Guinn signs bill to ask voters for more police officers

Thursday, May 8, 2003 | 10:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill allowing Metro Police to ask voters to approve an increase in the property tax to permit the hiring of additional officers has been signed by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Senate Bill 334, sponsored by Sen. Warren Hardy, R-Las Vegas, allows the committee on fiscal affairs of the police department to place the issue on the ballot with the consent of county and city officials and the debt management commission.

The ballot question must include how much this would cost the owner of a $100,000 home, how long the tax would be in effect and the purpose of the new tax levy. The law goes into effect immediately.

Guinn signed 19 bills altogether, including Assembly Bill 193 that allows the state Agriculture Department to restrict the sale of certain commercial fertilizers that might be used to make explosives.

Fertilizer was used to make the explosives in the Oklahoma City bombing. The director of the Agriculture Department is required to adopt regulations to ban the sale of certain fertilizers and agricultural minerals if they are detrimental to public health and safety, domestic animals or vegetation.

Part of the bill, sponsored by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining, becomes effective immediately. Another section of the bill becomes effective in January that makes it unlawful for any persons to sell or distribute a restricted fertilizer unless the individual is registered with the state.

Also approved by Guinn was Assembly Bill 253 that provides the state will allocate $71.7 million to the school districts this fiscal year because of a shortfall in sales tax revenues the districts experienced. The measure was sponsored by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

The governor signed the "blue light special" measure allowing motorcyclists to install blue lights on the back of their bikes. Proponents argue these blue lights are easier to see at night and will lead to fewer accidents. Assembly Bill 77 was sponsored by Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno.