Legislative Briefly March 23

Military, veterans to visit Legislature

(Nevada Appeal Staff Report) - The Nevada Office of Veterans Services and the Nevada National Guard will host its biennial Veterans and Military Day at the Legislature on Thursday.

The event starts at Veterans Memorial Hall in the Attorney General Building (on the corner of 2nd and South Curry streets).

On-site registration is from 8-8:30 a.m. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., concluding with a lunch at 1 p.m.

This is a free event but advance registration is strongly encouraged by signing up online at www.veterans.nv.gov in the "About NOVS" section. For more information, contact Bill DiBenedetto at market

ingpro@veterans.nv.gov or (702) 533-7423.

Democrats tout more bill priorities

(AP) - Democratic leaders in the Nevada Legislature outlined more bill priorities, the latest batch focusing on consumer protection.

Among the measures discussed Tuesday during a round-table with reporters are protections for homeowners facing foreclosure. The two bills, AB273 and AB300, center on the good faith of the borrowers and or lenders.

Assemblyman Marcus Conklin of Las Vegas says AB273 seeks to protect homeowners on several fronts, including the overall take banks can walk away with when foreclosing on houses.

It would prevent banks from getting a deficiency judgment and selling it to a third-party collection agency - a practice that doesn't help homeowners because they end up owing the collection agency.

AB300 also addresses foreclosures by imposing penalties on lenders for not making paperwork or bank representatives available for mediation.

Bill to allow later voter registration

(AP) - A bill allowing Nevadans to register to vote on Election Day drew strong reactions from supporters who say it promotes democracy and opponents who say it will breed fraud.

AB108 removes a deadline specifying residents must register 30 days before an election, or in-person at county clerk offices no later than three weeks before the election.

Supporters say it helps people who move and are forced to re-register, including college students.

A proposed amendment calls for adding online registration.

Opponents said AB108 would open the door for fraud by giving people an opportunity to register and vote in different counties. They also said people should be responsible and suffer consequences if they procrastinate to register.

The Assembly Commit-tee on Legislative Opera-tions and Elections did not vote Tuesday on the bill.

Casino owner backs Internet poker bill

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The 68-year-old owner of the South Point hotel and casino in Las Vegas says he's backing a bill to legalize online poker.

Michael Gaughan said Tuesday that he thinks the Silver State should be the first in the country to explicitly allow Internet poker because it's inevitable that online gambling is coming.

Gaughan in his support is differing from at least two major casino companies that have come out against the bill introduced this month in the Legislature. An initial committee hearing for the bill is scheduled for Thursday.

Gaughan says he hasn't partnered with any online casino companies and doesn't think the Nevada bill will significantly help his casino on Las Vegas Boulevard.