Legislative briefs for March 20, 2001

Tuesday, March 20, 2001 | 9:47 a.m.

Special plates are offered

Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, is looking for money to help the city of Las Vegas celebrate its 100th birthday in 2005.

He introduced a bill Monday to provide for issuance of special license plates to commemorate the founding of Las Vegas. The plate would be designed by the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety and the Department of Museums, Library and Arts. If 250 people request them, the plates would start being manufactured.

An extra payment of $60 for the first plate and a $35 renewal fee are proposed. Part of that money would go to the 100th anniversary celebration and to finance projects such has historical markers and restoration of historic buildings.

Senate Bill 414 was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.

Another license plate bill was sponsored by Sen. Jon Porter, R-Henderson, to help support preserving federal lands surrounding Las Vegas. Senate Bill 409 was also referred to the transportation committee.

Bill would give Clark land to Nye

A bill to take a 47-square-mile slice of Clark County and transfer it to Nye County has been introduced by Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon.

McGinness quipped that Senate Bill 395 was the "long awaited" drive by rural Nevada to take over populous Clark County.

The section identified as Red Bluff Springs is near State Route 160 between Las Vegas and Pahrump. There are some homes there and Wal-Mart intends to build in the vicinity. Nye County is afraid it would lose the sales tax revenue from Wal-Mart.

He said the county commissions of both Nye and Clark have been discussing the issue.

Out-of-state colleges proposed

The Senate Finance Committee Monday introduced a bill to permit students awarded Millennium Scholarships to use them outside of Nevada.

Sen. Bill O'Donnell, R-Las Vegas, said Senate Bill 391 would allow the scholars to use the money to go to Stanford or Harvard or other major universities.

But Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, suggested one reason for the Millennium Scholarships is to prevent the so-called "brain drain" from Nevada.

Gambling on rails in the works

A rolling casino in Northern Nevada was proposed by a bill introduced Monday by Assemblywoman Marcia de Braga, D-Fallon.

Assembly Bill 448 would permit the Nevada Gaming Commission to license gambling aboard the Northern Nevada Railroad in White Pine County. Operators of the train, a tourist attraction in White Pine County, would not have to secure a license from the county or city.

Funds sought for U.S. 95

Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas, wants $6 million from the state's highway fund to build sound barriers along certain portions of U.S. 95.

The walls would be constructed between Charleston Boulevard and Russell Road. Assembly Bill 424 calls for the money to be used only if the federal government comes up with matching funds.

AB424 was referred to the Transportation and Ways and Means commitees.

Plan would bar calls to homes

A bill to strengthen Nevada's law on telemarketing tactics was introduced Monday by Assemblyman Greg Brower, R-Reno.

Assembly Bill 439 would allow consumers who do not wish to receive unsolicited telephone calls for the sale of goods or services to put their names on a registry maintained by the state.

A telemarketer would be barred from making an unsolicited telephone call to the individual.