Sandoval vetoes chiropractor, jury selection bills
CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval has vetoed his second and third bills of the 2013 session, one that would have allowed chiropractors’ assistants to perform services, the other that would have required judges to excuse certain jurors.
Sandoval late Friday vetoed Senate Bill 198, which would have allowed a chiropractor’s assistant to perform services even at times when the chiropractor was not in the office, but only accessible by phone.
The governor noted that these assistants can be 18 years old and have only six months of on-the-job training. He said that was not sufficient time to allow them to work without the direct participation of the chiropractor.
SB198 was introduced by state Sen. Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, and passed without an opposing vote in both houses of the Legislature. Hardy is a physician.
The governor also vetoed Senate Bill 421, proposed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would have required the removal of jurors who judges believe are “more likely than not” biased against a party in a case.
“It is not clear how this new standard will affect a trial court’s ability to rehabilitate a potential juror who has been challenged under these new grounds,” the governor said in his veto message. “However, it is clear that this bill will unnecessarily restrict the discretionary power of the court and burden the jury selection process.”
Sandoval is a former federal judge.
Unlike SB198, SB421 was supported by all Democrats and opposed by most Republicans.
It passed the state Senate on an 11-10 vote and the Assembly 30-9. That means there are not enough votes in the state Senate to override a veto. An override needs at least two-thirds of the votes.
In the 2011 session, Sandoval vetoed 28 bills and legislators did not attempt to override them.
The governor also has announced he will veto Assembly Bill 440, a bill sought by the secretary of state that would extend voter registration deadlines to 5 p.m. Friday before a Tuesday election.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.
