Assembly passes Rainy Day Fund bill
The Assembly voted unanimously Wednesday to pass AB165 requiring that 1 percent of the total funding projected by the Economic Forum be put in a fund in case the state falls on economic hard times.
Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said the bill also puts 40 percent of any surplus remaining in the General Fund at year's end into the fund.
As part of last year's budget cuts, the governor and Legislature drained the state's Fund for Economic Stabilization of the entire $267 million they had built up there. They also agreed the current law doesn't put enough money into that fund, commonly known as the Rainy Day Fund.
The bill goes to the Senate for consideration.
Washoe and Clark tax plans introduced
Two bills implementing tax increases in Washoe and Clark counties were introduced in the Senate Wednesday.
AB201 carries out a ballot question approved by Washoe County voters in November, giving county commissioners authority to impose a motor vehicle fuel tax to fund transportation projects in Washoe.
Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, said the tax supported by voters there only affects Washoe County and will create an estimated 3,000 jobs.
The bill was referred to the Taxation Committee.
The Senate received SB202, which provides legislative approval to increase the sales and use tax in Clark County by a quarter of a percent to hire and equip additional police officers. It was also referred to Taxation for study.
Legislation would cut publication of finance statements
Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, Wednesday introduced legislation that would reduce the amount of financial information city governments must publish.
SB202 would change the quarterly reports cities must put in the newspaper, eliminating the details of each bill the city has paid. Only total amounts of receipts, disbursements and bills paid each quarter would have to be published as long as that detail is available to the public to view and copy at the city offices.
SB203 was referred to the Government Affairs Committee for review.
Bill expands notice when seeking a water appropriation
Legislation designed to expand notice that must be given when seeking water rights was introduced in the Senate Wednesday.
SB204 by Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, would require the state engineer to publish notice of the application for water rights not only in the county where the water would be appropriated but other counties in the "area of hydrologic effect."
It also requires applicants for a proposed well to mail notice of the application to other property owners within 2,500 feet of the parcel.
The Natural Resources Committee will review the proposal.
Bill sets toll road guidelines
Sen. John Lee, D-Las Vegas, has introduced legislation that would set guidelines for operating toll roads in Nevada. SB206 would prohibit conversion of any existing public highway in Nevada to a privately operated toll road.
It also would specify that any toll or fee collected for using a privately operated toll road on any public highway must be used to construct, maintain and repair public roads of the state.
It also would make toll roads subject to supervision by the Department of Transportation. The bill was referred to the Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee.
Bill adds sexual orientation to law
The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee will review a proposal that would prohibit discrimination by operators of hotels, motels, restaurants and other places of public accommodation based on sexual orientation.
Existing law already bans discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin or disability. SB207 would add sexual orientation to the list.
Penalties for not registering vehicle increased under bill
The penalties for failing to register vehicles within 60 days of moving to Nevada would increase under AB291.
Under it, the fine for not registering would increase from $250-$500 to a $1,000 fine. The fine could be reduced to $200 if the person shows proof of registration at the time of his or her hearing on the citation.
It was referred to the Transportation Committee for study.
DMV officials say the state loses hundreds of thousands of dollars each year because people fail to register their vehicles after moving here until the out-of-state registration expires.
National county group names Reid legislator of year
The National Association of Counties has selected Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as their legislator of the year.
The organization said in a release that Reid, D-NV., was chosen for his work increasing the Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes program and the Secure Rural Schools program.
PILT compensates counties with disproportionate amounts of non-taxable federal lands within their boundaries for the lost tax revenue. The schools program is operated through the U.S. Forest Service and pays for improvements to schools, roads and stewardship projects.
According to the Nevada Association of Counties, Nevada will receive $130 million in new funding because of Reid's efforts.
A spokesman said the money will go to teachers, police, road crews and others working in the state's rural counties.