Nevada lawmakers work on taxes and budgets as session nears end

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- With just two weeks remaining in Nevada's legislative session, lawmakers are nearing agreement on a record tax increase and are set to work out differences over a $4.8 billion state budget for the next two years.

Reports began circulating late last week about a tax plan from Senate Republican leaders, dubbed the "Universal Business Tax." Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said that while details of the plan are still being worked out, he considers it a broad-based business tax.

Perkins has said all session he wouldn't support a tax plan that didn't contain a broad-based business tax, such as the levy on gross receipts proposed by Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn in his $1 billion plan for new revenue to balance the budget.

But Perkins also said the "Universal Business Tax" was designed to counter criticism that the gross receipts tax was unfair to businesses with a low profit margin. He wouldn't reveal additional details, and said negotiations over issues such as exemptions were still being worked out.

Senate and Assembly fiscal committees were expected to complete budget closings early this week and work out their differences by late Wednesday. Legislative leaders planned parallel tax discussions so that when a spending figure is set, the final tax package would be compiled.

The final package, Perkins said, would likely include the "Universal Business Tax," as well as other key components of Guinn's package, which included cigarette and liquor tax increases and increased levies on the casino industry.

With the final budget and tax negotiations coming to a close, Perkins said the lawmakers could go home by their June 2 deadline, if not earlier.

"I'm discussing with Bill (Raggio) now what kind of schedule we could get together to try to get us out of here a couple of days early," Perkins said.

While negotiations on taxes and budgets will dominate the week, committees still have some work to do hearing and voting on bills exempt from last Friday's deadline for committee action.

Over 200 measures are pending before Assembly and Senate fiscal panels -- all with some effect on the state budget. Most are unlikely to be approved unless there's agreement on a tax plan.

On Monday, Senate Finance will hear SB250, a measure changing the state's medical regulations. One key provision allows medical specialists facing high malpractice premiums to apply for a state subsidy of up to $30,000 per year.

Death penalty opponents are putting together an amendment to two death penalty reform bills that would limit Nevada's executions of juveniles. Senate Judiciary last week rejected Assembly legislation imposing a total ban, but senators have expressed interest in some kind of new limits.

Senate Judiciary may take up AB13 eliminating three-judge panels used to sentence murderers when juries can't decide on an appropriate penalty. Another reform bill, AB16, outlines a procedure for death row inmates to petition courts for DNA testing.

On Tuesday, Senate Finance will consider AB341. The bill waives Nevada's immunity from civil lawsuits and says the state can be held liable for discrimination under federal legislation such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.

Assembly Ways and Means will hear SB46, authorizing the state to issue nearly $10 million in general obligation bonds to raise money for the environmental protection of Lake Tahoe.

The committee will also hear SB216, creating a new oversight committee for the Tahoe Regional Planning Authority and the Colorado River Commission.

Also Tuesday, Senate Transportation will hear AB518, which calls for a study of limousine permits because of concerns that too many limos are causing conflict by sucking up Las Vegas tourism dollars that would otherwise go to taxis. It would temporarily halt limo permitting.

Assembly Ways and Means on Wednesday is scheduled to close budgets on capital improvement projects.

On Thursday, Senate Finance will hear AB148. The bill calls for an examination of the university system's capital construction projects, athletic programs, personnel, travel and other administration costs, the use of host accounts, investment income and enrollment data.

Also Thursday, Senate Legislative Affairs and Operations will consider AJR13, which would let the Legislature call itself into a special session. Two-thirds of the lawmakers would have to sign a petition to convene the special session, and legislative business would be limited to what's stated on the petition.