JEAN'S LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
During Jean's first term in the Assembly, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) had passed Congress and awaited ratification by the states. Jean requested a joint resolution for introduction in the Assembly. The first hearings were held in 1973. As the issue escalated into a major statewide battle, it continued to occupy her time and energy throughout the 1970's. It was defeated in the Legislature for the final time in 1977 and was also defeated as an advisory referendum on the 1978 ballot.
As an alternative to the ERA, Jean worked for changes in Nevada's laws that were discriminatory by gender, affecting inheritance and employment. Noting that Nevada women were banned from holding certain positions, such a volunteer firefighter or bartender (unless she was part owner of the establishment), she worked to eliminate gender bias in employment and served on the Gender Bias in the Courts Task Force.
Jean was the chief sponsor of many bills dealing with open government and government ethics. Her concern with public access to information prompted her to sponsor a bill to open meetings of legislative committees. She introduced a resolution to adopt standing rules for Assembly committees. These rules stipulated basic operating procedures, such as requirements to schedule public hearings and keep minutes of committee meetings. Prior to this legislation, meetings could be held without notice and were conducted very informally, thereby minimizing the extent of public input.
Jean was also involved in several attempts to make the State Legislature more accountable to their constituents through such legislation as lobbyist registration and governmental ethics. She worked to establish a state ombudsman who would investigate citizen complaints against state government. She achieved partial success on this front with the creation of an ombudsman for selected areas such as senior citizens. Jean also introduced legislation to provide voting assistance for the physically disabled.
On the environmental front Jean was the chief sponsor of bills that restricted the removal of flora and endangered species, required control of erosion in timbering areas, and mandated dedication of park lands in developed areas. Jean supported land use planning and worked with other legislators to pass a good land use planning bill. These environmental concerns often took Jean from her office into rural areas as she participated in outings sponsored by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
Jean was a champion for juvenile court reform and espoused community-based rehabilitation services for juvenile delinquents. She served on an interim committee that held hearings on revisions to the Juvenile Court Act.
Jean also cosponsored a bill to create a work-release program in the state prison system. And she supported a bill to remove the sales tax on food, which did not pass.
