Tuesday, June 14, 2005 | 9:19 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- A new program that could help more than 50,000 pathological gamblers has been signed into law by Gov. Kenny Guinn.
Guinn Monday also approved bills to allow casinos to charge a fee for entrance into certain areas where gambling is conducted and to allocate $10 million to help start a Nevada Cancer Institute and Center for Excellence with the university medical school in Reno.
The governor inked 44 bills, bringing to 401 he has signed so far.
Guinn signed Senate Bill 357 that creates a nine-member advisory committee in the state Department of Human Resources to help problem gamblers. The bill allocates $1 per slot machine that is already being collected to finance grants to agencies that help these people next fiscal year. That is estimated to be about $1 million.
In fiscal 2007, $2 from each slot machine tax collected will go to the fund. The advisory committee would recommend how the money would be allocated to agencies that can provide aid to these people. The law becomes effective July 1.
A study two years ago by Gemini Research Inc. of Northampton, Mass., found there were more than 53,000 adult pathological gamblers and more than 10,000 adolescents in Nevada with gambling problems.
Senate Bill 444 will allow the state Gaming Commission to permit casinos to rope off certain areas, such as swimming pool parties, and charge a fee to enter. But a person, who wanted to play the machines or tables, but not take part in the party, would be allowed in. This became effective immediately.
The fine for parking in a handicapped space is going up from $100 to $250 under Senate Bill 269, approved by the governor. This starts Oct. 1.
Assembly Bill 127 allows the state to add dental and vision coverage for low-income seniors enrolled in the state's Senior RX program that provides coverage for prescription drug benefits. The added coverage would only come if there is more money available from the tobacco settlement funds. This goes into effect July 1.
The Legislature approved Senate Bill 466 that sets the priorities for local government in the sale of their water rights. It says a local government, if it is going to sell the rights, must first offer them to a local utility that provides municipal water and then it can sell to another political subdivision. But it must sell at the fair market value. This is effective immediately.
Assembly Bill 142 allows judges or peace officers and their families to seek a court order to keep their addresses confidential on the records in the county assessors office. This bill was sought by the Las Vegas Police Protective Association. It takes effect July 1.
Hospitals, under Senate Bill 458, are now required to take over care of an ambulance patient within 30 minutes after arrival. There have been complaints that patients have had to wait hours before getting any treatment when they are transported to the hospital by ambulance. And the state Health Division will conduct a study on how the hospitals are complying with the law that carries no penalty. It becomes effective Oct. 1.
Senate Bill 80 allows a consumer to ask a credit reporting agency to place a security freeze on his consumer report. It prohibits the release of information to most other persons without the express authorization of the consumer. It takes effect Oct. 1.
A record state building program, estimated at more than $400 million, is included in Senate Bill 524 that was signed by the governor. A good share of the projects is at the Higher Education System of Nevada. The state will issue $211.8 million in bonds; will pay $81.8 million in cash and the rest will come from donations or federal funds. It becomes effective July 1.
Senate Bill 32 requires a student at the university or community college to live in Nevada for one year to receive free tuition or certain loans, rather than six months. This is effective July 1.
State and local governments will be required to put out to public auction any property they want to sell. Assembly Bill 312 is aimed at stopping some of the private deals that have taken place in Southern Nevada between local governments and private parties. It takes effect July 1.
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