NRS353.230. Review of estimates; preparation and submission of proposed budget; submission by Governor of separate document and recommendations; appearance of Governor before legislative committees.

      1.  The Chief shall review the estimates, altering, revising, increasing or decreasing the items of the estimates as the Chief may deem necessary in view of the needs of the various departments, institutions and agencies in the Executive Department of the State Government and the total anticipated income of the State Government and of the various departments, institutions and agencies of the Executive Department during the next fiscal year. In performing the duties required by this subsection, the Chief shall use the projections and estimates prepared by the Economic Forum pursuant to NRS 353.228.

      2.  The Chief shall meet with a Fiscal Analyst of the Legislative Counsel Bureau or his or her designated representative and personnel of the various departments, institutions and agencies of the Executive Department to discuss:

      (a) The budgetary requests of each department, institution and agency; and

      (b) The budgetary recommendations of the Budget Division for each department, institution and agency,

Ê for the next 2 fiscal years. The Chief shall allow the Fiscal Analyst of the Legislative Counsel Bureau or his or her designated representative full access to all materials connected with the review.

      3.  The Chief shall then prepare a final version of the proposed budget, in accordance with NRS 353.150 to 353.246, inclusive, and shall deliver it to the Governor. The final version of the proposed budget must include the adjusted base budget for each department, institution and agency of the Executive Department, the costs for continuing each program at the current level of service and the costs, if any, for new programs, recommended enhancements of existing programs or reductions for the departments, institutions and agencies of the Executive Department for the next 2 fiscal years. All projections of revenue and any other information concerning future state revenue contained in the proposed budget must be based upon the projections and estimates prepared by the Economic Forum pursuant to NRS 353.228.

      4.  The Governor shall, not later than 14 calendar days before the commencement of the regular legislative session, submit the proposed budget to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislature. The Governor shall simultaneously submit, as a separate document:

      (a) An analysis of any new programs or enhancements of existing programs being recommended; and

      (b) Any increase in or new revenues which are being recommended in the proposed budget.

Ê The document must specify the total cost by department, institution or agency of new programs or enhancements, but need not itemize the specific costs. All projections of revenue and any other information concerning future state revenue contained in the document must be based upon the projections and estimates prepared by the Economic Forum pursuant to NRS 353.228.

      5.  On or before the 19th calendar day of the regular legislative session, the Governor shall submit to the Legislative Counsel recommendations for each legislative measure which will be necessary to carry out the final version of the proposed budget or to carry out the Governor’s legislative agenda. These recommendations must contain sufficient detailed information to enable the Legislative Counsel to prepare the necessary legislative measures.

      6.  During the consideration of the general appropriation bill and any special appropriation bills and bills authorizing budgeted expenditures by the departments, institutions and agencies operating on money designated for specific purposes by the Constitution or otherwise, drafted at the request of the Legislature upon the recommendations submitted by the Governor with the proposed budget, the Governor or a representative of the Governor have the right to appear before and be heard by the appropriation committees of the Legislature in connection with the appropriation bill or bills, and to render any testimony, explanation or assistance required of him or her.

      [16:299:1949; 1943 NCL § 6995.16]—(NRS A 1959, 211; 1963, 494, 1289; 1969, 1122; 1973, 1667; 1977, 349; 1989, 2188; 1993, 2211; 1995, 2815; 1997, 2705; 1999, 2208)