Measures die as Nevada lawmakers hit new session deadline

Bills on tanning salons, homeless protections and cameras that spy on drivers failed to pass in the Nevada Legislature by a Tuesday deadline either through inaction or because supporters couldn't get enough votes.

Most bills were required to move out of one legislative house to the other house by Tuesday or die.

SB61, which would have allowed counties to install red-light cameras that can be used to automatically issue tickets by mail, got only six "yes" votes in the Senate while 15 senators opposed the plan.

Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, urged colleagues to support the bill, saying that studies showed such cameras are effective in dramatically reducing accidents in other states.

Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, said that it was inconsistent for drivers pulled over for the offense to get a moving violation, while those caught on camera would get the equivalent of a parking ticket.

"It's the lowest possible fine there can be," said Carlton. "Are people really going to change their behaviors with this?"

Dead through inaction was AB238, which would have established regulations for tanning establishments. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote to win approval because it included a fee increase. It fell two votes short of that on Monday and was scheduled for reconsideration in the Assembly on Tuesday - but the second vote never occurred.

Democrats said consumers should be informed about the health risks of tanning beds, whether from ultraviolet lights or chemical coatings placed on the beds. They cited support from some in the tanning industry during hearings on the bill.

Republicans opposed the measure, saying it would create too much government regulation.

Other bills that died included:

-AB83, which would have added homeless people to Nevada laws regarding hate crimes.

-AB240, which would have allowed police to impound a vehicle if the driver can't provide a driver's license or proof of insurance.

-AB242, which would have required the state Board of Health to adopt regulations requiring immunization for meningitis in the Nevada System of Higher Education.

-AB265, which would have allowed advertisements at the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Tuesday was the last day for Assembly bills to cross over to the Senate and for Senate bills to move to the Assembly. Most of the measures that didn't make the move were dead. Exceptions include proposals that are in Senate or Assembly money committees or that survived as amendments to bills that are still alive.

On Monday and Tuesday, about 200 measures moved from one house to the other, while fewer than 20 died as a result of inaction or actual losing votes.