Legislative briefs for Feb. 25, 2003

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003 | 9:29 a.m.

Anonymous bills are opposed

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley and Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, both Las Vegas Democrats, said Monday they have asked for a bill to require legislators to put their names on all requests for bill drafts.

Titus said the legislation would make the bill process more open.

It would also discourage "jokes" such as one perpetrated by Assemblyman Ron Knecht, R-Carson City, last week, Titus said. Knecht proposed a bill that would rename the state East California.

Currently a legislator does not have to reveal his or her name when asking for a bill. That information becomes public only when the bill is introduced.

"Knowing from the beginning of the process which legislator is requesting a piece of legislation will enable all interested parties to become involved earlier in the legislation," Titus said.

Tiffany has new school district plan

Sen. Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, is taking a different approach this session in her ongoing fight to break up the Clark County School District.

Tiffany has asked for a bill to create two panels of experts to draft a plan for dividing the district, one of the biggest in the nation. These panels would decide what size the districts should be, their geographical boundaries, the shift of assets and the financial obligations.

Once these plans are devised, they would be returned to the 2005 Legislature for the final decision.

This plan, she said, is not only for her hometown of Henderson to get its own district but to consider smaller districts for all of Clark County.