Legislative briefs for June 1, 2005

Wednesday, June 1, 2005 | 9:35 a.m.

Bill would change qualifications

The Senate on Tuesday agreed with Assembly amendments on Senate Bill 234 that will now require a candidate for the Nevada Supreme Court to have practiced law for at least for 15 years, of which two years would be in Nevada.

To run for the office of District Court judge, a candidate must have practiced law 10 years, with two years in Nevada. To qualify for justice of the peace, the lawyer must have five years' experience.

The bill, which goes to Gov. Kenny Guinn, does not affect present office holders.

It also urges the Nevada Supreme Court to make recommendations on creating an intermediate appellate court in Nevada. This issue has been considered several times in the past but has always failed.

Local notification rules before Guinn

Before a local government adopts a proposed rule it must notify business and trade associations that could be affected, under a bill approved by the Senate on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 488 allows businesses or trade associations to submit arguments that the proposed rule would impose a significant burden or would restrict new or expanded business.

The local governments would have to consider the arguments before adopting the planned rule.

The Senate agreed to an Assembly amendment and shipped the bill to Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Senate wants to limit waiting in ER

People taken to hospital emergency rooms should be admitted within 30 minutes under a bill approved by the Senate Tuesday. Senate Bill 458 provides that a study must be done on hospitals in Clark County and how long they take to place a patient in a bed, chair or gurney after arriving in an ambulance.

The bill is intended to address complaints by ambulance and emergency vehicle drivers that they have to wait hours before the hospital takes over care of the patient. There is no penalty in the bill for not admitting the patient within 30 minutes.

The state Health Division will gather the information and the reasons for the delays and report to the Legislative Committee on Health Care.

The Senate agreed with an amendment of the Assembly and sent the bill to Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Senate OKs bill on kids in cars

The Senate gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that makes it illegal for an adult to leave a child aged 7 or under alone in a car under certain conditions.

Senate Bill 287 make it a misdemeanor for knowingly leaving the child alone in the car in which conditions "present a significant risk to the health and safety of the child" or if the engine of the vehicle is running or the keys are in the ignition.

There would be no crime if a 12-year old or older was also in the auto.

The adult could avoid conviction by taking instruction on the subject. The bill becomes effective Oct. 1.

The Senate agreed with an Assembly amendment on the bill and sent to Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Entry fees for some gaming considered

Hotels would be allowed to cordon off areas with gaming, such as a swimming pool, and charge a fee for entrance, under a bill approved by the Senate and sent to Gov. Kenny Guinn Tuesday.

The Nevada Gaming Commission would be required to adopt regulations to permit the areas to have slots or games, but a customer wanted to go into the area just to gamble would not have to pay the admission fee.

After the regulations are adopted, the chairman of the state Gaming Control Board could give administrative approval to casinos to hold gambling in the special areas. Senate Bill 444 says a person cannot be kept out of the areas because of race, religion, national origin or disability.

Before giving approval, the board chairman must consider the size of the area, the amount of gambling that will take place, the purpose of the event and the benefit to the state.

The Senate concurred with Assembly amendments to give final legislative passage to the bill.

Priority for sale of water before Guinn

A bill is on its way to the desk of Gov. Kenny Guinn setting up a priority list in the sale of water by local governments.

The Senate on Tuesday concurred with Assembly amendments to Senate Bill 466 that says a local government may sell or lease a water right only to another local government or a public utility that provides water service.

The bill prohibits local governments from charging more than the fair market value of the water rights.

The governor has already signed Senate Bill 35 that allows a county to charge a fee of $6 per acre-foot per year for the transfer of the water. That fee goes to $10 an acre-foot in January 2007.