Legislative briefs for May 25, 2001

Friday, May 25, 2001 | 10:52 a.m.

Limit on assets would be raised

Homeowners would have a bit more protection for their assets under a measure approved unanimously by the Assembly.

Senate Bill 83, sponsored by Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, increases the Homestead Exemption from $125,000 to $160,000.

Homeowners who file an exemption are not subject to the forced sale of their assets -- up to the amount in the law -- as the result of court action.

The measure now goes back to the Senate, which must concur on an Assembly amendment before the bill is sent to the governor.

The increased exemption would take effect Oct. 1. Homeowners who have already filed would automatically receive the increased exemption without having to file again.

Assembly approves tougher zoning

In an effort to make it a little tougher on local governments to approve neighborhood casinos the Assembly on Thursday approved changes to gaming enterprise districts.

Senate Bill 171, sponsored by Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, expands the distance neighborhood casinos must be from residential areas, schools and churches.

Casinos located outside the Las Vegas Boulevard corridor or the rural Clark County gaming zone would have to be 1,500 feet from residences and 2,500 feet from schools and churches. The bill increases those amounts from 500 feet and 1,500 feet, respectively.

The measure also requires approval by the local government of a neighborhood casino to be by the majority, plus one.

The bill now goes back to the Senate, which must concur on an Assembly amendment before it is forwarded to the governor.

If approved, the measure would take effect Dec. 31.

More time urged to file lawsuits

The Assembly approved an emergency bill Thursday that would allow women more time to sue the manufacturers of silicone breast implants.

Assembly Bill 667 gives women until July 1, 2002, to file suit. Many who testified before the Select Committee on Health and Legal Issues said they were prohibited from suing manufacturers because the statute of limitations ran out before they realized they were eligible to sue.