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Senate panel approves amendment-backed bill tying broadband grant scores to certification, workforce standards
Summary
The committee approved an amended Senate Bill 93 requiring agencies awarding broadband grants to score applications on certain workforce and training factors, set OSHA training and prevailing wage expectations, and require at least 50% Nevada residents in a qualified local workforce; motion carried with three nays.
The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee voted in a work session to recommend passage, as amended, of Senate Bill 93, a measure that requires state agencies awarding grants, loans or federal funds for broadband infrastructure to evaluate and score applications on specified factors and relative weights.
Patrick Ashton of the Legislative Counsel Bureau summarized amendments adopted before the committee action. The changes revised the certification and scoring requirements and spelled out workforce and training expectations tied to grant applications. Key amendments require grant‑award applicants to document training programs (including OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 courses), provide workers with at least prevailing wages and health plan coverage that includes dependents, require a “qualified local workforce” of at least 50% Nevada residents, and authorize agencies to adopt regulations for implementation.
Senator Flores moved to do pass as amended; Senator Scheibel seconded. The committee recorded nay votes from Senators Ellison, Rogich and Steinbeck; the chair directed the secretary to enter those no votes and the motion carried.
The amendment package also removed an exemption that would have exempted signatories to certain collective bargaining agreements from certification requirements and removed a related prevailing‑wage exception. Agencies that award broadband development funds will now have a 30% relative weight to applications that include the prescribed certification, per the amendment summary presented by Ashton.
Committee members discussed the amendment language and asked staff questions; the committee instructed agencies and staff to proceed with the amended language as the committee’s recommendation.
The motion passed in committee and will be reported to the full Senate with the committee’s amendments.
