Legislative briefly

Bill introduced to save grouse habitat

Prompted by concerns the Sage Grouse may eventually be listed as endangered, the Senate is considering legislation to fund restoration of sagebrush habitat.

It would require $1 million of the voter approved bonds designed to protect the property and natural resources of Nevada be dedicated to the Department of Wildlife. The money would be used to protect and restore sagebrush habitat, restore areas damaged by wildfires and reduce cheat grass.

Hunters and other outdoor recreation groups are concerned that, if the grouse is listed as endangered, thousands of acres of wildlands could be ruled off-limits to them.

SB146 was sent to the Finance Committee for study.

Waiver of tuition, fees for survivors of guardsmen sought

Assemblyman Lynn Stewart, R-Boulder City, introduced legislation Wednesday that would authorize the university system to waive fees and tuition for a child, widow or widower of some one killed during National Guard service.

Eight of his colleagues signed on to AB188, which was referred to the Committee on Education for review.

Existing law allows the system to waive certain fees for guardsmen and requires the regents to cover fees and expenses for dependent children of public safety personnel killed while performing his or her duties.

AB188 extends that to include survivors of guardsmen who die in the line of duty.

Program would prepare broadcasters

Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, has introduced legislation creating a program that would prepare Nevada's broadcasters to handle an emergency or disaster.

SB147 directs broadcasters in the state to develop plans for handling emergencies, establishes a program to train and certify broadcasters in restoring and repairing equipment during an emergency situation.

The proposal was referred to the Senate Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee for study.

Bill would put executions on hold

Legislation calls for moratorium on executions pending a study of issues related to the death penalty.

Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, introduced AB190 along with six other Democrats.

The bill requires the legislative Audit Division to study the fiscal costs of the death penalty in Nevada including the costs of prosecuting and adjudicating capital cases compared to non-death cases. Its report would be due by the end of January 2011.

To give lawmakers time to consider the results of that study, the bill sets a moratorium on executions in Nevada until July 2011.

GOP move to relax prevailing wage rules

A group of 10 Republican lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday to raise the threshold for contracts requiring payment of the prevailing wage.

Under existing law, contractors on public works projects over $100,000 for the university system and for redevelopment projects receiving financial incentives must pay prevailing wages. Assemblyman James Settelmeyer of Gardnerville has said that costs as much as 30 percent more than comparable private industry construction projects.

AB195 would raise that threshold to $3 million.

It was referred to the Government Affairs Committee for study.

Bill giving tenants more time to fight eviction introduced

A bill giving tenants more time before they can be evicted from a rental property was introduced in the Assembly Wednesday.

AB189 by Assemblyman Joe Hogan, D-Las Vegas, gives the renter up to 10 days to pay the rent or leave after the landlord serves notice the renter must pay or surrender the property.

The bill was referred to the Commerce and Labor Committee for review.