Assembly passes reorganization of Board of Regents

Kirsten Searer

Thursday, March 24, 2005 | 9:42 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A constitutional amendment designed to reorganize the Board of Regents cleared the Assembly Wednesday, even though some legislators argued that it limits the power of voters to choose their representatives.

If the Senate passes Assembly Joint Resolution 11, it will go to the voters in 2006 and take effect in time for the 2008 election.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, argued on behalf of the bill Wednesday, saying the Board of Regents has been "mismanaged," and its members have shown a blatant disregard for open-meeting laws.

Reducing the size of the board to nine from 13 members, reducing terms to four years from six years, and allowing the governor to appoint all but three seats will curb the problems, Giunchigliani said.

The appointments will allow for a better balance on the board, including gender balance and a mix of people from both urban and rural communities, she said.

But Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, said he doesn't like the idea of creating so many appointed seats.

"We are reducing the number of people elected on the board," he said. "It grants an awful lot of power to the governor."

Another Republican who voted against the measure, Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, agreed, saying, "It's important for the public to continue to have a say."

The Republicans were joined by Assemblyman Bob McCleary, D-North Las Vegas, who also said he wants to retain the power of the people to choose their representatives.

"It seems backward to me," he said. "If I'm going to err, I'm going to err on the side of allowing the people to choose. This is a constitutional amendment. This is very important. I'm asking this body to very thoughtfully consider this."

The bill eventually passed, 29-13.

Giunchigliani said she supported the bill before she worked briefly for the Community College of Southern Nevada, a position she resigned from last year. She said she initiated the amendment before she took the job.

Regents have recently vowed to lobby state senators to vote against the bill.

The Assembly cleared another constitutional amendment on Wednesday, Assembly Joint Resolution 13, which would allow the Legislature to convene a special session if two-thirds of the members in each house call for it.

Right now, Nevada is one of 16 states where just the governor has the power to call a special session, said Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas.

"It seemed rather strange that when government is divided into three separate branches that one branch that's responsible for the Legislature should not be able to call itself into session in an emergency," Mortenson said. "That's the genesis of this bill."

The Assembly passed the bill unanimously.