Legislature announces 2009 bill drafts

Lawmakers have filed a number of bill draft requests in response to Nevada's budget crisis and the special session of the Legislature, including three that would create annual sessions.

Sen. Joyce Woodhouse and Assemblyman Tick Segerblom are both seeking a constitutional amendment to create a shorter 60-day session in even years between the 120-day regular sessions that currently happen every two years. Woodhouse's proposal would focus the 60-day session on any budget or financial issues facing the state.

Segerblom, however, said the new session shouldn't be limited to financial issues. He said oversight of state agencies is equally, if not more, important.

"We spend a lot of time focusing on new legislation but don't focus on what happens with existing legislation and the day-to-day operations of state government," he said.

As an example, he pointed to the problems with practices at some clinics in the state that potentially exposed numerous patients to diseases such as hepatitis.

The third plan was put forward by Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas. He wants to replace the 120-day session every two years with annual 60-day sessions.

"I would contend the constitution intends for us to have 60-day sessions, not 120 days," he said referring to the original Nevada constitutional structure. He said that's why lawmakers only get paid for the first 60 days they are in session.

"Hopefully we could get (the budget) done in 30 days," he said adding that would also significantly reduce the number of resolutions and other legislation heard and passed.

There also were several proposals to deal with the state's financial woes. Among those, Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, renewed his call for a study "of existing taxes and the allocation of funding between state and local governments."

Raggio has suggested more than once that local governments in Nevada not only have more money than the state but more stable revenues. And he has tentatively suggested the state take some of that money to cure its fiscal stability problems. The legislation was submitted as one of the Finance Committee's proposals. Raggio chairs that committee.

Sen. Terry Care, on the other hand, has a bill in the works to give local governments control over their taxes and fees, most of which must now be set by the Legislature.

"Right now they just collect money and decide where to put it," said the Las Vegas Democrat. "They don't decide should we raise that tax, lower that tax."

He pointed to the proposed youth detention center for Churchill and Lyon counties as an example.

"I don't know why the Legislature has to approve or disapprove that stuff," he said.

Care said cities and counties have elected governing boards whose members understand their issues better and can respond directly to their constituents.

Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, and Care have a bill draft designed to provide revenue for transportation projects in Nevada. Amodei said the idea is that, when a huge project or development creates a significant impact on adjacent highways, the cost of expanding the roads would be placed on those creating the impact.

He said the idea would be to create a sort of general improvement district to pay for the construction.

"For purposes of capacity improvements, every parcel in the district would pay a share a year for the bonds to build the roads," he said. "Those people who create the impact would be the ones who would pay."

But, he said, before making any assessment, "NDOT or someone would have to quantify objectively that there is this impact."

"And they've got to show a direct nexus " cause and effect," he said.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, is proposing creation of a revenue stabilization fund for the state separate from the Rainy Day Fund which she said should handle emergencies other than revenue shortfalls.

"We have such a fluctuating revenue source," she said. "Two years ago we were flush. Now we're in a budget crisis."

Parnell also filed a plan to create enhanced penalties for criminal gang activities. She said her survey of some 600 constituents showed "real concern" among area residents over the increasing gang violence. She said the details are being worked in conjunction with District Attorney Neil Rombardo and the city's judges.

There also are a number of familiar legislative proposals in the first list of bill drafts issued this week. Members of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee are again seeking to make seat belt violations a primary offense. That would allow police to stop any vehicle if they believe the occupants aren't belted up as opposed to existing law that only allows police to cite a driver or passenger for no seat belt if the vehicle was stopped for another offense.

The proposal has been blocked at least three times in past legislative sessions by opponents who say it would give police "open ended probable cause" to stop anyone at any time without a valid reason.

Assemblywoman RoseMary Womack has brought back the proposed constitutional change to permit a state lottery in Nevada " currently the only form of gambling prohibited in the state. That proposal has failed to win legislative support at least a half-dozen times.

Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, has a bill which would require voters to show a photo ID at the polling place.

And for the third session, Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, has brought his bill to mandate public schools be funded at the national average or better. The bill as written in 2007 would have required the state to pump more than $1 billion more into the education budget.

Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas, has proposed a constitutional amendment to allow the Legislature to call itself into special session. Right now, only the governor can call and set the agenda for a special session.

The list of 160 proposed bills, resolutions and constitutional changes is the first issued for the 2009 Legislative session. The lists are published weekly and also are available on the Internet at www.leg.state.nv.us.

- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.