Legislative briefs for May 10, 2005

Tuesday, May 10, 2005 | 9:25 a.m.

Off-session travel allowance OK'd

Legislators would receive a travel allowance in the off-session to attend public meetings under a bill approved by the Senate Finance Committee on Monday.

At present, legislators must pay their own way to participate in public meetings with elected officials in their district.

The committee amended the bill that would allow the travel reimbursement to lawmakers who travel 50 miles or more to a meeting. Legislators are now reimbursed 40 cents per mile.

Senate Bill 265 limits to $5,000 what a senator or assemblyman could collect in a year. The lawmaker could not collect any travel expenses after he files for re-election.

The bill, approved without dissent, goes to the floor of the Senate for a full vote either late this week or early next week. It was sponsored by Sens. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, and Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, who have two of the largest districts in the state.

Ely courthouse money approved

The Senate Finance Committee approved a bill allocation of $10.8 million to build a new courthouse for White Pine County in Ely.

Previous testimony before the committee cited inadequate security in the old courthouse to handle the number of cases coming from the maximum security prison in Ely.

Senate Bill 183, which goes to the floor of the Senate for a vote, was opposed by Sens. Bob Beers and Barbara Cegavske, both Las Vegas Republicans.

Stun gun bill will go to Guinn

The Assembly unanimously approved an amendment Monday to a bill that would limit the use of stun guns.

Assembly Bill 123 will now go to Gov. Kenny Guinn.

The bill stipulates that people cannot use stun guns except for self defense.

The original version passed by the Assembly would have allowed children older than 14 to have a stun gun with the permission of their parents, but the Senate amended the bill to say only adults can have the weapons.

"As amended, no one under the age of 18 years may have a stun gun, period," said Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks.