Nevada taxpayers' bill for trip to conference: $59,000

The Nevada Legislature will send more staff than lawmakers to an annual legislative conference in Chicago, at a total cost to taxpayers of about $59,000.

Thirteen lawmakers and 16 staff members plan to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures meeting, which begins Sunday and runs through July 20.

Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said the final cost of the trip will depend on what expenses are turned in for reimbursement.

The annual conference is the largest for lawmakers and their staff, and typically attracts about 5,000 people. It was held in Las Vegas in 1998.

While legislative travel costs and the need for lawmakers to travel to conferences have sometimes been questioned, Malkiewich said the training opportunities are important.

''With citizen legislators, it is very difficult for them to get up to speed on all the current issues,'' he said. ''These conferences are one good way to let people keep up and see what others have done.''

Nevada lawmakers serve part time, with legislative sessions occurring in odd-numbered years and lasting 120 days.

Four senators and nine Assembly members plan attend the Chicago conference: Sens. Maggie Carlton, Bob Coffin and Dina Titus, all D-Las Vegas, and Bernice Mathews, D-Sparks; Assembly members Doug Bache, David Goldwater, John Lee and Wendell Williams, all D-Las Vegas; Morse Arberry and Vonne Chowning, both D-North Las Vegas; Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas; Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City; and Richard Perkins, D-Henderson.