Iverson bill in limbo

Tuesday, May 25, 1999 | 12:03 p.m.

CARSON CITY -- There's confusion today over the so-called Sherrice Iverson bill in the Nevada Legislature.

A Senate-Assembly Conference Committee met Monday to iron out differences between the two versions of Assembly Bill 267, which requires people 16 years old or older who witness violent or sexual offenses against children to report the incidents to law enforcement.

The lead senator in the negotiations came out of the meeting saying the sides had agreed to a compromise on a 3-1 vote, but the lead Assembly negotiator said she wasn't sure the deal was final.

The bill was inspired by the 1997 murder of 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson, who was raped and killed by Jeremy Strohmeyer at a Primm hotel-casino. David Cash, a friend of Strohmeyer, knew of the crime but did not report it to police.

Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell said there was no law that allowed him to prosecute Cash, who was roundly criticized for his failure to notify police.

Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, chairman of the Senate committee, said there was agreement that family members would not be required to report abuses they witness.

However, Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas, said that an agreement may have been drafted, but the Assembly members of the committee haven't approved it yet.

One of three Assembly members on the conference committee was absent from Monday's meeting and the other member, Assemblywoman Genie Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, opposed the exemption.

Ohrenschall maintained that there must be a middle ground to require family members to report abuses.

McClain said she wants to check to see whether a majority of the Assembly members on the conference committee must approve a change for it to pass. She also said she wants to meet with bill sponsor Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, to see if he will support the proposed change.

McGinness said the purpose of the bill was to target people such as Cash, not family members.