Hundreds of new laws take effect on Friday

Monday, Sept. 27, 1999 | 11 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Hundreds of new state laws take effect Oct. 1, five months after the 1999 Legislature finished its work.

Beginning Friday gay employees will have some protection against discrimination on the job, health insurance policies must cover any type of birth control drug or device, and a new ombudsman will begin helping injured people who are fighting with their managed care or insurance company over their coverage.

The 1999 Legislature adjourned in May but delayed the effective date of many of the new laws to allow more public notice.

Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, said he hasn't heard any complaints about the new laws. "They don't know what's going to hit them," he quipped.

Here are synopses of the new laws:

At work

While his office is not flooded with these discrimination cases, Peck said, "We do receive them on a regular basis. It is obvious the number of complaints is an imperfect indicator of the problem because people have been afraid to report incidents for fear of reprisals.

"We are encouraged that the state Legislature did the right thing and we hope that when similar legislation is introduced at the federal level, our congressional delegation will follow suit."

Some policies didn't cover or limited hormone replacement therapy. Giunchigliani said some women would receive estrogen only a portion of the year when they needed full-year coverage. The new law does not include fertility drugs and it does not apply to a company affiliated with a religious organization.

Women who are covered by health insurance will be able to visit their obstetrician or gynecologist without first going through their regular doctors. Giunchigliani said a woman knows if she has a sore throat or ovary troubles. It's an added cost to the insurance company, she said, to force a woman to go through the primary physician first.

Insurance companies will be required to pay for "off-label" drugs for cancer patients. These are drugs developed for other ailments but may have been found to be effective in treatment of cancer.

People who are ill or workers injured on the job will receive added help in their battles with insurance companies or managed care organizations.

A new cabinet-level post is created under Gov. Kenny Guinn for an ombudsman to field the complaints from those who don't think they are getting proper treatment.

"This office has more power," said Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, who authored the plan for the super-ombudsman.

Guinn has already named Laurie England of Carson City as the director of the Office of Consumer Health Care Assistance.

At home

Another law says these condemnation cases must have priority in setting trial dates. It also increases the interest rate the redevelopment agency must pay in a court judgment.

In Las Vegas, the redevelopment agency must set aside 18 percent of the tax revenue it receives to improve low-income housing. That's up from the previous 15 percent.

"This does offer some protection for the rural lifestyle," he said.

In government

On crime

Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, who sponsored the bill, said it was not as strong as he would have liked it. "We'll see how it works," said Perkins, a police captain in Henderson.

Water in the desert

The law says the fluoride should be anywhere from 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million in the water supply. Alberta said there already are 0.3 parts per million in the water. The district intends to add 0.4 to 0.6 parts per million.

A temporary system will be set up by the district until the voters decide in November next year whether to endorse fluoridation of the water in the Las Vegas Valley.

The new law, the result of a compromise between Las Vegas and rural officials, says the importing county must have a water conservation plan and that the loss of the water in rural Nevada will not limit its growth and development.