May '08 Nevada Government—Governor Jim Gibbons Column

Governor Visiting Troops In Middle East

Governor Jim Gibbons has traveled to the Middle East to visit United States military and Nevada National Guard troops defending our country in the Global War on Terror.

Gibbons, a former Air Force and Nevada Air Guard combat pilot who fought in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars, arrived in the Middle East on Monday and is scheduled to receive briefings on the United States’ military operations in the region and meet with various groups of service men and women.

“There’s nothing more essential to our liberty than the willingness of these brave men and women to make such an incredible sacrifice for our nation,” Gibbons said. “For someone serving overseas, knowing you have the support of the people back at home is very important, and I wanted to be sure every armed forces member over there, but especially those from Nevada, know our entire state is standing behind them.”

The Governor’s trip was organized and funded by the United States Department of Defense. It is one of a sequence of trips the DOD schedules with governors from across the country. Gibbons’ delegation also includes Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

The Governor is commander in chief of the Nevada National Guard, which currently has about 140 soldiers deployed to the Middle East. Additional deployments are scheduled for later this year. Nevada’s National Guard currently has 3,600 members. At a high point about half of the Guard was deployed in support of the Global War on Terror.

“While our elected officials frequently get the chance to see our Nevada guardsmen in our state roles, it’s also critical for them to see the part we play in our federal mission,” said Major General Cynthia Kirkland, the adjutant general for Nevada.

Governor Helps Kick Off Wildland Fire Awareness Week

Governor Jim Gibbons helped kick off Nevada Wildland Fire Awareness Week with festivities at Washoe Lake State Park.

Wildland Fire Awareness Week runs May 17 – May 24 and was created by proclamation of the Governor to raise awareness about individual responsibilities for preventing wildland fires and protecting life and property.

“It’s critically important that the people of Nevada take every precaution possible to prevent these terrible fires,” the Governor said. “All it takes is one accidental or careless spark to ignite a deadly wildfire. People must be cautious of their surroundings, create defensible space around their property and have individual emergency plans in case a fire breaks out.”

The Governor encourages citizens to take part in the various events occurring all week to raise awareness of wildland fires. For more information, please visit the Nevada Division of Forestry at http://www.livingwithfire.info.

Governor Signs Emergency Regulations to Protect Children Born in Prisons

Governor Jim Gibbons signed emergency regulations to help ensure children born to Nevada prison inmates are placed in the custody of a responsible caregiver.

The regulations require a criminal background check on anyone deemed a temporary guardian for a child born to an inmate. The Department of Corrections will work with the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate any additional investigations.

“While still respecting the rights of the mother, we need to ensure that infants born to our inmates are placed in safe environments,” Gibbons said. “These regulations will help accomplish that while also mandating better record keeping and improved coordination between state agencies and local governments.”

The regulations require that a prison social worker coordinate pending child placements with the expecting mother. Once the mother selects a caregiver, the department will run a criminal background check through the National Crime Information System. The findings of that check will be forwarded to the Division of Child and Family Services, which will conduct any follow up investigations.

If the potential guardian is deemed inappropriate following these investigations, officials from DCFS will work with local government officials to place the infant in a safe environment.

“In the past, our department has essentially coordinated the release of any infant born in our system from the mother to the guardian of her choosing,” Department of Corrections Director Howard Skolnick said. “This process will ensure that the child is being released into a safe home.”
Questions about the protection of children born in prisons arose when a woman was arrested in Wisconsin on drug charges and had a child with her she alleged she received through the Nevada Department of Corrections. DNA evidence to verify this claim is still pending.

“Regardless of the findings of the Wisconsin case, it’s important that we have these procedures in place to protect these children in the future,” said Health and Human Services Director Mike Willden.

In 2006 and 2007, a total of 55 babies were born to Nevada prison inmates.

Transportation Board Approves Public-Private

Partnership Demonstration Project

The Nevada State Board of Transportation approved the recommendation of Governor Jim Gibbons’ Public-Private Partnership Advisory Committee studying transportation to conduct a demonstration project in Clark County.

The board approved the recommendation that the Nevada Department of Transportation create a public-private partnership that will improve capacity along the Interstate 15 corridor through Las Vegas. The proposed demonstration project will convert high-occupancy vehicle and emergency lanes into managed lanes with electronic toll collection and video enforcement.

Gibbons created the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Committee in April 2007 to evaluate the potential for alternative funding mechanisms for critical transportation infrastructure improvements throughout Nevada. The panel concluded its work earlier this year and made its recommendations to the Transportation Board today.

“I’m very happy with the hard work and long hours this group put in to this report,” Gibbons said. “During these difficult fiscal times, it’s essential that we look at every alternative for funding our transportation needs. This group has evaluated the necessity of adding this tool to NDOT’s toolbox, and I support the findings.”

The Transportation Board approved the recommendation of having NDOT move forward with its demonstration project along I-15 to ensure the program works in Nevada. The board also supported proposed legislation that will be needed before the project can proceed.

“This is very exciting for the state and will help us meet the growing demand that is being put on our infrastructure,” said NDOT Director Susan Martinovich. “We’re happy to be moving forward, improving capacity along Clark County’s busiest corridor and developing a new financing tool we could potentially use for future projects.”

Governor Directs CDC Report To State Web

Governor Jim Gibbons and Department of Health and Human Services Director Mike Willden directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) be posted to the state’s Web site for easy access by citizens.

The CDC issued the report today. It details the center’s findings from its investigation into the Clark County hepatitis C outbreak. The report can be accessed on the DHHS Web site at http://health.nv.gov

The MMWR includes observations from CDC personnel during an onsite visit to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada following the discovery of the hepatitis C infections. The report also links several of the acute hepatitis C infections to procedures performed at the Endoscopy Center.

“It’s essential that the public have access to this report,” Gibbons said. “It contains an accounting of what the CDC found during its inspections of this facility, and people need all the information available to ensure their safety.”

The CDC will release an additional, more detailed report to the State within the next few days. The CDC Trip Report details the epidemiologic findings of the agency surveyors, including a timeline for the events that led to the decision to send letters to more than 40,000 former Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada patients urging them to be tested for hepatitis B, C, and HIV.

The CDC Trip Report will also be added to the DHHS website when it is received by the State.