Legislative briefs for April 11, 2001

Wednesday, April 11, 2001 | 11:25 a.m.

Assembly panel passes measure

The Assembly Judiciary Committee passed a bill Tuesday that would make certain settlement information related to lawsuits against government entities public.

Assembly Bill 277, sponsored on behalf of former Assemblywoman Gene Segerblom, would prohibit settlements from being confidential.

The settlement would be a public record open to inspection.

The measure passed the committee 10-1-1 with Sharron Angle, R-Reno, against and Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, abstaining.

The bill was forwarded to the Assembly.

Domestic violence bill killed

An Assembly panel voted Tuesday to kill a bill that would have given judges and prosecutors more discretion to reduce or dismiss charges in domestic violence cases.

Assembly Bill 585, shelved on a 9-4 Judiciary Committee vote, also would have replaced strict license revocation penalties for drunken drivers with provisions for restricted licenses that would enable offenders to drive to and from work.

The committee rejected the bill despite earlier arguments that there are serious flaws in Nevada's DUI and domestic battery laws, and mandatory sentencing is a bad way of dealing with people accused of breaking those laws.

Committee hearings planned for LV

Senate and Assembly committees have scheduled hearings in Las Vegas to discuss reapportionment.

The Senate Committee on Government Affairs will meet at 6 p.m. April 20 in Room 4401 of the Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas.

The Assembly Committee on Elections, Procedures and Ethics has set its Las Vegas hearing for 9:30 a.m. April 21 at the same place.

The two committees will hold a joint session at 7 p.m. April 19 in Fallon.

Legislative leaders said they wanted to hold hearings in Southern Nevada and in the rural counties to provide information and to receive testimony on redistricting of the Legislature, state Board of Education, and the Board of Regents. Boundary lines also need to be drawn for a third congressional district.