Monday, Nevada lawmakers face the first of several major deadlines — the final day for introduction of bills by individual lawmakers.
The Legislative Legal Division was working through the weekend to get those bills ready and delivered to lawmakers. Both the Senate and Assembly are expected to have at least two floor sessions to get them all introduced.
Leadership would have to approve an exemption for any exceptions.
After Monday’s deadline, the next major date for lawmakers is the final day bills can be passed out of committee in the house where they were introduced. But that isn’t until April 14.
Also this week, the Assembly is scheduled to take final action on Senate Joint Resolution 2, the resolution ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment for women. That vote is planned for March 22 — the anniversary of the amendment’s approval by Congress in 1972. Since the Senate has already passed the measure and the governor’s approval isn’t required, the resolution will be sent to Congress notifying the Senate and House Nevada has become the 36th state to ratify the ERA.
On Monday, the Assembly’s Commerce and Labor Subcommittee on Energy will take up Assembly Joint Resolution 10, a resolution reaffirming Nevada’s opposition to the resurrection of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.
The money committees on Tuesday examine the proposed budgets for the Aging and Disability Services Division. On Thursday, the same subcommittee of Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means reviews Child and Family Services budgets.
The Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee will review Assembly Bill 274, the bill that would have Nevada join the agreement among the states to elect the president by national popular vote.
Also Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee will discuss Senate Bill 225, a bill that would expand the mandates to battle cyber-bullying to all schools in the state including private schools.
The Assembly Taxation Committee will review Assembly Bill 269, which would extend the definition of tobacco products to include vapor products — thereby imposing the tobacco taxes on them.
Wednesday, the money committees will undertake a review of the proposed university system budgets. Total spending proposed for the system of higher education — when student fees and tuition are included — totals nearly $2 billion.
The Senate Government Affairs Committee will hear SB88, a bill that allows Nevada’s smaller counties to apply for state financial help to purchase and use body cameras for their law enforcement officers if the state mandates those camera systems. Currently, highway patrol officers are required to have body cameras. Metro in Las Vegas is also equipping officers with them.
Also on Wednesday, the Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee takes up AJR2, which would amend the Nevada Constitution to require recognition of all marriages irrespective of gender.
Friday, budgets of the Department of Corrections, which is facing serious overcrowding issues, will be reviewed.
In addition, the money committees will look at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency budgets. Under the rules governing the TRPA, Nevada is supposed to provide one third of the agency’s budget while California pays two-thirds.
Several events for the Nevada Women’s Lobby are planned at the Legislature on Monday. In addition, a coalition of groups including the teachers union and ACLU will hold a gathering at the Legislature to oppose any attempt to bring back the school vouchers program that was put on hold by the Nevada Supreme Court.
Wednesday and Thursday, lawmakers celebrate the 100th anniversary of women in the military while Friday celebrates community health providers.