Nevada Legislature primes for influx of bills

About 150 new measures are expected Monday as a bill introduction deadline hits at the start of the seventh week of the 2003 Nevada Legislature.

Because of the cutoff point for individual lawmakers' proposals, both the Senate and Assembly have scheduled double floor sessions to handle the workload.

Among the anticipated proposals is a bill authored by Sens. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, and Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, outlining an alternative to Gov. Kenny Guinn's $1 billion tax plan.

The Care-Amodei plan is a 12-point tax proposal with a new services levy and elements of Guinn's tax hikes -- but there's no sign of Guinn's gross receipts tax that is drawing fire from business lobbyists.

Also Monday, Assembly Judiciary hears AB16, designed to ensure death row inmates' access to DNA testing of evidence in their cases.

Senate Finance will review SB210, providing for increased pay to public school teachers who teach science, math or special education.

Assembly Ways and Means Committee reviews the budget for the Gaming Control Board, which oversees Nevada's multi-billion-dollar casino industry.

On Tuesday, Senate Taxation will continue its study of Guinn's tax proposal, SB238, which includes the controversial proposed gross receipts tax.

Assembly Government Affairs will hear AB248, which would revise Las Vegas' charter to change term limits and election cycles for municipal court judges.

Assembly Judiciary hears AB96, to let counties implement stricter smoking regulations than the state; and AB154, to prohibit smoking on school property and in all child care facilities.

Also Tuesday, Senate Transportation will discuss the state Agency on Nuclear Projects, pending litigation on the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear dump site and transportation of nuclear waste.

On Wednesday Assembly Judiciary will consider Assembly Speaker Rich Perkins' anti-terrorism proposal. The bill defines terrorism and related acts, and makes those acts punishable by the death penalty.

Senate Commerce and Labor takes up legislation dealing with construction defects and medical malpractice. The panel resumes its work on both issues on Thursday.

Also Thursday, a joint budget subcommittee reviews spending plans by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the state's public safety and military operations. The lawmakers also will get an update on prison inmate population projections.

Another joint budget panel will review the Nevada Youth Training Center in Elko. Legislators are getting a report on a federal Justice Department investigation at the center.

Also Thursday, Senate Judiciary considers SB251, a "sunshine in litigation" measure that would ensure Nevadans get details of secret court settlements involving public hazards.

On Friday, a joint budget subcommittee will hear another report on Medicaid. Lawmakers already have been warned that the Bush administration's Medicaid proposal will shift future risks and costs to the state.