Sandoval vetoes bills on interim legislative panels, felon voting rights

By Cy Ryan

Friday, June 17, 2011 | 11:44 a.m.

CARSON CITY – A bill that would move the Legislature one step closer to having annual sessions has been vetoed by Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Senate Bill 578 would have created nine Joint Interim Standing Committees of the Legislature with a travel and per diem budget, and with power to call witnesses and discuss issues within their jurisdiction.

The governor said this “creates an interim session of the legislative body, meeting in joint committees that exactly mirror the regular workings of a legislative session.”

The Legislature is now limited to meeting every other year for 120 days unless called into a special session by the governor. Sandoval said there already is an established Legislative Commission that can order studies on issues and direct audits.

Also vetoed was Assembly Bill 301, which would have automatically restored the right to vote of a convicted felon. Sandoval said existing law already allows the restoration of voting rights under certain conditions.

He said, “The right to vote is a privilege that should not lightly be restored to those few individuals who commit the most egregious crimes.”

Also vetoed were:

-- Assembly Bill 550, which directs the Legislative Commission to study the feasibility of establishing permanent ports of entry on highways. Sandoval said a study was conducted in 2004 and found that benefits would be less than the cost.

-- Senate Bill 254, which would have changed the procedures in place for disputes in common interest communities. The governor said the cost of the new procedure was not clear and it appears to add layers to an already complicated system.