Legislative briefs for April 20, 2001

Friday, April 20, 2001 | 10:50 a.m.

R.E.M. credited with saving life

When Genie Ohrenschall last campaigned for her Assembly seat in Las Vegas, one young woman answered the door to say the Nevada Legislature has no impact on youth, and thus, she wouldn't be voting.

Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, talked to the young woman a bit longer and learned that serious depression had almost led her to suicide, but that a rock song's lyrics gave her the strength and hope to live.

With that, Ohrenschall agreed to honor the musicians who had, in effect, saved the woman's life.

On Thursday, the Assembly passed a resolution honoring the band R.E.M. for its 1992 song, "Everybody Hurts."

"We have to have youth speak to youth," Ohrenschall said. "This song does that."

Ohrenschall said the band is scheduled to personally accept the resolution July 11.

Desert-dumping bill defeated

The Assembly left a garbage-dumping measure on the curb Thursday amid concerns that those caught dumping small amounts would have to clean up acres of trash.

Assembly Bill 442, sponsored by Genie Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, would have increased the maximum penalty for dumping sewage or garbage unlawfully to require up to 200 hours of community service and cleaning up the entire property where the trash was dumped.

Numerous lawmakers opposed the bill, citing cases in which one bag of lawn clippings could result in a judge-mandated cleanup of old vehicles or huge lots of trash.

"It's a stinky mess and a stinky bill," Vonne Chowning, D-North Las Vegas, said about both desert dumping and the legislation.

The measure failed 25-15. After the vote John Lee, D-Las Vegas, asked to reconsider the vote because he said he thought the bill had good intentions and could be amended to address the concerns.

Security mandate passes Assembly

The Assembly Thursday called for the careful monitoring by the state Department of Education of security for standardized tests.

The lower chamber unanimously passed Assembly Bill 214, introduced by the Assembly Education Committee, that requires the Department of Education to establish procedures to ensure the security of exams.

The bill also mandates that procedures be established so school officials and pupils can report testing irregularities.

Testing irregularities in the Clark County School District last year sparked an interim study of the standardized testing security and led to the bill.

The measure now goes to the Senate.