More Hearings on deregulation start fourth week of Legislature

Brendan Riley

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2001 | 10:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY - Nevada lawmakers will open the fourth week of the 2001 session with another Senate Commerce and Labor hearing into ways to avoid the energy crisis that has hit neighboring California.

The committee's hearing Monday will focus on Nevada's power transmission needs. The discussion follows Gov. Kenny Guinn's announcement of a commitment from Nevada Power Co. to fund construction of a major power transmission line that would expand the state's access to the Western power grid.

While it's not on the committee's official agenda, the record $300-million-plus rate hike granted to Sierra Pacific Resources on Friday by state regulators also may produce some heated discussion among lawmakers.

Also Monday, Assembly Ways and Means will consider a measure that requires an audit of the University and Community College System of Nevada and the system's regents. There's also a bill appropriating $1 million for a commission promoting a high-speed train between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

And Senate Finance will review several measures, including a bill aimed at discouraging students from eating junk food sold in vending machines located in public schools.

On Tuesday, Assembly Elections, Procedures and Ethics will review a bill that would extend the hours that polls are open in Nevada. The measure would extend the closing time from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on election days.

Also Tuesday, an Assembly-Senate budget subcommittee will discuss various human services programs, including a "Nevada Checkup" program aimed at getting children from low-income families covered by medical insurance. Another budget subcommittee will review various state prison system budgets.

And Senate Judiciary plans a hearing Tuesday on a bill to extend laws against sexual conduct between school employees and students. The measure would expand the laws to cover anyone who volunteers to help in school programs.

On Wednesday, Senate Judiciary discusses a measure to allow visitors with concealed weapon permits from other states carry their firearms into Nevada. If here for more than three days, they'd have to notify local authorities. The plan died during the 1999 session.

Also on the Judiciary agenda is a bill to allow Nevadans to carry more concealed guns per person. The current limit is two, and the measure would permit "one or more" weapons.

Also Wednesday, Assembly Commerce and Labor will consider a bill that prohibits the employment of children under age 16 in sales jobs on street corners, in bus stations or sports arenas, or from vehicles. Paper routes are excluded.

Senate Human Resources and Facilities will review a measure that would let the governor appoint the state schools chief. Now that job is in the hands of the state Board of Education.

An Assembly Judiciary subcommittee will discuss a bill to increase the time for prosecuting crimes so that genetic-testing data can be used years after a crime occurs.

And Assembly Health and Human Services will consider a bill that enable grandparents to qualify for state assistance by becoming legal guardians of their grandchildren.

On Thursday, Assembly Judiciary will take up a bill that requires casinos to designate smoking and nonsmoking areas.

And on Friday, Senate Human Resources and Facilities will review a bill that authorizes parents to choose which public school their children will attend.