Tuesday, June 21, 2005 | 9:40 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn has finished signing bills from the 2005 Legislature and its special session and several of the most high profile ones become effective on July 1, including measures to allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada and funding and new restrictions for Millennium Scholarships.
Senate Bill 4 will pump an additional $35 million in state funds plus $7.6 million from the unclaimed property fund into the Millennium Scholarship program to keep it afloat. Students now will be reimbursed for only 12 hours a semester, and those entering their second year will now have to carry a 2.75 grade point average rather than 2.6 to remain eligible for the reimbursement. Students also will not be reimbursed for taking remedial classes.
The scholarship program was started with money from the tobacco settlement fund but that is not producing as much revenue as expected. So the state is chipping in to keep it alive.
Assembly Bill 4 starts all-day kindergarten throughout in Nevada. There is $22 million set aside to either start or continue kindergarten at 118 schools in Nevada. But the money isn't available until fiscal 2007.
Senate Bill 5, to be effective July 1, will allow Nevadans to buy lower cost prescription drugs via mail order from Canadian pharmacies that are licensed by the state Board of Pharmacy.
The board will have to establish regulations and make inspections before approving any pharmacy to sell to Nevada. The drugs must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and Nevadans will be limited to buying a three-month supply.
The state Office of Consumer Health Assistance will set up a Web site to help Nevadans learn how to make the purchases.
Senate Bill 3 makes various changes related to the $100 annual tax on each business. It exempts businesses that have only four or fewer rental units from paying the tax. And it provides that the chairwoman of the Nevada Tax Commission receives an annual salary of $27,000 and each member $20,000. They are now paid $80 per meeting. This becomes effective July 1.
The so-called "pork bill" that didn't pass during the regular session, was approved in the special session. Senate Bill 1 provides $1.5 million for distribution to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Nevada for instruction on the dangers of drug use and the development of leadership abilities for the youngsters. There is $200,000 for the Nevada Public Radio Corporation and the KLVX Communications Group for services to the deaf.
The bill allocates $10 million to the Nevada Cancer Institute to be spent for equipment and for research; $5 million to Reno for building a Community Assistance Center; $350,000 for restoration of the Lake Mansion in Reno; $600,000 to the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority for construction of whitewater rapids on the Truckee River and $500,000 to help rebuilt the former Virginia & Truckee Railroad line from Virginia City to Carson City.
There is also $250,000 for the Legislature to hire a consultant to develop a plan for the deconsolidation of the Clark County School District.
Assembly Bill 3 deals with promoting energy efficiency in buildings. It provides that at lease two projects a year by the state must be built to higher energy standards. And the state Department of Economic Development can provide tax breaks for those in private industry that construct their buildings to the higher standards. The sections of this bill become effective at various times during the next year.
Assembly Bill 7 provides $100,000 to the Nevada Commission on Sparks and $$25,000 to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada effective in July
Assembly Bill 2 makes various changes in the state Department of Human Resources, including renaming it the Department of Health and Human Services. These changes take place in July and in October.
The governor approved Senate Bill 2 that allocates $433,550 to upgrade security in the attorney general's office, the state capitol and the Nevada Supreme Court. Also signed was Assembly Bill 5 that allows the state Equal Rights Commission to investigate complaints of discrimination against gays in public accommodations.
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