Assembly allows schools to open libraries to public

Wednesday, April 16, 2003 | 10:56 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Local school boards could decide whether to allow public access of school libraries, under a bill that passed the Assembly on Tuesday.

Assembly Bill 407, sponsored by Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, states that local school boards may grant permission for the public to have access to libraries after school hours.

The idea, proposed by Basic High School students as part of Speaker Richard Perkins' Democracy in Action program, passed by a 41-1 vote.

When the tote board initially began recording the vote, as many as 14 lawmakers cast no votes, which show up as red on the electronic display. By the time Speaker Pro Tem Wendell Williams, D-North Las Vegas, cut off voting, only Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, was left in opposition. The others had changed their votes.

In other Assembly news Tuesday, the house further amended Perkins' anti-terrorism bill.

Assembly Bill 250, which was amended last week in committee, was amended again on the floor of the Assembly to clarify the language in the definition of terrorism.

The latest amendment was to clarify that a person is not subject to prosecution for simply expressing civil disobedience. AB250 could come for a full vote as early as today.

The Assembly on Tuesday also approved two bills dealing with abused children.

Assembly Bill 132, which passed unanimously, states that certain hearings about abuse or neglect of children are presumed to be open to the public. A judge may declare a hearing open or closed depending upon the facts of the case.

Assembly Bill 273, which passed unanimously, establishes a new procedure for permanently placing an abused or neglected child with a guardian. It allows guardianship following an initial hearing without requiring an additional lawsuit to be filed to seek guardianship.

The Assembly also approved Assembly Bill 235, establishing a Voters' Bill of Rights. The bill specifies that voters have rights, including the right to vote without intimidation. The Bill of Rights would be posted at all polling places.

All Assembly bills that passed will now be forwarded to the Senate.