Deer predators targeted by bill
The Natural Resources Committee on Thursday introduced legislation dedicating part of the Wildlife Heritage Trust Account to controlling predators of mule deer.
Deer hunters have been complaining for years about the growing number of mountain lions that prey on the deer, decreasing their number and, therefore, the number of deer tags the Wildlife Department can issue each year.
AB241 would require that at least 40 percent of the money the department annually spends from that account go to predator control.
The bill was sent back to Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining for study.
Bill mandates leave for school functions
A bipartisan group of 14 Assembly members has introduced a bill that would require employers with more than 50 employees to give parents, guardians or custodians of a child leave to attend school-related activities.
The parent would be eligible for up to four hours of unpaid leave a year.
AB243 also prohibits the employer from demoting, suspending or otherwise discriminating against a parent who takes advantage of the leave.
The bill sponsored by Assemblywoman April Mastroluca of Las Vegas was referred to the Education Committee for study.
Bill would let police auction firearms
Three members of the Assembly have introduced legislation that would allow police agencies to auction off firearms confiscated, forfeited or donated to an agency.
AB244 was sponsored by John Hambrick of Las Vegas, Lynn Stewart of Boulder City and Don Gustavson of Sparks.
The bill requires that firearms that are safe and operable or repairable as well as those that are antiques to be auctioned off. If they don't sell, then those firearms can be disposed of.
Existing law requires those weapons to be kept by the agency, sold to another law enforcement agency, exchanged for other equipment, donated for charitable purposes or destroyed.
The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee.