Staff recommends firm bill-passing deadlines for short legislature

Tuesday, June 16, 1998 | 9 a.m.

The lawmakers were told Monday by their top staffer, Legislative Counsel Bureau Administrator Lorne Malkiewich, that they should introduce bills within 43 days of the start of the session.

Under the staff proposal, all bills would would have to be passed by their house of origin by the 78th day. If deadlines are missed, the bills automatically would fail.

The proposals given to the Legislature's Committee to Consult With the Legislative Counsel are being discussed as lawmakers consider ways to adjourn the 1999 session within 120 days.

Voters this November will decide a ballot proposition that would limit legislative sessions to 120 days. In the past decade, legislative sessions have lasted more than 160 days.

A statewide poll commissioned by the Las Vegas Review-Journal last week found 56 percent of voters favor the shorter sessions, while 16 percent want to continue the present process of unlimited sessions. The other 28 percent are undecided.

By shortening sessions, legislators could save taxpayers about $3 million.

Committee members refused to vote Monday on Malkiewich's proposal, adapted from procedures used in Colorado, Arizona and other states.

"Each of us has modifications we want to act on," said Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, sponsor of the session-shortening proposition.

Malkiewich said the deadlines on bills will allow the workload to be handled more evenly. Now legislators start work slowly and generally rush to finish with frequent overnight sessions in the last days.

"No waiving of deadlines," Malkiewich said. "If you waive one, you will waive another and another."

Nevada Legislatures have not adjourned within 120 days since 1977.

What irked Raggio and Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, was that the proposals don't include limitations on the number of bills that local governments, state agencies and others can propose.

Malkiewich said as many as 500 bills each year are introduced on behalf of people outside the Legislature.

Raggio said in many states only legislators can introduce bills. If a state agency or local government wants legislation, then it needs to find a legislators willing to sponsor its proposal.

"I think you ought to reduce them (outside bills) to nothing," James added. "If not, we will become a Legislature of other peoples' ideas."

Right now each senator can introduce 20 bills and each Assembly member 10 bills.

Raggio asked staff members to check if they legally can reduce bills coming from outside the Legislature.