Plans seek to pick up pace at Legislature

Tuesday, June 16, 1998 | 10:55 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Anticipating that voters will approve a proposed constitutional amendment to shorten sessions of the Nevada Legislature to 120 days, lawmakers are considering a host of changes to speed up the work.

The 1995 and 1997 Legislatures lasted a record 169 days. The proposed constitutional change would require the lawmakers close business in 120 days -- anything after that would be declared void.

There are proposals to reduce the number of bills that lawmakers and others can request; set deadlines on passing bills from one house to the other; and start committee meetings before the Legislature actually convenes.

Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said the number of bills and resolutions could be cut down to 1,500 or 1,600 in 1999, down from the some 2,000 that went before legislators in 1997.

If approved by voters in November, the 1999 Legislature will start Feb. 1, rather than Jan. 18. The staff of the counsel bureau is suggesting that the Senate and Assembly money committees begin meeting Jan. 19 to get a head start on building the state's budget. Other committees could meet up to a week before the Legislature to get organized and to get hearings scheduled on bills.

Malkiewich said the aim is to get bills moving early instead of having to pass 200-300 in the final week of the session. Before the session, Senators would be limited to 20 requests for bills and Assembly members could have 10 pieces of legislation drawn up.

When the session starts there would be a cut-off date of eight days for a lawmakers to submit his bills. Both lawmakers and committees would be limited to the number of bills they could introduce. There also was discussion about restricting lobbyists requests that bills be drawn up.

Sen. Mark James, R-Reno, said he would like to see the lobbyists blocked from asking for any bills to be drafted. "I want them to come to the legislators," he said.

Senate Majority Leader William Raggio, R-Reno, said in some states, only legislators can ask for bills. In Nevada besides the legislators, local governments and state agencies can ask for bills to be prepared and there are a lot of special laws allowing certain groups to submit bill drafts.

The Legislative Committee to Consult with the Legislative Director did not take any action on some of the major suggestions. Raggio said he needed time to study the proposals and make some modifications.