LEGISLATURE: ALIVE BILLS

• “Primary offense” seat belt law: The Senate Transportation Committee passed Senate Bill 42, which would allow police to cite any motorist they see not wearing a seat belt. Currently, police cannot pull over a motorist for simply failing to wear a seat belt, but must first stop them for another offense.

• STATE LOTTERY: The Assembly voted for a constitutional amendment (Assembly Joint Resolution 3) that would allow a state lottery with profits going to purchase school supplies. The bill still needs Senate approval and a positive vote from citizens. Lotteries have been banned in Nevada since 1864.

• PRISONER RELEASE: The Senate approved Senate Bill 30 to allow county sheriffs to release nonviolent prisoners from jails that are operating at capacity. Sheriffs would first petition the chief district judge to allow the release. The bill was approved, although initially it had been killed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The following day, the committee voted to reconsider the measure and approved it.

• PROHIBITING MILLENNIUM SCHOLARSHIPS TO NONCITIZENS: The Senate Human Resources Committee backed Sen. Joe Heck’s Senate Bill 415 to deny Millennium Scholarships, loans and other benefits to college students who are not citizens.

• HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Gov. Jim Gibbons’ bill to increase the homestead exemption, now $350,000, to $550,000. That represents the amount of equity in a home that cannot be taken from the owner by bankruptcy and most lawsuits.

• COMPARISON OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES: The Assembly Health and Human Services Committee passed Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie’s Senate Bill 232. It requires pharmacies each month to give the state a list showing what they charge for the 100 most common prescription drugs. The prices would be posted on a state Web site.

• GRAFFITI PENALTIES: Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera’s Assembly Bill 14 would require graffiti taggers to pay at least $400 in fines and perform 100 hours of community service. Those convicted of felony tagging, causing more than $5,000 in damage, would spend 10 days in jail. Oceguera testified taggers cause $30 million in property damage annually in Clark County.

• PET LAWSUITS: The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Sen. Warren Hardy’s Senate Bill 298, which allows owners of cats or dogs intentionally killed or injured by others to sue for as much as $5,000 in damages.

• TEACHER RIGHTS: The Assembly Education Committee passed Assemblyman Tick Segerblom’s Assembly Bill 459, which sets up requirements that school district officials must meet before they can dismiss teachers. Segerblom said too many teachers are being fired without justification, exacerbating the teacher shortage.

• DOCTORS’ “I’M SORRY” BILL: The Senate voted for Sen. Joe Heck’s Senate Bill 174, which would allow physicians to express sorrow or apologize to patients and their families when something goes wrong with treatment. Expressions of sorrow could not subsequently be used against doctors in lawsuits.

• QUALIFICATIONS FOR SHERIFF: The Assembly Government Affairs Committee amended Assemblyman William Horne’s Assembly Bill 301 to require candidates for county sheriff to have at least five consecutive years of experience in law enforcement. Horne, who sought a 10-year experience requirement, proposed the bill in response to millionaire helicopter company owner Jerry Airola’s run for sheriff last year.

• STATE EMPLOYEE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: The Assembly Government Affairs Committee unanimously approved Assembly Bill 601, which would allow state employees to form bargaining units and seek better benefits.