Legislative briefs for February 23, 2005

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005 | 10:31 a.m.

Woman protests mental health care

A woman whose mentally disturbed boyfriend committed suicide handed a check for $300 to a legislative subcommittee Tuesday and asked lawmakers to use the money to improve state services for the mentally ill.

Helaine Jesse of Carson City said her boyfriend had sought help from the state mental health system but encountered long delays in getting appointments. In one case, he had to wait four months for an appointment, she said.

Jesse said he was admitted to the emergency room at a hospital and transferred to the Mental Health Institute in Sparks. But he was discharged in two days because of a shortage of space and because his condition had allegedly improved, she said.

He subsequently hanged himself, Jesse said.

"I'm tired of Nevada being the last in the nation," Jesse said, referring to the mental health funding.

A legislative spokesman said Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, the chairwoman of the subcommittee, will return the check to Jesse.

Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget for mental health calls for $236.1 million in state funds for the next two years, compared with $149.3 million in the past biennium.

Homeland Security to get exemptions

The Senate Government Affairs Committee Tuesday introduced a bill to grant additional open meetings law and open records exemptions to the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security.

Senate Bill 115 would permit private meetings of the commission to receive security briefings, to discuss ways to respond to acts of terrorism and to talk about deficiencies in security systems. In a similar matter, Sen. Joe Heck, R-Las Vegas, sponsored Senate Bill 119 that records and meetings of review committees that regulates emergency medical services to be closed

Pipeline fines would increase

The state Public Utilities Commission would be able to levy higher fines on those who violate the natural gas pipeline safety regulations, under a bill approved by the Senate 21-0 Tuesday.

Senate Bill 3 would allow the commission to impose a $100,000 fine, up from the present $10,000 for each violation. The maximum penalty would rise from $500,000 to $1 million.

The bill, which goes to the Assembly, is to comply with the federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act.