The Chamber established Policy Committees exclusively for Chamber members and their employees to engage in conversations on topics and issues relevant and impactful to Southern Nevada. This is an effective way to have your voice heard to help move development diversification ideas forward and lead the way to real change in the Las Vegas community.

Policy Committee meetings are complimentary to attend and open exclusively to Chamber members and their employees. You must be a member in good standing to participate. For more information, email pmoradkhan@lvchamber.com or contact the Chamber's Government Affairs team at 702.641.5822.

Each Policy Committee is co-chaired by members of the Chamber's Board of Trustees or members of the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee. The committee will determine its own agenda, but also may be asked by Chamber staff or Board to address specific or timely issues. Each committee may form sub-committees as deemed advisable. Committees establish their own meeting schedule, but is expected to meet at least bi-monthly. Recommendations from committees will be referred to the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee for approval.

Committee meetings are held at the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce offices in Town Square. Check the events calendar for meeting dates and times.

Insurance & Tort Reform Policy Committee

The committee will work with Chamber members who are independent brokers and agents, property and casualty insurers, life insurers, health underwriters and state regulators to ensure that Nevada's insurance climate is balanced and fair. The committee will also review legislative proposals to make Nevada's legal system simpler, fairer and faster for everyone. The committee will approach reform comprehensively, not only working to change the laws, but advocating for a fairer legal climate. This committee will delve into the issues facing the industry, including:

• Working with brokers and agent to address federal health care issues and the Silver State Exchange.
• Working with the insurance community and state regulators on policy issues that impact businesses.
• Creating and maintaining public support for legal reform, including building alliances with groups and organizations to advance the legal reform agenda.
• Enacting common sense reforms to ensure fiarness in liability suits.
• Ensuring damage awards are fair and equitable, eliminating frivolous lawsuits, and enforcing legal ethics rules.

Insurance & Tort Reform Committee Co-Chairs:

Tom Burns, Cragin & Pike

Bill Wright, Chamber Insurance & Benefits, LLC

Infrastructure Policy Committee

Southern Nevada needs to improve the condition and performance of its infrastructure for national and regional competitiveness in this global age. This committee will:

• Promote and support understanding, development, funding and implementation of infrastructure projects in Southern Nevada.
• Support highway, road, and rail measures to facilitate passenger and goods movement in and out of Nevada.
• Support efforts to preserve and further develop the state's commercial air service industry and encourage efficient and safe passenger and cargo operations at McCarran International Airport and other installations.
• Advance the development of and access to modern and dependable technology infrastructure.
• Promote the importance of Nevada's water resources to industry, the economy and maintain good stewardship of our water including vigilant defense of Nevada's rights in the Colorado River.

Local Government Committee

This committee will work to favorably influence the actions of the local governments in Southern Nevada to create and enhance a positive business environment and study proposed government activities/ordinances for their impact on businesses.

• The committee will invite local government elected and appointed officials to meet with committee members to discuss local government issues that affect the business community.
• More responsive government in regards to government bureaucracy.
• Lowering the cost of business and streamlining the costs of government that are proven to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
• Concerns with increasing fees on all business to address revenue shortfalls but also the impact it has on small business.

Education Committee

High-quality education is an essential element of a healthy, growing urban economy, and the business community should be closely involved in the education process to ensure a future qualified workforce and competitiveness in the job market. The Education Committee brings together businesspeople and educators to collaboratively address the issues facing the K-12 and higher education systems in Las Vegas. Issues addressed include:

• Funding and resources
• Educational outcomes
• Educational methodologies and the learning process
• Curriculum
• Skills gaps
• Strategic planning
• Coordination between employers and educators

Education Committee Chair: Gina Polovina, Boyd Gaming Corporation

Health Care Industry Committee

The quality and consistency of health care services is an important tenet to the overall well-being and future growth of Las Vegas. It is an industry subject to frequent changes, and was recently identified as an opportunity for growth to help diversify Nevada's workforce. This committee will delve into the issues facing the industry, including:

• Changes in the delivery and cost of health care resulting from Federal health care reform
• The best methods to coordinate health care delivery among providers and delivery systems
• State and local legislative and regulatory mandates, and their impact on the community
• Methods to improve the overall quality of health care delivery

Health Care Committee Co-Chairs:

Karla Perez, Valley Health System

Vicky VanMeetren, St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, San Martín Campus

Water Policy Taskforce

The availability and sustainability of resources for quality water are essential to Clark County citizens. Beyond the importance of water to us all as residents, the business community relies on adequate and stable supplies of water for operations and development to support the local economy. This includes cooperation from water regulators in ensuring existing business and industry are not unduly constrained or burdened with fees or administrative requirements that present a disadvantage for competition within or outside the state.

The taskforce will work with local water districts and agencies to ensure and validate the availability of adequate water resources in the future when new projects are seeking bond financing and when companies seek to renew or change existing financing to ensure continued business development.