Nevada news briefs for May 12, 2003

Monday, May 12, 2003 | 9:23 a.m.

Plan updates voting systems

CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller said Sunday a preliminary state plan has been adopted to comply with the new federal voting rights law.

The plan calls for upgrading voting systems, improving voter education, training for poll workers and starting a statewide voter registration system.

The public can submit comments on the plan to Heller's office through June 10. Heller said he and an advisory committee will adopt a final plan June 16.

Copies of the preliminary plan are available at all county libraries, all city and county clerk offices, all registrar of voter offices, the campuses of the universities and community colleges, the attorney general's offices, the website http: // secretaryofstate.biz, and the Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave. Nevada has received $5 million in federal funds to help the state comply with the law. Some of the money will be spent on new voting machines for rural counties and to start the statewide voter registration system. The state is also eligible to receive an additional $20.4 million if full federal funding is appropriated.

Auto insurance unlicensed

CARSON CITY -- Liberty Liability Foundation, an insurance company based in Columbus, Miss., has been ordered by state Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman to stop selling auto policies in Nevada because it is not licensed in Nevada.

"Every premium dollar paid to an unauthorized insurer is money that will not result in payment of claims," Molasky-Arman said Friday. "Consumers can protect themselves by making certain they are dealing with a licensed company."

She said the division learned that the company was conducting business in Nevada when it received an inquiry from the state Department of Motor Vehicles about a proof of insurance card.

Records in the state show that neither Liberty Liability nor an associated firm called Americus Liability Foundation is licensed to sell policies in Nevada.