At the capital: three common-sense reforms

Hi, I’m Victor Joecks with the Nevada Policy Research Institute, here from Carson City.

This Friday, February 27, 2015, at 1 p.m. the Senate Government Affairs Committee is going to be hearing three labor reform bills, SB120, SB158 and SB168.

Introduced by Sen. Greg Brower, SB120 would require that school districts consider a teacher or administrator’s performance evaluation when conducting layoffs. If that just sounds like common sense, you’re right. I wonder if the teachers union will oppose it.

Sponsored by the Senate Government Affairs Committee, SB158 would require that local governments release any new, extended or modified collective bargaining agreements to the public 10 days before elected officials vote on the contract. If that just sounds like common sense, you’re right. I wonder how many unions will oppose it.

Introduced by Sen. James Settelmeyer, SB168 would exclude an ending fund balance of 25 percent of total expenditures from being subject to collective bargaining and allow local governments to reopen collective bargaining agreements in cases of a fiscal emergency. If that just sounds like common sense, you’re right.

It’s proof of how powerful union officials are that these common sense reforms weren’t enacted years ago.

If you’re interested in providing public testimony on these bills, you can do so from either Las Vegas or Carson City. The committee agenda, including room numbers and addresses is here.

Victor Joecks is Executive Vice President at the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a non-partisan, free market think tank.