Nevada Appeal Capitol Bureau
Friday, April 16, 2021
The Nevada Senate on Friday approved legislation expanding where the state can place blind vendors. And blind vendors have first right of refusal on vending facilities in those public buildings.
Vendors approved through that program are on public property throughout the state. But current law exempts some properties including K-12 schools, airports, the Nevada System of Higher Education, State Parks and the Department of Corrections.
SB61 would open all of those properties to blind vendors except for the K-12 schools.
Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, objected especially to one section of the bill. That allows the program to cancel a contract with a non-blind vendor if a blind vendor wants the location.
He painted a scenario where no blind vendor wants a particular place, then a non-blind vendor comes in and makes a success of that space, a blind vendor could come in and basically take the space away from the non-blind vendor.
Kieckhefer said that is too far.
SB61 passed on a party line vote with Republicans opposed. It goes to the Assembly.
