Governor signs 72 bills

Jennifer Coleman

Tuesday, June 8, 1999 | 8:21 a.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Gov. Kenny Guinn signed 72 bills into law Tuesday, including measures to protect foster children and prison guards.

A bill mandating joint state-county custody of foster children in Washoe County was among the measures signed by Guinn. SB288 was sponsored by Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks.

Washoe County now has primary jurisdiction over emergency placement when children are taken from homes because of suspected parental abuse or neglect. But if the family is not reunited within six months, the child becomes a ward of the state.

Transferring such cases means children already taken from their homes to a foster family will go to yet another household, often shifting to a new school and getting new caseworkers, doctors and counselors.

Recent changes in federal laws shortened the time the state has to find a permanent home by 12 months, and the bill is intended to move the state a step closer to complying with the 1997 Federal Adoption Safe Family Act.

The bill establishes a pilot program in Washoe County that, if successful, also can be applied to Clark County.

Guinn also signed a bill to protect prison guards from "gassing" attacks by inmates. Under SB149, inmates who throw urine or feces on guards will face fines of up to $10,000 and increased prison sentences of up to 10 years.

Sponsored by Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, the bill also would strip prisoners of so-called good time credits for exposing prison employees, other inmates or visitors to bodily fluids.

SB149 would require that prison administrators investigate each incident and forward the evidence to the attorney general, the district attorney or city attorney - depending on which office has jurisdiction over the lockup in question. The bill applies to city and county jails as well as state prisons.

A bill creating a panel to study the need for a four-year college in Henderson and providing $500,000 for the effort also was signed by Guinn.

AB220 was authored by Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson. It will create a five-member panel composed of representatives of the governor, lawmakers and university regents to head the study.

If the study shows a need for the school, then Perkins will seek money in the 2001 session for construction of campus buildings. He said Henderson is interested in donating a site for what would be the first four-year college in Nevada. About 200 acres would be required.

Also signed by Guinn was AB527, which would allow the university system to issue revenue bonds up to $35 million for the construction of a dental school building at UNLV and for associated clinics.

The 1999-2001 budget authorizes the creation of the school to train dentists and treat low-income children.

A bill to pay for state health insurance for families of slain police officers was also signed into law. SB404 was cosponsored by all senators.

The bill applies only to police covered under the state's health insurance plan. It won't cover 1,800 professional firefighters, 2,500 volunteer firefighters, and 2,500 peace officers in Henderson, North Las Vegas or Las Vegas Metro Police Department and numerous other sheriffs' offices.