AN ACT relating to governmental administration; eliminating certain reporting requirements to the Legislative Branch of State Government; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Existing law creates the Interim Finance Committee, commonly known as IFC, which is authorized to exercise certain powers only when the Legislature is not in a regular or special session. (NRS 218E.400, 218E.405) Section 1 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the Attorney General submit annually to IFC an itemized statement of the income and expenditures for the Registry Account created in the State General Fund for purposes of depositing the fees paid by certain telephone solicitors. Section 2 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development within the Office of the Governor submit an annual report to IFC relating to the Catalyst Account and certain transferable tax credits to promote economic development. Section 3 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the Director of the Department of Corrections submit a report to each meeting of IFC identifying any accounts receivable relating to a program for the employment of offenders. Existing law creates the Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation within the Fiscal Analysis Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, which has certain duties relating to: (1) collecting and analyzing data; and (2) conducting studies and analyses relating to the public education system within the State. Existing law further requires the Legislative Bureau of Educational Accountability and Program Evaluation to submit a written report of its findings on such issues: (1) on or before October 1 of each even-numbered year to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the next regular session; and (2) on or before October 1 of each odd-numbered year to the Director for transmission to the Legislative Commission and the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education. (NRS 218E.625) Section 4 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the Bureau submit a written report of its findings on or before October 1 of each odd-numbered year to the Director for transmission to the Legislative Commission and the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Education. Under existing law, any state employee or group of state employees may submit to the Merit Award Board an employee suggestion, which is a proposal that would: (1) reduce, eliminate or avoid state expenditures; or (2) improve the operation of the State Government. (NRS 285.014, 285.050) Existing law requires the Board to provide a report relating to employee suggestions to the Budget Division of the Office of Finance and IFC not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year ending on June 30 of an even-numbered year. (NRS 285.060) Section 5 of this bill eliminates the requirement that such a report be submitted to IFC. Existing law requires each local government that enters into a performance contract to submit a report that includes certain information relating to such contracts to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislature if the Legislature is in session or to the Interim Finance Committee if the Legislature is not in session. (NRS 332.431) Section 6 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the report be submitted to IFC when the Legislature is not in session. Existing law requires that every 6 months the Purchasing Division of the Department of Administration submit to the Legislature, if it is in session, or to IFC and the Legislative Committee on Senior Citizens, Veterans and Adults with Special Needs, if the Legislature is not in session, a report that includes certain information relating to state purchasing contracts and local businesses owned and operated by a veteran with a service-connected disability that submitted bids or proposals on state purchasing contracts. (NRS 333.3368) Section 7 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the report be submitted to IFC when the Legislature is not in session. Existing law requires that, at least once every 6 months, each board or commission of this State and each institution of the Nevada System of Higher Education that employs a consultant submit a report to IFC setting forth certain information about the consultant. (NRS 333.705) Section 8 of this bill eliminates this requirement. Existing law requires the Board of Trustees of the College Savings Plans of Nevada to prepare an annual report setting forth in appropriate detail an accounting and a description of the financial condition of the Nevada Higher Education Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund at the close of each fiscal year. The Board is required to submit the report: (1) in odd-numbered years, to the Governor, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and the Assembly Standing Committee on Ways and Means; and (2) in even-numbered years, to the Governor and IFC. (NRS 353B.170) Section 9 of this bill eliminates the requirement that such a report be submitted to IFC in even-numbered years. Section 10 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the State Board of Education submit, on a quarterly basis, a report to IFC on certain variances from the pupil-teacher ratios that are requested by a school district. Section 11 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the Department of Health and Human Services report to IFC any applications for and the receipt of any gifts or grants that the Department is authorized to accept for the establishment of a program for child care. Section 12 of this bill eliminates the requirement that each local air pollution control agency that receives certain money from the Pollution Control Account submit to IFC an annual report on the use of such money received. Section 13 of this bill makes a conforming change to reflect the elimination of the requirement in section 12. Existing law provides that if a judicial or administrative proceeding has been initiated, by or on behalf of a person or another entity from outside of this State, that could adversely affect or place in jeopardy a water right or supply of water within this State, a local government may submit a request to the Director of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for a special distribution by the Interim Finance Committee from the Contingency Account. IFC may make a special distribution from the Contingency Account if it makes certain findings. The recipient of such a special distribution is required to report to IFC upon the expenditure of the money at such times and in such detail as is required by IFC. (NRS 538.650) Section 14 of this bill eliminates such reporting requirements. Existing law establishes an account known as the “Recovery Fund,” which is administered by the State Contractor's Board. (NRS 624.470) Existing law authorizes certain injured persons who suffer actual damages as a result of an act or omission of a residential contractor to receive payment for damages from the Recovery Fund. (NRS 624.510) Existing law requires the Board, on or before February 1 of each year, to prepare and submit to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the appropriate legislative committee if the Legislature is in session, or to the Interim Finance Committee if the Legislature is not in session, a statement of the condition of the Recovery Fund that is prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. (NRS 624.540) Section 15 of this bill: (1) eliminates the requirement that the Board submit this report to IFC when the Legislature is not in session; and (2) requires the report to be submitted in February of each odd-numbered year to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the appropriate legislative committee. Existing law requires the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine to establish a program for the evaluation and research of the medical use of cannabis in the care and treatment of persons who have been diagnosed with a chronic or debilitating medical condition. The School of Medicine is required, on a quarterly basis, to report to IFC with respect to: (1) the progress made by the School of Medicine in obtaining federal approval for the research program; and (2) if the research program receives federal approval, the status of, activities of and information received from the research program. (NRS 678C.700) Section 16 of this bill eliminates this reporting requirement. Section 17 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation and the Housing Division of the Department of Business and Industry each submit a report to IFC at each meeting held by IFC relating to certain contractual relationships with one or more nonprofit collaboratives to carry out the State's mission of creating new jobs in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy by combining job training with weatherization, energy retrofit applications or the development of renewable energy plants. Section 18 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the State Public Works Board, each of the school districts and the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada each provide a report to IFC which describes certain projects for weatherization and retrofitting. Existing law authorizes, under certain circumstances, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to alter the organization of the Commission and reassign responsibilities and duties of the sections of the Commission as the Commission deems necessary. Before reorganizing, the Commission is required to submit the plan for reorganization to: (1) the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the appropriate legislative committee and IFC; and (2) the Director of the Office of Finance. (NRS 703.025) Section 19 of this bill eliminates the requirement that the plan for reorganization be submitted to IFC. Section 20 of this bill eliminates the requirement under the Clark County Sales and Use Tax Act of 2005 that certain governing bodies submit a copy of a report relating to the proceeds from certain sales and use tax to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to IFC. Section 21 of this bill repeals the requirement that a school district submit to IFC at least once every 6 months a report concerning certain consultants employed by the district.