from the people requires an amendment of the state's constitution. To amend the constitution, the Legislature would have to pass the provision twice and the measure would have to pass a statewide vote.