Legislative briefs for April 2, 2003

Wednesday, April 2, 2003 | 9:22 a.m.

DMV backs bill on car registration

The state Department of Motor Vehicles endorsed a bill to allow motorists to renew their registration every two years instead of annually.

Assembly Bill 324, introduced by Assemblyman Josh Griffin, R-Las Vegas, would permit car owners to decide if they want to register the vehicle for one or two years.

Department officials said it could cut down on long lines at DMV offices.

But Clay Thomas, deputy director for operations in the department, said it opposed another section of the bill that would extend the life of a driver's license from the present four years to six years.

Thomas told the Assembly Transportation Committee that would cost the department $18 million in revenue.

The committee did not take action on the bill.

Plea for prison guard tests made

The state Department of Corrections defended a request for $118,000 over the next two years to do psychological testing on people applying to be guards at state prisons.

Glen Whorton, assistant director for operations of the department, said correctional officers work in a challenging environment and are under a lot of pressure. Testing can help ensure that guards do not resort to unnecessary violence, he said.

His testimony was made to a Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee, which did not take any action.

Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas,

said he has withdrawn his bill to require the state to increase its protection of cultural resources. The bill ran into opposition from representatives of the mining industry, who objected to the wording of the bill, Mortenson said.