Legislative briefs for May 15, 2003

Thursday, May 15, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

Warning issued over union defeat

The defeat of a collective bargaining bill for state workers in a Senate committee means there will be continued hostile relations between employees and managers, a union official said.

"They have taken away a chance for labor peace," said Scott MacKenzie, executive director of the 3,600-member State of Nevada Employees Association.

The Senate Government Affairs Committee voted Wednesday 4-2 to kill Assembly Bill 65 that would have given state workers the same rights to bargain that other government employees in Nevada have. There are about 15,000 state workers.

Officials' pay raise OK'd in committee

A bill giving district attorneys and sheriffs a pay raise, their first since 1995, was approved by the Senate Government Affairs Committee Wednesday by a 4-2 vote.

Assembly Bill 23, which goes to the floor of the Senate, provides that the salary of the Clark County district attorney will rise from the present $100,800 to $155,744. The pay of the Clark County sheriff would rise from the present $84,000 to $134,262 in July 2004.

Move made to open abuse hearings

The Senate adopted an amendment that would allow judges to open the hearings of abuse and neglect cases involving children.

These court hearings are now closed. Assembly Bill 132, as passed by the Assembly, would open the meetings except under special circumstances determined by a judge.

The amendment says the hearings must still be closed unless a judge decides open them. In making his decision, the judge or the master must consider and "give due weight to the desires of that child."

The bill will come up for a final vote Friday or Monday in the Senate.

Senate passes Bill of Rights

By a 20-0 vote, the Senate approved a Voters Bill of Rights.

Assembly Bill 235, which goes to the governor, would require notices to be posted at balloting places outlining the rights of voters.

Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, said many people don't realize they can get another ballot if their first one is spoiled, for example.

The Senate approved Assembly Bill 344

that sets up a special election to fill any congressional vacancy. The measure, which goes to the governor, requires the governor to call for a special election to be held within six months after such a vacancy occurs.