Assembly works for day at Capitol

CARSON CITY -- The "yeas" and "nays" of legislators once again rung through the state Capitol as the Assembly returned Thursday to its original chambers.

Both the Senate and Assembly have been housed in the Legislative Building, about 100 yards south of the Capitol, since 1971. But every session since 2003, Assembly members have returned to spend one day in the Capitol, working without computers, the Internet and electronic voting boards.

During the Thursday session, members unanimously approved Assembly Bill 134, which bans anyone under 18 from getting the death penalty. Under the bill, juveniles can be sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole in murder cases.

Assembly Judiciary Chairman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, said legislators had no choice but to approve the bill because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty for juveniles constituted "cruel and unusual punishment."

Two days after chest pains sent him to Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center, Assemblyman John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, was back on the job. He said doctors approved his return to work.

"The grass is greener on this side of the fence," said Hambrick, who has lost 42 pounds in recent months.

Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, said holding a Capitol session gave new members a chance to learn a little about state history. Half of the members are newcomers this session.

Former state Archivist Guy Rocha told members about some of the myths of Nevada, including one spread by tour guides that the Capitol dome is made out of silver.

In reality, it is made of tin-plate panels painted silver.

Rocha also noted that Oceguera is the first Native American in state history to serve as speaker. Oceguera is an enrolled member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe.