Nevada Senate approves variety of bills

By Cy Ryan

Monday, April 17, 2017 | 11 p.m.

CARSON CITY — The Senate Monday approved a variety of bills ranging from restoring civil rights to felons, to allowing mayors to perform weddings and to make license plates supporting the incoming Vegas Golden Knights hockey team.

Some 50 bills were passed and sent to the Assembly. And most of them received a unanimous vote. Here is a look at several of them:

• Senate Bill 125 restores some rights of a felon after a year on parole and probation.

It allows former convicts the right to vote, serve on civil and criminal juries and have their records sealed.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford, D-Las Vegas, said this has the support of the National District Attorneys Association. Those who commit serious crimes are excluded from automatic restoration.

The vote was 12-9. Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, complained that this restoration would apply to those who commit serious crimes such racketeering, child abuse and terrorism. He said the criminal offenders should take “corrective steps” before being automatically restored the civil rights.

• A bill allowing regional transportation commissions in Clark and Washoe counties to begin planning for such things as rapid transit, fixed guideways, light rail and street cars was approved 20-1 by the Senate.

Sen. Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, said SB149 would permit these transportation commissions to spend money on developing plans for new technology. And it would require a public vote to raise the sales tax to finance one or more of these proposed systems.

• A unanimous vote was given to expand the brew pub business. These pubs will be able to expand their production from 15,000 barrels of beer to 30,000 barrels a year.

• School officials in Clark and Washoe counties will be required to conduct weight and height examinations of a sample of students in the fourth, seventh and 10th grades in an effort to combat obesity. Sen. Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, said this is the first time that Nevada has declared obesity as a chronic disease.

Parents would not have to be contacted before this information is gathered. The bill, SB165, says obesity is measured in men with a 25 percent body fat and in women with a 32 percent body fat. The information gathered would be sent to the state for publication of a report on obesity.

• A special license plate will be issued for supporters of the incoming Vegas Golden Knights hockey team. The state Department of Motor Vehicles will design the plate and no special fee will be charged for the plate under SB283. The vote was 20-1 with Sen. Don Gustafson, R-Sparks, objecting. He said extra fees are charged on every other special license plate.

• The Senate approved SB279, giving mayors the right to perform marriages. But the mayors will be barred from accepting fees for the ceremony.

• All law enforcement officers will be required to wear a body camera and a recording device will be attached to police vehicles under SB176 approved by 20-1. Currently it is discretionary for law enforcement agencies to require the devices. Counties are given the authority to increase the fees on telephones from 25 cents to $1 to pay for upgrading 911 services and to pay for the recording device.