City to take longer look at work cards

Angela Soo

Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

Although they say the rules about work cards need to be reformed, Las Vegas City Council members are not willing to entirely drop the process they say helps protect people from criminals.

Clark County recently eliminated the need for many hotel workers to obtain work cards after protests from the Culinary Union and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The city of Las Vegas is looking at making changes too, but decided Wednesday to study the issue for another 30 days.

Much has changed since 1949 when the ordinance mandating work cards was passed, Councilman Michael McDonald said during Wednesday's City Council meeting. But he said the city must have some sort of control to protect seniors and children, and that means taking precautions when it comes to allowing people to work in certain jobs.

The City Council decided Wednesday to meet with civil rights leaders and others over the next 30 days to come up with a new set of rules.

There are currently 28 jobs that require a work card as a condition of employment. Those who install burglar alarm services, those who operate ice cream trucks and those who teach martial arts are among those who must get work cards in Las Vegas.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald suggested that the city look into what the state already requires be regulated, such as child care. The city should not require work cards for jobs that are already regulated by the state, she said.

Mayor Oscar Goodman supported a more "laissez faire" approach to issuing work cards, saying that the private sector should be more involved in conducting background checks on its workers, so that the city does not have to step in.

"The less government the better," Goodman said. "If employers feel satisfied with their screening process, then I don't think we should get involved."