Legislative briefs for May 19, 2003

Monday, May 19, 2003 | 9:24 a.m.

Poaching measure dies in committee

A bill that would increase the penalty for poaching deer and other wildlife has died in the Assembly Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining Committee.

Committee Chairman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, said there were two motions to kill the bill but he did not recognize either of them. He said the bill died without a vote.

Senate Bill 135 had been supported by sportsmen who said the present gross misdemeanor offense does not permit a person to be extradited from another state if he flees Nevada after the illegal killing of a bighorn sheep, mountain goat, elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, mountain lion or a black bear without a valid tag.

If the person remained in Nevada, he could be arrested. But supporters said the individuals' name would not be placed on the National Crime Information Center.

But Collins said Saturday he has letters from the Clark County district attorney's office and Metro Police that the names of offenders are placed in the national computer bank and if arrested in another state, they could be returned to Nevada.

Senate changes juvenile hearing bill

The Senate has approved what it calls a compromise bill to allow juvenile cases of abuse and neglect to be opened to the public if the judge or master agrees.

Assembly Bill 132, as amended in the Senate, says juvenile hearings are presumed to be closed unless the judge finds that opening them is in the best interest of the child.

The bill, as introduced by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, called for the hearings to be opened unless the judge decides to close them in the best interest of the child.

The bill now returns to the Assembly to determine if it will agree on the Senate change.

Retirement-salary ban dies in Senate

A that would stop department heads in state and local government from drawing both retirement and current salaries has died in the Senate Government Affairs Committee.

Assembly Bill 450 was drafted after former Washoe County Sheriff Dick Kirkland was appointed director of the state Department of Public Safety and drew his $70,000 retirement from the sheriff's office and $101,000 in his state job. He has resigned that job effective next month.

The original legislation, introduced in 2001, was to entice retired teachers to return to the classroom during the current shortage.

The law allows those who retire in Nevada and draw their pensions from the state fund also could receive a public salary. There are numerous state officials, some of them in law enforcement, who retired from other states and are drawing their pensions from that state and their pay in Nevada.

State to keep control of camp

The Clear Creek camp near Carson City, which is used by youth groups and nonprofit organizations, will continue to be owned and operated by the state.

The Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee agreed Saturday that the camp should not be sold and agreed to allocate $1.6 million to refurbish the camp.

The committees told Mike Mizell, director of the state Buildings and Grounds Division, to return with a plan for major renovations.

The Future Farmers of America wanted a 99-year lease to run the camp and to rehabilitate the buildings.

The center was a former Job Corps camp that was deeded to the state by the federal government.

Red Rock protection bill goes to Guinn

With a few whistles and claps the Assembly unanimously approved a bill Friday that would protect the Red Rock National Conservation Area and outlying areas from development.

Senate Bill 358, sponsored by Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, now goes to Gov. Kenny Guinn for consideration.

The governor has stated previously he supported efforts to protect the canyon.

Assemblyman Chad Christensen, R-Las Vegas, who serves the district that contains Red Rock, called the legislation a big win.

"This is a significant victory to Red Rock and to those of us who enjoy one of Nevada's treasures," Christensen said.

Developer Jim Rhodes wants to build homes on land he owns adjacent to the conservation area and had campaigned aggressively against the measure.