Tuesday deadline weeds out bills

CARSON CITY -- Nevada lawmakers face another big deadline in the 12th week of their 2009 session, which starts Monday, with most Assembly bills having to cross over to the state Senate and vice versa, or else.

Under the legislators' rule, measures that aren't exempt must move from the house where they originated to the other house by Tuesday.

Many proposals already have made the transition. Those that don't will be dead for the session.

The cutoff date is one of several aimed at ensuring legislators can complete their work by June 1 and adjourn.

Lawmakers eventually are expected to reduce the nearly 1,000 bills and resolutions introduced this session to less than 500 that actually survive.

Because of the deadline, legislators will spend long hours on Monday and Tuesday debating and voting on scores of measures. That's in addition to the usual committee hearings on a wide range of proposals.

The hearings Monday include one in the state Senate Judiciary Committee on AB187, an Assembly-approved plan that would set up a specialized court for military veterans charged with nonviolent crimes while struggling to readjust to civilian life.

The Assembly Government Affairs Committee will discuss SB166, designating the Vivid Dancer Damselfly as Nevada's official state bug.

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee will review AB151, which would require mortgage brokers to include a disclosure document that lists the lender's license number.

The bill also would require financial institutions to include a document that states the value of the home and the terms of the loan in "language that is easy to understand."

On Tuesday, budget subcommittees working on the state's spending plan for the coming two fiscal years will review the state's services for the aging and its information technology network.

On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee reviews AB533, making a supplemental appropriation of $323 million to the state Distributive School Account because of unanticipated revenue shortfalls in the current fiscal year.

On Thursday, Senate-Assembly budget subcommittees continue their reviews of various states' spending plans by looking at capital construction projects proposed for the state prison system, the governor's mansion and other state properties.

Also up for review is the budget for the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

The Assembly Transportation Committee debates Senate-approved SB136, which prohibits motorists, including police and emergency personnel, from text messaging on cell phones while behind the wheel. The bill doesn't ban reading a telephone number or contact entry on a cell phone if making or receiving a call.

On Friday, Senate-Assembly budget panels review state budget chief Andrew Clinger's Administration Department, along with the Agriculture and Business-Industry agencies.

Welfare spending also is on the agenda for the budget subcommittees.