Fifth week of session to be a busy one

CARSON CITY - Bills dealing with public access to government records and hazardous working conditions will be debated Monday as Nevada lawmakers start their fifth week of the 1999 session.

Assembly Government Affairs will consider a measure that would allow for public inspection of any information turned up during an investigation of an executive-branch state worker, once the probe is completed.

Kent Lauer of the Nevada Press Association backs the measure but says it's not a media issue. Rather, he says, it's a public right-to-know issue that could help restore peoples' faith in government.

Assembly Commerce and Labor will review bills drafted following a January 1998 explosion that killed four workers at the Sierra Chemical explosives plant east of Reno.

Among other things, the measures would prohibit piecework payment in such companies. The 20 Sierra Chemical employees were making a nickel to 12 cents for each explosive booster canister filled, rather than hourly wages.

Also Monday, the state Senate may vote on a plan that would give the senators final say over a Nevada governor's top appointments. Gov. Kenny Guinn opposes the bill. But fellow Republican and Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio is a cosponsor - along with almost every other senator.

Assembly Judiciary will consider a bill sought by Clark County to crack down on referral services that are actually fronts for prostitution. Among other things, the measure would result in more prosecutions of prostitutes.

Senate Human Resources and Facilities will review a proposal to let parents choose the public school they want their children to attend, and a bill to make changes in a law that calls for a report card on the schools.

Assembly Elections, Procedures and Ethics is scheduled to act on a bill that appears to impose lobbyist registration requirements on certain state employees who discuss pending measures with lawmakers in the Legislative Building.

And Assembly Health and Human Services will talk about a bill to create a system for collecting and analyzing information on birth defects; and review another plan to expand Medicaid reimbursements for various family counseling services.

On Tuesday, Senate Taxation will consider a bill by Sen. Joe Neal to boost fees paid by the state's largest casinos from 6.25 percent to 8.25 percent. The current tax level is one of the lowest in the nation, and Neal for years has sought unsuccessfully to raise it.

Also Tuesday, Senate Commerce and Labor will discuss a bill creating an ombudsman for insurance within the state Insurance Division; and Assembly Judiciary will review an identity fraud proposal.

A joint budget subcommittee will review the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety; and another budget subcommittee will analyze spending plans by the state Department of Education.

Class-size reduction and the state's distributive school account - main money source for Nevada's public schools - will be part of the discussion.

Senate Judiciary will consider a bill that expands the ways in which an ex-felon can get civil rights restored, and another bill that allows for "usual and customary" fees instead of a fixed $2,500 fee paid to the state by people adopting children.

On Wednesday, a bill dealing with parental rights, foster care and adoption will be reviewed by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, and Senate Commerce and Labor discusses a state health care ombudsman and electric utility deregulation.

Also Wednesday, Senate Finance considers a $7.2 million plan for regional training centers around the state for Nevada teachers, along with another school accountability bill.

A budget subcommittee will review the state Public Utilities Commission, Transportation Services Authority and Taxicab Authority.

Senate Government Affairs considers the financially troubled system that provides health insurance for state government workers. The panel meets a day after a task force formed by Gov. Kenny Guinn discusses the same subject in the Nevada Capitol.

Assembly Judiciary reviews a bill targeting anyone who tries to development or stockpile biological weapons in Nevada. That stems from an anthrax scare in southern Nevada.

And Senate Human Resources and Facilities discusses the Legislature's stand on a nuclear dump in Nevada. Virtually all state leaders oppose the plan, and most lawmakers share that view.

On Thursday, Senate Taxation discusses another Joe Neal bill, this one to repeal a tax break for businesses displaying works of art for the public.

Neal said in October he would try to erase the exemption, which Nevada casino mogul Steve Wynn pushed for during the 1997 legislature.

Also Thursday, a budget subcommittee goes over the spending plan submitted by the Nevada Supreme Court. And Senate Commerce and Labor takes up a bill authorizing employers to do onsite tests for alcohol or drugs without a medical lab license.

On Friday, a budget subcommittee reviews the state Department of Human Resources, including Medicaid programs and HRD's Division of Health Care Financing and Policy.

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