New Nevada business laws affect builders, slot operators

Monday, Sept. 27, 1999 | 11:28 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Beginning Friday the state Contractors Board will get more muscle in overseeing builders, mortgage brokers and agents will live under new, stricter rules and competition begins in the power supply industry.

These are some of the new Nevada laws affecting business passed by the 1999 Legislature.

Other measures say supermarkets will have new guidelines for allowing smoking in their slot areas, and flea markets will have new rules to prevent fencing.

Lawmakers passed the legislation before they adjourned in May, but they allowed five months to get the word out to the public before the laws took effect.

Here are synopses of some of the new business laws:

"This will help someone who is ripped off by a contractor and the contractor goes out of business," Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said.

She said those who either buy a new home or have extensive repairs done may end up the victim of poor workmanship. But they can't collect because the contractor has gone broke or left the state. Homeowners, however, won't be able to collect until July 2001 in order to give time for the fund to build up a balance.

The laws allowing one to become a contractor in Nevada were also strengthened.

"It's more difficult for those with a criminal conviction to become a contractor in Nevada," Buckley said, adding that the financial requirements will be upgraded.