Sandoval task force looks to eliminate unneeded state boards

By Cy Ryan

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 | 3:13 p.m.

CARSON CITY – The Sunset Task Force, created by Gov. Brian Sandoval to review whether certain state boards and commissions could be abolished, started with a small misstep.

Former Sen. Bill Raggio, the chairman of the task force, called the governor forward to give remarks, but Raggio identified Sandoval as the late Gov. Kenny Guinn. After some snickering, the meeting got under way.

In 1977, former Gov. Mike O’Callaghan abolished boards and commissions that weren't established by law. But in the 33 years since there has been a proliferation of non-statutory committees and task forces.

Fourteen of them have not met in the past 10 years.

Bruce Arkell, a representative for senior citizens, said he was appointed to the Governor’s Literacy Coalition Advisory Council that was formed in 1989, but he said there was never a meeting of the group.

There are no records of the boards, said Dana Bennett, a senior researcher in the office of the governor.

The Nevada Interagency Council on Homelessness, created in 2005, met but decided homelessness was a problem best handled by local governments. Raggio noted the council was charged with drawing up a 10-year plan to combat the problem of homelessness, but the plan was never achieved.

Mary Liveratti, deputy director of the state Department of Health and Human Services, said 10-year programs were drafted by governments in Clark and Washoe counties.

Dale Erquiaga, senior adviser to the governor, said Tuesday the governor wants the task force to recommend whether boards should continue, be eliminated, be consolidated or find that the issues that prompted the creation of the advisory committee were never addressed.

The governor wants the sunset commission to complete its work by June 30 and to report to him by July 15.

Also serving on the board are former Sens. Ann O’Connell of Las Vegas and Bernice Matthews of Reno.

One board that received strong support for continuance was the Nevada Re-Entry Task Force, due to expire in 2013.

Larry Mosley, director of the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, told the governor’s task force it provides job training and education for 5,000 inmates who are released from prison every year. The re-entry task force has received $1.4 million in federal funds to carry out the programs.