Wednesday, May 26, 1999 | 12:07 p.m.
Technical error in NLV bill prompts veto
Gov. Kenny Guinn issued his second veto of the legislative session Tuesday to a bill that would change the way fees for waterlines are charged in North Las Vegas.
"The governor had no objection to the intent of the bill," Guinn's press secretary, Jack Finn, said. "He objected to a technical error in the bill."
Senate Bill 182 would have amended the North Las Vegas city charter to allow the city to impose its water user fee on a "per housing unit" rather than "per customer" basis. Under current law an entire apartment complex and a single family unit are charged the same per-unit fee. The bill inadvertently deletes reference to business and other facilities other than residential dwellings.
"Let me be clear that I am vetoing SB182 not because of a public policy concern, but rather because of a technical error in the language," Guinn said.
North Las Vegas officials said they hope they will be able to salvage the charter revision before the Legislature adjourns Monday.
Guinn signs bill on medical records
A bill that ensures confidentiality of medical information provided by boxers to the Nevada State Athletic Commission has been signed into law by Gov. Kenny Guinn.
Assembly Bill 467 was sought by the commission after former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson's medical records were posted on the Internet.
The records had been turned over to the commission and were public documents under current law. Panel members said they're concerned boxers seeking Nevada licenses and aware of the Tyson case might withhold information fearing similar publicity.
Under the law, any information deemed to be relevant to granting or denying a license will be public. The rest will remain confidential.
The commission also can offer a conditional license for boxers.
Bill of rights signed into law
A watered-down bill of rights for Nevada renters has been signed into law by Gov. Kenny Guinn.
Assembly Bill 397 allows tenants to withhold rent if the landlord is not providing basic services such as water, electricity and gas. No late fee can be imposed on the renter, but tenants must be current in their rent at the time.
The legislation also prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who have complained about discrimination under the federal Fair Housing Act.
Taken out of the bill was a section that would have required the landlord to show "good cause" for evicting a tenant.
Senate amendment rejected by Assembly
The Assembly Tuesday refused to agree to an amendment to a measure that would pave the way for building a dental school at UNLV.
Assembly Bill 527 would authorize the University Board of Regents to issue revenue bonds, but the Assembly balked at a Senate amendment that would add $35 million to the bonding authority to build the dental school.
The bill heads to a Senate-Assembly conference committee.
Sen. Ray Rawson, D-Las Vegas, who heads the dental programs at the Community College of Southern Nevada, has led the drive to start a dental school in Southern Nevada.
Under Rawson's plan, the school would sign contracts to treat poor patients and receive money from Medicaid and Nevada Check-Up programs, which provide insurance for uninsured children.
Funding for new commission approved
A Senate committee has approved spending $20,000 to set up a commission on school safety and violence.
Assembly Bill 686, approved Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee, was sought by Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, after 12 students and a teacher were gunned down in Colorado.
The commission will create an emergency response plan in case there is a violent incident in a school.
Governor signs bills aimed at plant safety
Measures aimed at preventing another blast of the sort that killed four workers and injured six others in January 1998 at the Sierra Chemical Co. plant near Reno were signed Tuesday by Gov. Kenny Guinn.
The governor signed Assembly Bill 111, which requires workers to get safety training in their language or by a videotape in a language they understand.
Just three of the 16 Sierra Chemical workers spoke English.
Guinn also signed Assembly Bills 173 and 535, which revise standards for regulating facilities where highly hazardous substances are produced, used, stored or handled; and Assembly Bill 603, which requires a conditional use permit for hazardous facilities.
Lawmakers selected for interim panel
Democrats and Republicans Tuesday named their representatives to the 12-member bipartisan Legislative Commission, which carries on business between sessions.
Assembly Democrats chose Majority Leader Richard Perkins of Henderson, Barbara Buckley of Las Vegas and Bernie Anderson of Sparks. Senate Democrats selected Mike Schneider, Valerie Wiener and Minority Leader Dina Titus, all of Las Vegas.
Republican senators named Ann O'Connell of Las Vegas, Dean Rhoads of Tuscarora and Jon Porter of Boulder City. Assembly Republicans chose Sandra Tiffany of Henderson, Greg Brower of Reno and Dennis Nolan of Las Vegas.
FOR THE RECORD
Senate Bill 263 was passed 41-0 by the Assembly Tuesday and sent to the governor, giving the state veterans commissioner's office its independence. In a reorganization under former Gov. Bob Miller, the agency was placed under the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety. Now the commissioner would report to the governor.Public television and radio stations will receive $300,000 to help with their continued operation in a bill approved unanimously by the Assembly Tuesday. Assembly Bill 224, which goes to the Senate, allots 75 percent of the money to public television stations and 25 percent to public radio stations.
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