Telemarketer registry system bill is signed

Wednesday, June 11, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn signed 70 bills Tuesday including measures to stop calls from telemarketers and to combat terrorism.

Assembly Bill 232 calls for the state atorney general's office to establish a registry of people who do not want to be called by telemarketers. This list would dovetail with a similar list being set up by the federal government.

Charitable, religious and political organizations would be exempted from the law.

Telemarketers who violate the law could have their business licenses suspended.

The no-call registry becomes effective in either April or May 2004, depending whether the attorney general joins in the federal list.

Two bills dealing with terrorism, both sponsored by Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, were signed by Guinn.

Assembly Bill 250 establishes the crime of terrorism and allows the death penalty to be implemented in deadly cases of terrorism. It defines terrorism as the use or attempted use of sabotage, coercion or violence that is aimed at causing death or bodily harm to the general population or destruction or contamination of buildings, communications or transportation systems, utilities or natural resources. It makes it illegal to manufacture or possess weapons of mass destruction.

It becomes effective Oct. 1.

Assembly Bill 441 creates a Commission on Homeland Security to prepare plans to protect or counteract acts of terrorism. Local governments and utilities are required to develop a response plan under the new law.

It becomes effective July 1.

Three bills dealing with the benefits of state workers were signed.

Assembly Bill 392 increases longevity payments for state workers from anywhere from $25 to $75 a year depending on length of service. It starts this July.

Assembly Bill 544 requires the state to pay $495 next fiscal year for the premiums for state workers for their health insurance. It goes to $558 next fiscal year.

Assembly Bill 555 provides money to give state workers and university faculty a 2 percent cost of living raise in July 2004.

Among other bills signed by Guinn: