SB153 Testimony (Evergreen Clauses)

Testimony in Opposition re: Senate Bill 153 – Senate Government Affairs Committee

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

6:30pm

My name is Daniel Honchariw. I represent the Nevada Policy Research Institute as its senior policy analyst and registered lobbyist.

NPRI opposes SB153, primarily due to its proposed implementation of so-called “evergreen clauses” in collective bargaining agreements.

Such clauses will lead to significantly increased taxpayer costs, beyond the millions of dollars estimated in the fiscal notes provided. The fiscal note provided by the Clark County School District alone indicates SB153 will take $72 million out of the classroom over the next biennium.

This bill would also reduce the incentive for government unions to negotiate in good faith over a new contract, knowing that certain terms of their previous contract can be extended indefinitely, in the event of an impasse. Such an arrangement greatly tips the scales in favor of government unions, at the expense of public employers and taxpayers.

Because SB153 will increase taxpayer costs by many tens of millions of dollars, while further weakening the ability for taxpayers to have their voices heard at the bargaining table, this committee should oppose SB153 in its entirety.