Thursday, May 29, 2003 | 10:01 a.m.
Booster seat bill goes to Guinn
The Legislature on Wednesday completed action on a bill to require young children to be strapped into booster seats in cars.
The Senate agreed with an Assembly amendment on Senate Bill 116 that requires children less than 6 years old and weighing 60 pounds or less be secured in a child restraint system.
Violators could face fines from $50 to $500 or up to 50 hours of community service.
The bill goes to Gov. Kenny Guinn. It would become effective in June 2004.
Senate passes two DMV-fee measures
Two bills increasing fees charged by the state Department of Motor Vehicles cleared the Senate and were transferred to the Assembly.
Senate Bill 500 would raise the fee in Clark and Washoe counties by $1 for car smog checks.
Senate Bill 501 imposes an $8.25 fee for processing a dealer's report of sale of a motor vehicle.
Both bills are aimed at providing more money to operate the department.
Crackdown OK'd on plates
A bill that clamps down on new residents who put off registering their vehicles with the state Department of Motor Vehicles cleared the Senate.
Senate Bill 214, which goes to the Assembly, would impose a fine of $50 for the first 30 days a person is late and $25 for each additional 30 days. It's aimed at getting out-of-state drivers to register their cars within 30 days after arriving in Nevada. The Senate Finance Committee was told that the state is losing $10 million to $13 million a year because of people who drive with license plates from another state.
The bill also requires the state Department of Public Safety to set up a special telephone number for residents to report people who fail to register their vehicles within the 30-day deadline.
Another measure, Assembly Bill 30, would require the DMV to inform people applying for a driver's license for the first time after moving to Nevada that they must register their cars.
The Senate and the Assembly are at odds over an amendment to AB30 and it appears headed for a conference committee.
Members named to commission
The Senate and Assembly have named their representatives to the Legislative Commission, which handles routine business of the Legislature.
The Senate members are Republicans Randolph Townsend of Reno, Ann O'Connell of Las Vegas and Mike McGinness of Fallon. The Democratic senators are Minority Leader Dina Titus, Valerie Wiener and Maggie Carlton, all of Las Vegas.
Assembly Democratic members picked to serve on the commission are Speaker Richard Perkins of Henderson, Majority Leader Barbara Buckley of Las Vegas and Bernie Anderson of Sparks. The Republican contingent will be Sharron Angle of Reno, John Carpenter of Elko and David Brown of Henderson.
The first meeting of the commission is scheduled for Friday to elect a chairman. Perkins held the post for the past two years, and now the position switches to the Senate.
Panel OKs funds for travel
A bill that would allow lawmakers to draw up to $5,000 for travel expenses in their district during the time the Legislature is out of session was approved by the Senate Finance Committee.
Senate Bill 368 permits a legislator to be reimbursed for his travel to participate in public meetings with county and city governments in his district.
Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, said the bill is for rural lawmakers who represent a number of counties. He said he would not use it himself.
The bill goes to the Senate floor.
Justice Court fee is passed
The Assembly approved a Senate-amended bill that would impose a $17 administrative fee on people who are convicted in Justice Court.
The money would go to finance specialty courts such as those dealing with drugs and mental health. Part of the money will go to support other courts and part will be sent to the state court administrator for other judicial programs.
The bill goes to the governor.
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