system, was to open what "eventually ... will be a
barn door" for Nevadans interested in their
government.
O'Donnell, a computer business owner, says
he's excited about the new approach.
"There is no doubt in my mind that
bringing the hearing process to the home of the people
will make for better laws," he says.
The Nevada Legislature's new system -- still
being completed during the last days before the session's
scheduled Monday start -- is being constructed and
assembled by Pythia Corporation of Indianapolis.
"There are essentially four components to
what we're doing," said Vice President for
Development Paul Manzullo.
"One of them is called the 'Chamber
Automation System [CHASY],' and that is the laptops.
"Another part of the system is called the
'Front Desk,' [which is] our session automation system.
"Another piece is called 'Bill
Drafting,'" which the Legislative Counsel Bureau
uses.
"And there's a fourth piece called
'Voting,' ... which is essentially an electro-mechanical
interface to our software which is run in the
[legislative] chambers. Voting controls the microphones,
and the buttons on peoples' desk, and the tape recorder,
and so on."
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Manzullo
says all four parts work together.
"One would use Bill Drafting to create
drafts of documents, which would be introduced into our
Front Desk, our session automation," he said.
"Once they were introduced there, they would become
bills, [then] once they were bills, they would become
available and visible on the CHASY system. As they went
through the process -- i.e., votes were taken, motions
were made, readings occurred, etc. -- the bill's status
would also appear on the CHASY system."
Where does the connection make its connection
to the Internet?
"The Internet will come out of CHASY --
the chamber automation system," said Manzullo.
"In other words, bill status would be
available, through the Internet, as well as any
introduced bill, as well as amendments to bills, and the
enrolling and engrossing process would occur."
Nichols said about 105 laptops were purchased
-- 65 especially hardy Panasonics with touch screens (63
for 63 legislators, and two for spares)
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