Legislative briefs for April 3, 2003

Thursday, April 3, 2003 | 10:09 a.m.

Red Rock bill clears panel

A bill to limit development in the lands adjacent to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area cleared the Senate Government Affairs Committee Wednesday.

"(It) protects Red Rock for future generations," said Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas.

Titus said the bill is backed by a coalition of state, county, private, recreational, and cultural interests to "save a Nevada treasure."

Senate Bill 358, which goes to the floor of the Senate, says local governments shall not increase the number of residential dwellings allowed by present zoning regulations or establish any new non-residential zoning districts in the lands adjacent to the Red Rock area.

At the request of Clark County, the committee deleted from the bill a section that would establish an advisory question on the 2004 election ballot whether to support the limitations on development. Titus said she had no objection to that.

Weapons alarm measure killed

The Senate Government Affairs Committee killed a bill that would have required law enforcement agencies to install alarm systems where they store weapons.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, was prompted by a break-in at the office of the state Parole and Probation Division in Las Vegas last November. Burglars stole 22 handguns, up to 5,000 rounds of ammunition and cans of pepper spray. The weapons have been recovered and three men have been arrested in connection with the theft.