SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
CARSON CITY — Governor Jim Gibbons today amended the proclamation that sets forth the agenda for legislators meeting in special session in Carson City. Under the Nevada Constitution, during a special session of the legislature, legislators can only consider matters set forth by the Governor.
Governor Gibbons has added the following items for legislative consideration during the present special session:
Race To The Top: Nevada law needs to be changed so the state can apply for federal funds under the federal Race To The Top program. Presently, Nevada law does not allow student achievement scores to be used to evaluate teacher performance. This law prevents Nevada from applying for Race To The Top funds. Nevada is the only state in the union with this law.
A recent Nevada Supreme Court decision does not clarify ambiguities in Nevada laws regarding water rights. The legislature needs to consider changing Nevada laws in this area.
The addendum to the proclamation clarifies and provides detail for legislative consideration of new laws or changes to existing laws regarding collective bargaining, including making collective bargaining sessions subject to Nevada’s Open Meeting law and requiring that union contracts that involve state general funds be approved by the Nevada State Board of Examiners.
Governor Gibbons believes it is prudent, because of the high daily cost of the special session, that a time limit should be placed on the legislative session in order to promote expeditious handling of the important matters being considered. Additionally, all proposed budget reductions and measures were based on a March 1, 2010 implementation date. Governor Gibbons has declared that the special legislative session shall end no later than 11:59 PST on Sunday, February 28, 2010.
Please refer to the accompanying “FIRST AMENDED PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR” for more information.
