Guinn signs ban on local cell phone rules

Wednesday, May 28, 2003 | 9:25 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Bills dealing with cell phones and school attendance have been signed into law by Gov. Kenny Guinn.

The governor Tuesday approved Senate Bill 10 that prevents local governments from adopting ordinances that would ban the use of cell phones in a motor vehicle.

Proponents of the bill said there would be confusion if local governments would be able to adopt their own regulations. A driver would move from one city to another without knowing what law applied.

The Clark County Commission considered a ban on cell phones, but it was never enacted.

The bill becomes effective July 1.

Senate Bill 253, also approved Tuesday, said each school district must set a minimum number of days a student must attend class to obtain credit for courses. The bill, effective July 1, sets up an appeal procedure for the parents.

A student who was ill or who completed course work on that day could be credited with attendance.

The governor signed Assembly Bill 384, which requires the state Department of Human Resources to develop a list of preferred prescription drugs to be used in the Medicaid program.

A drug review board would be established to determine these drugs, in an effort to find the best price for the prescriptions.

The bill says some prescription drugs, such as ones to treat mental illness, AIDS and antidiabetic medications, must be excluded from the preferred drug list. The department must adopt final regulations before Jan. 1 next year and before July 1, 2004, apply to the federal government for approval of this plan.

The governor approved Senate Bill 204, which requires those who lease or rent a home or apartment to be informed that it was the location of a murder or a felony. The present law requires this information in a sale only.

SB204 becomes effective Oct. 1.