Legislative briefs for March 9, 2001

Friday, March 9, 2001 | 12:05 p.m.

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved a bill Thursday that would allow insurance companies to moderately raise rates without prior approval from the state insurance commissioner.

Senate Bill 4 would allow insurance companies to increase or decrease rates on their own, provided the total average premium for all those insured in the state wouldn't be altered by more than 7 percent.

The insurance commissioner would still be able to examine the rate increases after they take effect.

Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, said she believed current state law was better for consumers.

"This bill means this review happens after the rates go into effect," Carlton said. "I believe the way we do it now is a better way."

Carlton was the lone dissenter when the committee voted to pass the bill on to the full Senate.

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

Thursday approved a measure requiring the state board of cosmetology to provide licensure exams in English and Spanish. Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, sponsored Senate Bill 153 because he said the state board was refusing to act in the best interest of Hispanics.

Sen. Terry Care's proposal

to repeal a state law that makes it illegal to say something derogatory about a bank won unanimous approval Thursday from the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. Care, D-Las Vegas, said current state law should not reflect Depression-era fears about personal comment hurting a bank's solvency.