State commission tweaks homeland security plan

Jace Radke

Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 | 9:48 a.m.

The Nevada Homeland Security Commission, at a meeting Thursday, said it has made some minor changes to the state's security goals and discussed the tardiness of hotels in complying with a new strategy.

The state's security strategy, due at the federal Department of Homeland Security by Jan. 31, serves as the trigger that will release fiscal year 2004 funds to the state.

The plan includes broad goals and objectives outlined by the state Division of Emergency Management, as well as data that assesses the state's security strengths and weaknesses. The plan sets timelines for the goals, with most to be implemented by 2006.

While the timelines are clear when it comes to the state plan, timeliness has been a problem when it comes to hotels submitting emergency plans to the state's Division of Emergency Management as called for by Assembly Bill 250.

The law required resort hotels to submit the plans by Oct. 31, but by early November only 13 plans had been turned in. Since then plans have come in steadily, and there are now 70 properties that have turned in a plan.

Division of Emergency Management Deputy Director Kamala Carmazzi said the state is currently working with a list of 139 hotels that meet the criteria in AB250.

"The legislation does not define what a resort hotel is, so we've had to fall back on the definition that says a resort hotel has 200 rooms or more, a bar with room for 30 or more people, a 24-hour restaurant and gaming," Carmazzi said. "Because of this the number of hotels that are required to turn in a plan could go down."

Some of the hotels that have turned in plans are properties that don't meet the requirements, such as the Embassy Suites on Paradise Road. There is no penalty for resorts that do not comply with the law.

The Palms, Riviera, Stratosphere and New Frontier are among the larger properties that have not yet filed plans, according to the Division of Emergency Management.

Carmazzi said the Division of Emergency Management will be contacting each of the hotels to try to get the plans filed.

Among the changes being made in the state security plan, Committee members Dr. Dale Carrison and Jerry Keller asked that medical and cyberterrorism concerns be addressed in the plan that already includes developing a statewide intelligence network, establishing communications so that first responders can talk to each other and continued training, among other goals.

The commission is scheduled to meet next on April 1 in Las Vegas.