SB 446 — Revises provisions relating to the Western Regional Education Compact. (BDR 18-1072)

EXEMPTSenate S.B.Bill No.

446446–Committee SENATEon BILLNFinance OCHAPTER.......... .

446–COMMITTEE ON F INANCE (O NB EHALF OF THE OFFICE OF FINANCE IN THE OFFICE OF THE G OVERNOR ) M AY 13, 2021 ____________ Referred to Committee on Education SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to the Western Regional Education Compact.

(BDR 18-1072) FISCAL NOTE:

Effect on Local Government:

No.

Effect on the State:

Executive Budget.

~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Existing law authorizes the execution of the Western Regional Education Compact for the purpose of the State of Nevada cooperating with other western states in the formation of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

(NRS 397.010) Under the terms of the Compact, Nevada residents may participate in programs that provide financial support to assist them in obtaining technical, graduate or professional education at institutions located within the states and territories that are signatories to the Compact.

(NRS 397.020) The Compact creates the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, consisting of three Commissioners from each state or territory that is a signatory to the Compact.

(NRS 397.020, 397.030) In furtherance of the Compact, the Office of the Western Regional Education Compact is created under existing law within the Office of the 223.700)Governor Sections 1, 2 and 4 of this bill remove the OfficeGovernor ofis therequired Westernto Regionalappoint Educationa CompactDirector from within the Office of the Governor.Office.

Section(NRS 223.700) Sections 1, 2 alsoand changes4 of this bill remove the Office of the Western Regional the appointing authority for the Director of the Office from the Governor to the three Nevada State Commissioners, acting jointly.

Section 3 of this bill provides that on July 1, 2021, the person serving as the Director of the Office of the Western Regional Education Compact within the Office of the Governor on June 30, 2021, threecontinues Nevadato Stateserve Commissioners.ras the Director of the Office and serves at the pleasure of the -three *SB446*Nevada –State 2Commissioners. – THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

- 81st Session (2021) – 2 – 2.

(a) Determine the salaries and benefits of the persons employed pursuant to subsection 1, within limits of money available for that purpose;pur(b) Adopt such rules and policies as he or she deems appropriate to establish the duties and employment rights of the persons employed pursuant to subsection 1.

and (b) Adopt such rules and policies as he or she deems appropriate to establish the duties and employment rights of the persons employed pursuant to subsection 1.

As used in this section, “Administrator” means the ServicesAdministrator of the DepartmentDivision of Administration.nformationEnterprise Information Technology Sec.Services of the Department of Administration.

Sec.

A Nevada State Commissioner shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed and qualified, but the successor’s term expires 4 years after the legal date of expiration of the term of his or her predecessor.

- *SB446* – 3 – 3.

(a) Adopt regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of thi(b) At a meeting held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 241 of NRS, delegate to an officer or employee of the Nevada Office of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education the authority to undertake any actions authorized or required by the provisions of this chapter,chapter; except that any agreement that will be binding on the Commission must be approved by the Commission.

and - 81st Session (2021) – 3 – (b) At a meeting held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 241 of NRS, delegate to an officer or employee of the Nevada Office of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education the authority to undertake any actions authorized or that will be binding on the Commission must be approved by thereement Commission.

TEXT~~~~~ OF21 REPEALED- SECTION81st 223.700Session Creation;(2021)

budget;

appointment and classification of Director;

employment and classification of additional personnel.

1.

There is hereby created within the Office of the Governor the Office of the Western Regional Education Compact.

2.

The Governor shall propose a budget for the Office of the Western Regional Education Compact.

3.

The Governor shall appoint a Director of the Office of the Western Regional Education Compact.

The Director is in the - *SB446* – 4 – unclassified service of the State and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

employ such additional personnel as may be required to carry out the duties of the Office of the Western Regional Education Compact, who must be in the classified service of the State.