Parole reform vote scheduled as fourth week of XGR starts

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 5:27 a.m.

SB8, from the Senate Judiciary Committee, requires a special panel to certify that an inmate who's mentally ill is no longer a menace before a parole can be granted.

The measure is one of several that follow up on changes to the system started by the 1995 Legislature after a career criminal who was just paroled shot and killed a Sparks policeman.

Also on Monday, Senate Finance will continue a review of funding for Nevada's public schools, which account for nearly a third of the proposed $3.04 billion state budget for the next two years.

And Richard Jarvis, chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada, will speak to the Assembly Education and Senate Human Resources and Facilities committees.

Other action Monday will include a report to Senate Natural Resources on the massive amount of damage to Nevada ranches and farms caused by New Year's flooding. Flood control also is on the agenda in the Assembly Infrastructure Committee.

And Senate Government Affairs will review a plan sought by state Treasurer Bob Seale to make the separate state controller's office part of his office. Controller Darrel Daines is opposing the plan.

On Tuesday, the need to expand Nevada's crowded prison system will be discussed during a joint Senate Finance-Assembly Ways and Means hearing. Gov. Bob Miller has proposed spending $273.2 million during the next two years on construction or expansion of prisons.

Also Tuesday, Senate Judiciary will review a plan to set up a Nevada commission on judicial performance. And Assembly Transportation members will get a tour of the license plate factory at Nevada State Prison.

On Wednesday, Assembly Education will discuss school vouchers. And Senate Finance will review state programs to protect consumers and hospital patients from getting overcharged.

Also Wednesday, Senate Judiciary will consider a bill to impose treble damages on anyone who abuses, neglects or exploits senior citizens.

Senate Natural Resources will talk about stray horses and the Navy's Bravo 16 bombing range near Fallon on Wednesday. Also on the agenda are three measures dealing with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

And Assembly Ways and Means will review the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, which oversees the Highway Patrol, a criminal records repository, emergency management and other programs.

On Thursday, Assembly Government Affairs will discuss a bill to prevent local governments from zoning changes that block low-income housing projects. And Assembly Taxation will consider a bill allowing use of real property transfer taxes to help develop low-cost housing.

Assembly Judiciary plans a review Thursday of a bill authorizing administrative subpoenas by prosecutors during money-laundering probes. And Senate Judiciary will turn to bills dealing with sex offenders.

Also Thursday, Assembly Ways and Means will go over the same public school budgets that Finance reviews on Monday.

The money committees will wind up the week with a joint hearing Friday on state programs to prevent domestic violence and to deal with child abuse and neglect. The state's reformatories for juvenile delinquents also will be discussed.