Senate panel approves bill calling for vets’ home in Vegas

Saturday, June 28, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, has said there's agreement on the budget committees to appropriate state funds for the home, but the number of proposed locations shouldn't be limited.

SB327 now goes to the Assembly for final legislative action.

Under the bill, the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee will make the site decision. Three sites are mentioned, but the committee would have unlimited discretion to choose anywhere in southern Nevada.

The Air Force has a potential location of 80 acres at Craig Road and Fifth Street in North Las Vegas about one mile off Interstate 15 and about six miles from Nellis Air Force Base.

A second location of 18 acres at 301 South Tonopah Ave., owned by a private individual, was also suggested. The third potential location would be an unidentified parcel to be offered by Boulder City.

The bill originally said the state Veterans Affairs commissioner would make the determination. The criteria to be considered in selecting a location includes that it must have easy access to public transportation, a hospital and shopping centers.

The Air Force had initially offered one location but the Senate Finance Committee visited the area and found it unacceptable. It was near a junkyard and the site was eliminated.

The bill for a veterans home gained impetus when Gov. Bob Miller included the 180-bed home in his budget. It is expected to cost $19.3 million with two-thirds of the money coming from the federal government.

Also passed Saturday by the Senate was a related measure, SB418, which transfers the offices of the Nevada commissioner and deputy commissioner for veteran affairs to the state Military Department.