Only a month to go before '99 session ends

CARSON CITY - Monday marks the start of the last month of the 1999 Legislature - and the dizzying pace to date will only pick up as lawmakers push their bills and try to pass a Nevada budget before a mandatory May 31 adjournment.

The 14th week of the session will open with the first joint meeting of Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance to work out their differences in a Nevada state spending plan for the coming two years.

Gov. Kenny Guinn proposed a $3.2 billion state general fund budget in January, and the money committees have been meeting constantly since then, going over hundreds of separate budgets and in many cases making changes.

The joint meetings follow the Economic Forum's revenue projections last week - projections that show there's more than $100 million more in revenues than anticipated for this and the next two fiscal years.

Also Monday, Assembly Elections, Procedures and Ethics takes up an ethics-in-government measure; and Assembly and Senate Judiciary panels consider bills dealing with lewd ads, boxing commission records and construction defects.

Senate Finance reviews a plan for higher pay for prison guards - and polygraph tests for such employees.

On Tuesday, Senate Government Affairs reviews affordable housing legislation; and Senate Judiciary considers bills dealing with adoptions and foster care, guardianships and child and spousal support.

Senate and Assembly money panels meet jointly to review general government spending proposals. K-12 public school funding is part of the review, and is expected to be finalized during the week.

Also Tuesday, Ways and Means deals with a plan to give legislators a 92 percent pay hike. They'd get $250 per day, or $15,000 per session, plus a $100-per-month allowance when they're not in session.

Bills to increase legislative pay routinely are introduced every session, only to die because of legislators' fear of public backlash over their support of pay increases.

Assembly Transportation considers a measure that bars use of unstaffed cameras or other electronic devices to catch speeders; and Assembly Taxation takes up bills to let Washoe County charge an additional 3 percent room tax to pay for promoting tourism, and to permit unlimited importation of wine by individuals for their personal use.

Also Tuesday, a select Assembly-Senate panel considers a bill to deregulate Nevada's electric power industry. The panel plans a second meeting on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Senate Commerce and Labor discusses a deceptive trade practices bill; and Senate Government Affairs reviews a bill allowing the state to loan money to local governments in severe financial emergency.

Senate Human Resources and Facilities debates a bill dealing with police services for Nevada schools in metropolitan areas; and domestic violence and stalking bills are on Senate Judiciary's midweek agenda.

Senate Natural Resources considers a major bill which attempts to resolve a long-standing Truckee River water battle between Fallon farmers, Paiute Indians at Pyramid Lake and Reno interests.

Also on the agenda is a bill to let Nevada counties round up wild horses for sale. Backers say it's intended to shore up a failed federal program to euthanize or put up for adoption part of Nevada's wild horse population.

Assembly Taxation and a Senate Taxation subcommittee will consider a proposed constitutional amendment that would block efforts to shift Nevada's dependence on casino and sales taxes to property taxes.

Assembly Judiciary reviews a bill that would apply DUI laws to those caught driving under the influence of illegal drugs. The panel also will look at a proposal to require notice to a spouse or partner if someone with a history of domestic violence gets a weapons permit.

Assembly Government Affairs reviews a bill to let whistleblowers reap financial benefits by helping government agencies recover money from contractors who overcharged them.

And Assembly Education discusses a bill to require high school students to study the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Federalist Papers and other historical documents.

On Thursday, Senate Commerce and Labor considers a bill to prohibit discrimination in employment based solely on sexual orientation.

Senate Taxation considers a bill that spells out costs for five northern Nevada counties to operate a new regional juvenile center near Silver Springs.

Assembly Ways and Means debates a plan to give casinos a tax credit of up to $500,000 a year for building affordable housing.

Assembly Constitutional Amendments considers a plan to wipe out the statewide elective office of controller. The post would be one of nine positions eliminated.

On Friday, Senate Judiciary reviews a bill that further protects casinos from paying jackpots when their slot machines malfunction.

Assembly Judiciary deals with a bill that, among other things, would temporarily block release of anyone with a history of violence or of missing court appearances.

And Senate Natural Resources considers bills dealing with safe boating, water appropriations and public water systems.

archive