Look Ahead: Legislators likely to continue challenging Gibbons' budget

Nevada lawmakers start the 9th week of their 2009 session today with more hearings that are likely to produce challenges to some of the deep budget cuts proposed by Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee work sessions include one dealing with welfare and Medicaid programs; and another focusing on the state's tourism and economic development programs.

The hearings are aimed at determining priorities for essential government services.

The decisions on those priorities will lead to eventual decisions on funding to be included in the various state budgets for those services.

Senate Commerce and Labor considers a package of measures aimed at increasing the quality of health care in Nevada and tightening standards for getting a medical license.

More medical-related measures will be debated in Senate Health and Education, including SB290 which lets patients or their guardians install surveillance devices in the patients' rooms in various care facilities.

Also today, U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., is scheduled to address the Senate and Assembly.

On Tuesday, Senate Judiciary considers SB238, which expedites restoration of civil rights to ex-felons providing there are no objections from a sentencing judge or from the prosecutor in the case.

Senate Legislative Operations and Elections debates SJR10, a proposed constitutional amendment to get rid of the 12-year limits on the time that senators and Assembly members can serve; and SJR6, providing for annual legislative sessions instead of the current every-other-year sessions that run for 120 days. The sessions would be 30 days in even-numbered years and 120 days in odd-numbered years.

Assembly Taxation plans a hearing on AB321, which would result in part of the sales and use taxes now going to certain counties being diverted to the state to help deal with the current economic downturn.

On Wednesday, Assembly Commerce and Labor will review a package of energy measures designed to spur development of renewable energy in Nevada; and Senate Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation considers SB73, revising energy conservation and efficiency standards.

Senate Government Affairs considers SB239, providing for more coordination of Nevada's economic development and work force development goals; and Senate Commerce and Labor reviews workplace safety measures, including SB288 which calls for more safety training and enforcement.

Senate-Assembly budget subcommittees continue their work sessions with discussions involving federal efforts to open high-level nuclear waste dump at Nevada's Yucca Mountain, consumer health assistance and the state Gaming Control Board.

Also on Wednesday, Senate and Assembly education committees will review proposed charter school legislation and hear tennis great Andre Agassi of Las Vegas discuss his Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy.

On Thursday, joint budget panels will review the governor's proposed budget for the big Department of Health and Human Services and the state Aging Services Division; and spending plans for the agencies handling business-industry and taxation programs.

Assembly Corrections, Parole and Probation discusses AB424, which would make wide-ranging changes in inmate parole standards, including one that the state Parole Board not consider the severity of an inmate's crime and instead focus on whether the inmate can stay out of trouble once released from prison.

Senate Taxation considers SB289, which would give tax credits to business that donate to entities that provide tuition grants that enable children to attend private, charter or "empowerment" schools.

Assembly Transportation considers AB524 and AB464, which provide for toll road "demonstration projects" on Interstate 15 and U.S. 95 in the Las Vegas area, and also as part of the Boulder City bypass project.

Assembly Elections, Procedures, Ethics and Constitutional Amendments reviews AB442, which would impose restrictions on lobbying. The bill would prohibit employees or officers of any state or local agency or institution in Nevada, including members of the legislative, executive and judicial branches, from paying a person to act as a lobbyist.

On Friday, Senate Judiciary takes up SB372, which would revise the 2006 voter-approved smoking ban to allow for smoking in bars that serve food as long as minors are restricted from entry. Also, businesses could wall off separately ventilated smoking rooms.

Assembly Ways and Means considers AB458, which creates an education stabilization account for K-12 education and decreases abatements offered by redevelopment agencies, economic development zones and the state Economic Development Commission.

Senate Commerce and Labor will review SB211, requiring drug manufacturers and wholesalers to file annual reports disclosing gifts and other "economic benefits" provided to Nevada doctors.

Senate Government Affairs takes up SB323, requiring local governments to develop energy-saving retrofit plans for public buildings.