Legislative briefs for April 11, 2003

Friday, April 11, 2003 | 9:48 a.m.

Homeland security bill amended

Heeding the advice of the Nevada Press Association, an Assembly panel on Thursday amended a homeland security bill to create a new class of records that may be kept confidential.

Assembly Bill 441, sponsored by Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, creates a homeland security commission and establishes procedures for dealing with specific records related to homeland security.

The press association's amendment defines homeland security records as those specifically relating to the tactical and emergency response plans of public safety and public health agencies.

The original bill allowed the governor to declare any record, including building plans, confidential.

The Judiciary Committee also amended and passed Assembly Bill 250, an anti-terrorism measure also sponsored by Perkins, on Thursday.

Medical reform bill passes panel

A sweeping insurance reform measure designed to stabilize the medical malpractice crisis passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

Assembly Bill 320 addresses both malpractice coverage and insurance for patients.

Under the malpractice section, the bill requires insurance companies to provide 120-day written notice to the state before leaving the market. It also requires the state Insurance Commissioner to reject requested insurance rate hikes to make up for fraud, mismanagement or decisions by an insurer to cover physicians with multiple claims.