School breakfast bill among four others vetoed

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, June 16, 2011 | 7:31 p.m.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval has vetoed four more bills, including one to require certain public and charter schools to supply a free breakfast to children and another to allow inmates out of prison earlier.

The governor said Assembly Bill 137 would require free breakfast at any public school, including a charter school that is eligible to operate a program of nutrition in accordance with federal regulations. The bill said the breakfast must be served after the day begins in the classroom in a transportable manner or in the cafeteria.

Sandoval said the law already allows local school boards and governing boards of charter schools to provide for a nutrition program. He said he was confident local officials “are currently capable of determining how best to administer nutrition programs for their students.”

The governor also vetoed Assembly Bill 136 to permit certain convicted felons to earn credits to reduce their sentences. Currently, inmates convicted of less serious crimes can earn good-time credits by acquiring vocational skills and undergoing drug treatment programs. That enables them to get out of prison earlier.

Sandoval said the bill would extend the good-time program to Class B felons, with the exception of repeat offenders and offenders guilty of violent crimes or sexual assaults.

The governor said he was “concerned that the bill will allow dangerous criminals to be prematurely released from prison, thereby increasing risk to Nevada communities and sending a message to offenders that this state is soft on crime.”

Also vetoed were:

-- Senate Bill 188 to allow wardens at state prisons to permit correctional officers to work an 84-hour schedule within a 14-day pay period composed of 12-hour shifts. He said existing law already permits this and the state Department of Corrections has started the 12-hour shifts at some prisons.

-- Assembly Bill 300 to make changes in the Foreclosure Mediation Program created in 2009 to help residents from losing their home. Sandoval said the Nevada Supreme Court has jurisdiction over the program and already has named a 14-member committee to consider possible changes.