Compare versions

--- version:As Introduced
+++ version:(document, no version)
@@ -1,189 +1,53 @@
-  A.B. 160
+Bill Summary
 
-- *AB160*
+1
+Senate Committee on Revenue and Economic Development
 
-ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 160–ASSEMBLYMEMBERS
-YEAGER AND O’NEILL
+Bill Number:  Assembly Bill 160 (1 st Reprint) – Creates the Nevada-Ireland Trade
+Commission. (BDR 18-650)
 
-PREFILED JANUARY 30, 2025
-____________
+Sponsored by:  Assemblymembers Yeager, O’Neill, and Gray
 
-Referred to Committee on Revenue
+Date Heard:  May 29, 2025
 
-SUMMARY—Creates the Nevada -Ireland Trade Commission.
-(BDR 18-650)
+Fiscal Impact:  Effect on Local Government: No.
+   Effect on the State: Yes.
 
-FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
- Effect on the State: Yes.
+Note:  Assembly Bill 160 was declared as being eligible for exemption by
+the Fiscal Analysis Division on February 20, 2025.
 
-~
+Background:
+Chapter 231 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) provides for general provisions for
+economic development in the state.  Nevada Revised Statutes 231.033 creates the Board
+of Economic Development, and its duties purs uant to NRS 231.037 in clude overseeing
+various aspects of economic development in Nevada.  The Governor’s Office of Economic
+Development (GOED) is required to provide administrative and technical support to the
+Board pursuant to NRS 231.055.
 
-EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
+Assembly Bill 160, in its first reprint, creates the Nevada-Ireland Trade Commission in
+Chapter 231 of NRS.  The Commission's purpose includes fostering economic, academic,
+and cultural ties between Nevada and Ireland.  The Commission consists of nine members,
+including legislators and guber natorial appointees  representing hi gher education,
+commerce, and Irish-American communities or interests in Nevada without compensation,
+except eligible per diem allowances and trav el expenses related to the business of the
+Commission. The Commission is responsib le for promoting bilateral trade and
+investment, developing joint policy init iatives, encouraging business and academic
+exchanges, and fostering economic cooperation and infrastructure investment.
 
-AN ACT relating to economic development; creating the Nevada -
-Ireland Trade Commission; prescribing the membership,
-powers and duties of the Commission; creating the
-Account for the Nevada -Ireland Trade Commission; and
-providing other matters properly relating thereto.
-Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
- Existing law creates the Board of Economic Development, which is required to 1
-review and make recommendations on various aspects of economic development in 2
-Nevada. (NRS 231.033, 231.037) Section 3 of this bill creates the Nevada -Ireland 3
-Trade Commission, which consists of nine members. Section 4 of this bill: (1) 4
-provides for the officers of the Commission; (2) prescribes requirements for 5
-meetings of the Commission; and (3) requires the Office of Economic Development 6
-to provide necessary administrative support to the Commission. Section 5 of this 7
-bill requires the Commission to study and make recommendations to the Board of 8
-Economic Development regarding: (1) advancing bilateral trade and investment  9
-between Nevada and Ireland; (2) initiating joint action on policy issues of mutual 10
-interest to Nevada and Ireland; (3) promoting business and academic exchanges 11
-between Nevada and Ireland; (4) encouraging mutual economic support between 12
-Nevada and Ireland ; (5) encouraging mutual investment in the infrastructure of 13
-Nevada and Ireland; and (6) such other issues as determined by the Commission. 14
-Section 5 also requires the Commi ssion to prepare and submit an annual report of 15
-its activities and recommendations to the Director of the Legislative Counsel 16
-Bureau and the Governor. Section 6 of this bill creates the Account for the Nevada-17
-Ireland Trade Commission in the State General Fund, which is required to be 18
-administered by the Commission and only used to carry out the activities of the 19
-Commission. Section 6 also: (1) authorizes the Commission to apply for grants and 20
-accept gifts, grants, bequests and other contributions; and (2) requires that any such 21
+GOED is required to provide administrative support to the Commission in carrying out the
+provisions of this Act.  The Commission is  required to submit an annual report on its
+activities to the Legislature and the Governor .  The bill additionall y creates the Account
+for the Nevada-Ireland Trade Commission in the State General Fund to carry out the
+provisions of the bill, and the Commission is authorized to apply for grants and accept
+donations.  The funds in this account must not  revert to the State General Fund at the
+end of each fiscal year.
 
- – 2 –
+Questions for Consideration:
+1. Are the bill presenters aware of how much annual trade exists currently between
+Nevada and Ireland?
+2. Are there specific industries this Commission  is going to concentrate on in its effort to
+foster economic ties between Nevada and Ireland?
+3. How does the Commission envision to fund its activities?
 
-- *AB160*
-money received by the Commission be deposited in t he Account. Section 2 of this 22
-bill defines the term “Commission” for purposes of sections 3-6. 23
-
- WHEREAS, During the early mining boom in Nevada in the mid-1
-1800s, Irish immigrants were a significant part of this State’s 2
-population and workforce; and 3
- WHEREAS, The rich Irish heritage of Nevada is reflected in the 4
-names of many prominent Nevadans, including, McCarran, Mackay, 5
-Manogue and O’Callaghan, who made important contributions to 6
-this State in the areas of religion, government, development, 7
-business and gaming; and 8
- WHEREAS, There are significant and enduring connections 9
-between Nevada and Ireland, and Nevada has historic and practical 10
-reasons to desire the building of stronger economic, educational, 11
-governmental and cultural links with Ireland; and 12
- WHEREAS, In light of the mutual economic interests of Nevada 13
-and Ireland and the need to adapt to the evolving global economy, 14
-creation of a trade commission demonstrates a shared commitment 15
-to fostering stronger commercial ties between Nevada and Ireland to 16
-encourage investment between, leverage the resources of and create 17
-mutually beneficial opportunities for both regions; and  18
- WHEREAS, A trade commission will also serve as a platform for 19
-educational and cultural exchanges and for building a lasting and 20
-collaborative relationship with a global partner; now, therefore, 21
- 22
-THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN 23
-SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 24
- 25
- Section 1.  Chapter 231 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 26
-thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this 27
-act. 28
- Sec. 2.  As used in sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this act, unless 29
-the context otherwise requires, “Commission” means the Nevada -30
-Ireland Trade Commission created by section 3 of this act. 31
- Sec. 3.  1.  There is hereby created the Nevada -Ireland 32
-Trade Commission, consisting of the following nine members: 33
- (a) Two members of the Senate, appointed by the Majority 34
-Leader of the Senate; 35
- (b) Two members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of 36
-the Assembly; and 37
- (c) Five members appointed by the Governor, including, 38
-without limitation: 39
-  (1) A representative of the Nevada System of Higher 40
-Education; 41
-
- – 3 –
-
-- *AB160*
-  (2) A representative of a  chamber of commerce or trade 1
-association; and 2
-  (3) A representative of the general public who represents 3
-Irish-American communities or interests in this State. 4
- 2.  After the initial terms, each member of the Commission 5
-serves a term of 2 years. A member  of the Commission may be 6
-reappointed.  7
- 3.  The membership of any member of the Commission who is 8
-a Legislator and who is not a candidate for reelection or who is 9
-defeated for reelection terminates on the day next after the general 10
-election. 11
- 4.  Any vaca ncy occurring in the membership of the 12
-Commission must be filled in the same manner as the original 13
-appointment. A member appointed to fill a vacancy serves as a 14
-member of the Commission for the remainder of the original term 15
-of appointment.  16
- 5.  Each member of the Commission: 17
- (a) Serves without compensation; and 18
- (b) While engaged in the business of the Commission, is 19
-entitled to receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses 20
-provided for state officers and employees generally. 21
- Sec. 4.  1.  The members of the Commission shall elect a 22
-Chair and Vice Chair  from among its members . After the initial 23
-election, the Chair and Vice Chair serve for a term of 1 year 24
-beginning on July 1 of each year. If the position of Chair or Vice 25
-Chair becomes vacant, the members of the Commission shall elect 26
-a Chair or Vice Chair, as appropriate, from among its members 27
-for the remainder of the unexpired term. 28
- 2.  The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chair or a 29
-majority of the members of the Commission. 30
- 3.  A majority of the members of the Commission constitutes a 31
-quorum and is required to transact any business of the 32
-Commission. 33
- 4.  The Office shall provide the Commission with such 34
-administrative support as is necessary to assist th e Commission in 35
-carrying out the provisions of sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this act. 36
- Sec. 5.  1.  The Commission shall study and make 37
-recommendations to the Board regarding: 38
- (a) Advancing bilateral trade and investment between Nevada 39
-and Ireland; 40
- (b) Initiating joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to 41
-Nevada and Ireland; 42
- (c) Promoting business and academic exchanges between 43
-Nevada and Ireland; 44
-
- – 4 –
-
-- *AB160*
- (d) Encouraging mutual economic support between Nevada 1
-and Ireland; 2
- (e) Encouraging mutual investment in the infrastructur e of 3
-Nevada and Ireland; and 4
- (f) Such other issues as determined by the Commission. 5
- 2.  On or before October 1 of each year, the Commission 6
-shall: 7
- (a) Prepare a written report of its activities during the 8
-immediately preceding fiscal year and any recommendations; and 9
- (b) Submit a copy of the written report prepared pursuant to 10
-paragraph (a) to: 11
-  (1) The Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for 12
-transmittal to: 13
-   (I) If the report is prepared in an even -numbered year, 14
-the next regular session of the Legislature; or 15
-   (II) If the report is prepared in an odd -numbered year, 16
-the Legislative Commission. 17
-  (2) The Governor. 18
- Sec. 6.  1.  The Account for the Nevada -Ireland Trade 19
-Commission is hereby created in the State General Fund.  20
- 2.  The Commission shall administer the Account. The money 21
-in the Account must be used only to carry out the provisions of 22
-sections 2 to 6, inclusive, of this act, including, without limitation, 23
-for payment of administrative costs and expenses relating to travel, 24
-meals and lodging.  25
- 3.  The Commission may apply for any available grants and 26
-accept gifts, grants, bequests and other contributions from any 27
-public or private source for deposit in the Account. 28
- 4.  The interest and income earned on the money  in the 29
-Account, after deducting applicable charges, must be credited to 30
-the Account.  31
- 5.  Money in the Account must remain in the Account and 32
-must not revert to the State General Fund at the end of any fiscal 33
-year. 34
- Sec. 7.  The provisions of NRS 218D.380 do not apply to any 35
-provision of this act which adds or revises a requirement to submit a 36
-report to the Legislature. 37
- Sec. 8.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2025. 38
-
-H
+I:\ONGOING\Session 2025\Floor Statements and Bill Summari es\Senate Revenue and Economic Development\AB 160_R1_Bill
+Summary_CT_mm.docx