Lawmakers get serious about budget

CARSON CITY -- With a vital revenue report in hand, Nevada legislators start the 14th week of the 2009 session on Monday with a joint meeting of Senate and Assembly budget panels trying to resolve their differences in proposed spending for the next two fiscal years.

Only a month is left in the four-month session, and lawmakers want to finish work on the budget, expected to include tax increases opposed by Gov. Jim Gibbons, in three weeks. That's possible now that they have revenue projections from the state Economic Forum.

The budget must take into account the forum's grim revenue projections, presented Friday. Gibbons would have five days in which to veto the budget, leaving lawmakers with just enough time in late May to attempt a veto override and then adjourn.

Also Monday, the Senate Health and Education Committee considers AB102, which would allow Nevada, the nation's No. 1 gambling state, to have special court programs for problem gamblers charged with crimes such as passing bad checks, embezzlement, forgery, insurance fraud, or even robbery or assault.

The Senate Finance Committee considers SB330, Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford's plan for sweeping regulatory reform of the state Department of Education and the elected board that oversees K-12 schools.

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee reviews AB95, which would expand the authority of the state attorney general to review mergers of major health insurance companies. The idea is to ensure that such deals don't lead to abuses of market power.

The Senate Government Affairs Committee takes up AB87, which would update the way that the controller's office collects debts owed to state agencies; and the Assembly Government Affairs Committee reviews SB267, which changes requirements of the state's open meeting law that must be followed by government agencies.

On Tuesday, Assembly-Senate subcommittees plan work sessions on the budgets for the state divisions overseeing mental health services and child and family services; and various business-industry oversight programs.

The Senate Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee debates SB331, which would grant property and sales tax breaks to home and business owners who install enough solar panels; and SB358, an initiative aimed at attracting large-scale renewable energy industries and promoting small-scale projects such as rooftop solar systems in Nevada.

The Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee considers AB190, which calls for a study of the costs of the death penalty in Nevada. The bill was amended to delete an execution moratorium while the study is being conducted.

The panel also will consider AJR5, a proposed constitutional amendment that would let lawmakers convene special sessions on their own, without having to get the governor to do so; and AJR6, which would replace Nevada's every-other-year legislative sessions with annual sessions.

Also Tuesday, the Senate Taxation Committee considers AB492, requiring firms that get tax abatements to verify they created jobs and benefits for Nevadans.

On Wednesday, Assembly-Senate subcommittees continue budget-closing efforts, focusing on the state Department of Corrections and the state Distributive School Account which provides funding to K-12 schools.

The Assembly Government Affairs Committee considers SB239, providing for more coordination of Nevada's economic development and work force development goals; and Senate Government Affairs takes up AB147, requiring local governments to give preferences to local bidders.

The Senate Health and Education Committee will discuss AB6, which revises the provisions governing emergency admissions to mental hospitals; and AB433, a plan to require county hospitals to provide outpatient cancer treatment.

On Thursday, Assembly-Senate subcommittees close more budgets, including the spending plan for the Health Care Financing and Policy Division and for Nevada's court system.

The Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee considers AB413, a plan to replace the electoral vote system in presidential elections with a de facto national popular election.

On Friday, the Assembly Judiciary Committee takes up SB283, a Senate-approved bill that gives domestic partners, whether gay or straight, most of the same rights as married couples.

Senate-Assembly subcommittees plan to close more budgets, including those for Nevada's higher education system, which faces major cuts under Gov. Jim Gibbons' spending plans. Other budgets include those for the state agencies dealing with transportation, veterans, public safety and homeland security.

The Senate Judiciary Committee considers AB325, requiring sex offenders to stay away from victims or witnesses who testified against them; and AB380, which would impose steep fines on sex traffickers who lure or force children into prostitution.