Legislative briefs for March 5, 2003

Wednesday, March 5, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.

Fees for civil suits may increase

The cost of filing a civil suit and other documents in the county clerks' offices would be increased to provide more money for the court system and technology, under a bill unanimously approved by the Senate Tuesday.

Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, said the fees have not been increased since 1983. They were part of a bill raising other county fees in 2001 but were deleted from the legislation.

Under Senate Bill 162, the cost of filing a civil suit in Clark County would rise from $133 to $147, Amodei said. The fee charged upon the appearance of a defendant would increase from $86 to $99, he said.

The filing fees vary from county to county. The current cost of filing a suit in Carson City would go from $140 to $160 under the bill.

The bill goes to the Assembly.

Assembly approves ethics rule change

The Assembly on Tuesday unanimously approved a repeal of an ethics law that allowed fines for truthful but negative political speech.

Assembly Bill 127 repeals the so-called truth squad portion of the state's ethics laws, which prohibits someone from using false statements to induce the state Ethics Commission from rendering an opinion on something.

Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, was fined in 1998 for a negative political mailer under the law. He has never paid the fine.

The measure now goes to the Senate, where a similar measure died in 2001.

"It's deja vu all over again," Beers said.

Passage of the bill was 41-0, with Genie Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, absent.

Bill would curb telemarketers

Assemblyman Marcus Conklin, D-Las Vegas, introduced a bill Tuesday that would create a do-not-call registry for people who don't want to get calls from telemarketers.

Assembly Bill 232 is one of the Assembly Democrats' priorities for early passage.

"As legislators we hear constant complaints from constituents about annoying calls from telemarketers," Conklin said. "This is an issue that affects everyone."

The measure would require the attorney general's office to maintain a registry available for purchase by telemarketers. It also imposes fines for those who call people on the registry.

AB232 will be heard March 10 in the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee.

Seat belts in cabs proposed

Passengers in cabs and limos would be required to wear seat belts under a bill introduced Tuesday in the Assembly.

Assembly Bill 226, sponsored by John Oceguera, D-North Las Vegas, requires drivers and passengers of cabs and limos to wear safety belts provided the vehicle has the devices installed from the factory and passengers do not have a medical note that excuses them from wearing a seat belt.

Seat belt use would not be required in a limo position where there is no seat belt.

The measure also prohibits children from riding in the front of a cab or limo and requires cab and limo owners to post signs instructing passengers about the seat belt law.

Oceguera said taxis make 21 million trips in Las Vegas each year and have 4,000 accidents. He said he proposed the legislation to save lives and save insurance money.

Violators would be subject to a $25 citation. The measure was referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee.

Prescription aid information urged

Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley introduced a bill Tuesday that would require the Office of Consumer Health Assistance to provide information about prescription drug plans to consumers.

Assembly Bill 236 is part of the Assembly Democrats' key proposals for passage within the first 45 days of the session.

Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said many consumers are unaware of low-cost or free prescription drug programs offered through pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturers.

The measure was referred to the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee.

Bankers backing Guinn tax plan

The Nevada Bankers Association told lawmakers Tuesday that it supports Gov. Kenny Guinn's plan to triple the business license tax as part of an emergency tax measure.

John Guedry, president and chief executive of Business Bank of Nevada, told the Assembly and Senate Taxation committees that he supported tripling the per-employee tax from $100 to $300 per year.

Saying that banks have a large number of employees, Guedry said the Nevada Bankers Association is willing to be part of the solution to the state's budget woes. He also said banks support the governor's larger tax plan provided the tax on banks is proportionate to taxes borne by other large businesses.