AB8 - Revises provisions governing the Merit Award Board. (BDR 23-226)

A.B. 8 - *AB8* ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 8–COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS (ON BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION) PREFILED OCTOBER 28, 2026 ____________ Referred to Committee on Government Affairs SUMMARY—Revises provisions governing the Merit Award Board. (BDR 23-226) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: No. Effect on the State Highway Fund: No. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to state employees; revising provisions governing the membership of the Merit Award Board; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law provides requirements and procedures for collective bargaining 1 between the Executive Department of State Government and certain state 2 employees, including a procedure for the designation of a labor organization as the 3 exclusive representative of a bargaining unit of such state employees. (NRS 4 288.400-288.630) Existing law establishes the Merit Award Program to provide 5 awards to certain state employees who propose suggestions that would reduce, 6 eliminate or avoid state expenditures or improve the operation of the State 7 Government (Chapter 285 of NRS). Under existing law, the controlling authority of 8 the Program is the Merit Award Board. The Board is required to be composed of 9 five members, including two persons who are members of the American Federation 10 of State, County and Municipal Employees or its successor. (NRS 285.030) Section 11 1 of this bill expands the qualifications for those two positions on the Board to 12 include a member of any labor organization that is designated as the exclusive 13 representative of a bargaining unit. Section 1 requires the Administrator of the 14 Division of Human Resource Management of the Department of Administration to 15 appoint those members from a list of names submitted by such labor organizations 16 that are designated as exclusive representatives of bargaining units. 17 – 2 – - *AB8* THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. NRS 285.030 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 285.030 1. The controlling authority of the Merit Award 2 Program is the Merit Award Board. 3 2. The Board must be composed of five members as follows: 4 (a) Two persons [who are members] , each of whom is a 5 member of [the American Federation of State, County and 6 Municipal Employees or its successor, designated by the executive 7 committee of that Federation or its successor.] a labor organization 8 designated as the exclusive representative of a bargaining unit 9 pursuant to NRS 288.520, 288.525 or 288.530 appointed by the 10 Administrator of the Division of Human Resource Management of 11 the Department of Administration. The Administrator shall 12 appoint each member from a list of names submitted by such labor 13 organizations. 14 (b) One member from the Budget Division of the Office of 15 Finance appointed by the Chief of the Budget Division. 16 (c) One member from the Division of Human Resource 17 Management of the Department of Administration appointed by the 18 Administrator of the Division. 19 (d) One member appointed by and representing the Governor. 20 3. The member from either the Budget Division of the Office 21 of Finance or the Division of Human Resource Management of the 22 Department of Administration [must] shall serve as the Secretary of 23 the Board. 24 4. The Board shall adopt regulations for transacting its business 25 and carrying out the provisions of this chapter. 26 5. Within the limits of legislative appropriations, the Board 27 may expend up to $5,000 per year on expenses relating to the 28 operation of the Board. 29 Sec. 2. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2027. 30 H