Nevada lawmakers discuss malpractice bills and temporary taxes

Temporary taxes and malpractice lawsuit reforms are on the agenda as Nevada legislators open the second month of the 2003 session.

Discussion of the two hot issues begins Tuesday.

First on Monday, the Assembly Ways and Means reviews AB122, which would provide for less generous funding of secondary and primary schools with shrinking student populations.

Assembly Commerce and Labor will take up two measures changing industrial insurance law, SB140 and AB168.

Discussion of a proposed panel to resolve disputes between homeowners and community associations continues in Senate Commerce and Labor. Lawmakers have heard several days of testimony on SB100, creating the panel, and SB136, which would limit homeowner association fines.

On Tuesday, Assembly Judiciary considers AB98, allowing cities to create their own alternate sentencing departments.

A joint subcommittee analyzes child support programs and the welfare division on Tuesday. Another subcommittee looks into the maligned state worker benefits program.

Gov. Kenny Guinn's short-term proposal boosting taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, businesses and slot machines gets its first hearing Tuesday before a joint Assembly and Senate taxation panel.

Senate Taxation Chairman Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, said the committee will hear details on Guinn's deficit projections and will likely begin testimony on the bills, AB204 and SB219, in another hearing on Thursday.

Also Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee reviews medical malpractice lawsuit reforms in SB97 and a nearly identical doctors-led initiative petition.

Hearings on the two continue Wednesday. Doctors, lawyers and consumer groups have already weighed in on the reform proposals, but Judiciary Chairman Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, said he was disappointed in lack of interest from malpractice insurers.

Amodei said he's considering a legislative subpoena to hear from insurers. "How can you talk about an issue if the major players aren't there?" he asked. "We're trying to get a broad-based hearing here, not just doctors and lawyers."

The panel has prepared a thick briefing book containing arguments from all sides and proposals by the federal government and other states also facing complaints of unaffordable malpractice premiums.

On Wednesday, Assembly Ways and Means examines AB148, requiring an audit of the state's college and university system.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, has promoted the bill partly in response to allegations of bid-rigging on energy conservation projects at University of Nevada, Reno. Perkins said the state's budget crisis makes it important to ensure that every dollar spent is being used appropriately.

Another education audit bill would look into spending at the Clark and Washoe county school districts. AB162 will be considered by the Assembly Education Committee.

Also Wednesday, Senate Finance reviews SB108, a proposal to raise court assessment fees to help fund drug and mental health courts. The Nevada Supreme Court requested the bill. The state's court systems rely heavily on assessments for their funding.

Assembly Commerce and Labor will consider whether an insurance company should be able to use people's credit reports to set their rates. AB194 would prohibit such a practice.

Thursday is set aside for child safety in Assembly Transportation. AB120 would require the use of an electronic alarm that sounds when an adult leaves a child in a vehicle. The device could be incorporated into a child-safety seat.

AB161 would mandate that a child weighing more than 40 pounds has to wear a seat belt.

In Senate Judiciary, lawmakers take up SB105, which would add in the value of all damaged or destroyed property when determining the penalty for someone convicted of doing graffiti.

Another push to ease doctors' malpractice premiums will be heard by the Senate Commerce and Labor on Thursday. Insurance reforms in SB122 are being promoted by Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas.

On Friday, the Assembly Judiciary Committee will take up AB7 and AB104, both of which reduce the legal driving blood alcohol level to .08. Federal road construction funding would be reduced if the Legislature doesn't pass such a bill.

Judiciary will also hear AB34, making a second drunk-driving conviction a felony crime.

The Assembly and Senate joint subcommittee on education and human services is set to examine the K-12 education budget at the end of the week.

------

On the Net:

Nevada Legislature: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/