Nevada Senate OKs bill on building defects

A bill creating a commission to resolve problems between Nevada homeowners and builders over construction defects won state Senate approval Monday.

SB371, sent to the Assembly on an 18-3 vote, would empower the seven-member commission to order a contractor to make the repairs within 90 days if the board found the builder was at fault.

"No" votes were cast by Sens. Dina Titus, Terry Care and Maggie Carlton, all Las Vegas Democrats.

"This is going to give very fast relief for anyone with a construction defect," said Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, the sponsor of the bill. "That's what this is all about."

"What we want to do here is get defects fixed in a very swift, efficient manner."

A homeowner would have to make two requests of the contractor to repair the problem before filing a complaint with the commission, whose members would be appointed by the governor.

If the contractor can't make the repairs, then another contractor would have to be hired. The expense would be covered by a contractor's insurer or by a state recovery fund.

Homeowner complaints would be dismissed if the commission found there was "no reasonable probability that a constructional defect exists."