Legislative briefs for June 3, 2005

Friday, June 3, 2005 | 11:09 a.m.

Bill to give PUC more power OK'd

A bill that would abolish the state Transportation Services Authority and transfer its duties to the state Public Utilities Commission was approved by the Senate on Thursday.

Assembly Bill 505, which goes to the Assembly for agreement on an amendment, would eliminate the three-member commission that oversees such activities as limousines and moving van companies.

The PUC at one time regulated the businesses but then a new authority was created.

The bill will establish a commissioner of transportation under the PUC to handle transportation matters. The commissioner on transportation would be Kimberly Maxson-Rushton, who is now a commissioner on the authority.

The Transportation Authority is based in Las Vegas. Its chairwoman is Sandra Avants who plans to retire in October when the changeover will be effective.

The third commissioner, Bruce Breslow of Sparks, resigned from the authority to go into private business.

Bill OK'd to allow schools to trim No Child requirements

By a vote of 42-0, the Assembly approved a Thursday bill that allows school officials to reduce requirements in the federal No Child Left Behind Act if the government doesn't provide the money.

There have been complaints during this session of the Legislature that the federal act requires extra programs and testing but the government doesn't always supply the money.

The bill sets aside $100,000 a year to hire a consultant to review the funding from the federal government and analyze whether the money is enough to do the job required.

Assembly Bill 562 goes to the Senate.

Assembly revives bill on state workers' rights

A plan to give state workers the right to organize and to carry on discussions about workplace issues has been revived in the Assembly.

A similar bill died in the Senate Government Affairs Committee earlier in this session, but Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, introduced Assembly Bill 568, which passed 42-0 by the Assembly Thursday and goes to the Senate.

State worker groups would be able to discuss hours and working conditions, grievances, discipline and firing. It would not allow negotiations over salary increases.

The Assembly also passed 42-0 Assembly Bill 571 that sets the subsidy the state pays for its workers' health insurance. The bill provides the state will pay $481 per month next fiscal year and $500 per month in fiscal 2007

AB571 also sets the subsidy the state pays for its retired employees for their health insurance. The subsidy for the first year will be $321 per month and then it rises to $336 in 2007.

Measure to boost travel pay advances

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday agreed to an Assembly amendment to boost the travel pay for lawmakers from $6,800 to $10,000 for a session.

Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, told the committee that some lawmakers have already spent $9,500.

"I think this will cover everybody this session," he said.

Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, said he "gets capped out every session" in paying the airfares to Elko for the weekends.

Senate Bill 311 was to go to the floor of the Senate for formal action today and then to the governor. It would be effective immediately giving the lawmakers an additional $3,200 for this session.

Panel picked to handle matters between sessions

The Senate and Assembly Thursday chose lawmakers who will serve as regular members of the bi-partisan Legislative Commission that takes care the business of the Legislature between sessions.

The Senate selected Republicans Randolph Townsend of Reno, Sandra Tiffany of Henderson and Mark Amodei of Carson City and Democrats Dina Titus, Valerie Wiener and Steven Horsford, all of Las Vegas.

Assembly members are Democrats Barbara Buckley and John Oceguera, both of Las Vegas and Bernie Anderson of Sparks and Republicans Sharron Angle of Reno, John Carpenter of Elko and Dr. R. Garn Mabey, Jr. of Las Vegas.

The commission today chose Buckley as its new chairwoman, replacing Townsend. Oceguera was selected as vice chairman. The chairmanship rotates between the Senate and Assembly and between Democrats and Republicans.