Help for Real Estate Division debated

Thursday, Nov. 18, 1999 | 9:47 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- At the suggestion of Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, the Legislative Interim Finance Committee Wednesday delayed authorizing more money to hire lawyers for the state Real Estate Division and the state Division of Financial Institutions.

Raggio complained the Legislature just ended in May and now the divisions are back asking for additional funds.

Real Estate Administrator Joan Buchanan told the committee of the new law on homeowner rights that would require a half-time deputy attorney general to help with the new responsibilities.

Buchanan received support from Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, who said gated communities and homeowners' associations were springing up all over Clark County.

"The rights of individual homeowners are not being addressed," Neal said. "I see a lot of problems that could be embarrassing to the state."

He said there should be someone available to give advice to the individual homeowner. For instance, he said, one association had a $400,000 budget but needed only $150,000 for the job.

"They're charging the homeowner too much," he said.

But Raggio said the two deputy attorneys general in the Real Estate Division should be enough to provide the service.

The issue will come back before the Interim Finance Committee at its January meeting after a review is made of the workload of the attorney general's office.

Also Wednesday, the Finance Committee authorized state Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman to use $110,000 from her research and education funds to buy computer software to replace the 20-year-old system.

One reason for the new system, she said, is that a major insurance company, whose identity is being kept confidential, is considering building a service center in Las Vegas that would eventually hire 2,000 people.

The new computer system is needed to help in quick licensing of the agents, many of whom would be calling around the nation seeking business.

Molasky-Arman said Nevada is one of three states being considered. If Las Vegas is chosen, the plans call for a $45 million building with a $29 million annual payroll.