Senate passes package of children’s measures

Tuesday, May 4, 1999 | 12:02 p.m.

CARSON CITY -- Several measures dealing with children, ranging from child custody cases to juvenile offenders, won approval Monday in the Nevada Senate.

The bills include Assembly Bill 544 requiring parents with joint custody arrangements to file for a change in custody status before moving out of state.

In a new custody hearing, a judge must consider the best interest of the child.

Assembly Bill 436 would allow courts to consider grandparents' visitation rights based on whether or not the child regularly saw them, if the child ever lived with the grandparents and if they financially supported the child.

The measure also includes anyone who has been a child's primary caregiver, whether related to the child or not. This would include stepparents and step-grandparents.

The Senate also approved psychological examinations of youths who torture animals or use guns to commit crimes.

Under Assembly Bill 221, children brought in for gun or animal abuse offenses would be detained until they're evaluated, a process that could take up to three days. After that, they could return to their families if a judge allows it.

Another bill approved Monday would give judges authority to order children who have committed their first nonviolent crime into so-called "cognitive training" courses. Under Assembly Bill 229, children would be placed in these classes as an alternative to juvenile lockup.

Adult criminals in similar programs have a reduced rate of recidivism, supporters of the bill say.

The Senate also approved Assembly Bill 262, which would give police officers more leeway in notifying the parents of minors who are arrested. The current law says police must immediately notify the parents. AB262 would change that to say the police must contact the parents "without undue delay."

All the bills now go to Gov. Kenny Guinn for signature.