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Autism coverage urged

Dozens of people wearing red and carrying signs arrived outside the Sawyer Building on Monday to show their support for Assembly Bill 162, which would require certain insurance plans to cover treatments and therapies for autism.

Lawmakers asked to raise marriage fees

CARSON CITY — Senate Finance Committee members were asked Monday to increase part of Nevada’s marriage license fees to help preserve programs aimed at stopping domestic violence.

Group backs stiffer DUI laws

CARSON CITY — Legislators were urged Monday to tighten Nevada laws to ensure that people convicted of drunken driving in urban areas attend meetings with victims or their loved ones.

Expensive judge scandals cited as reason for budget boost

CARSON CITY — Lawmakers considering an increase in the budget for the state Commission on Judicial Discipline were told Monday that the panel has spent more than expected because of the time required to deal with scandals involving Nevada judges.

Senators plan to discuss raising hotel room tax

CARSON CITY — Lawmakers start their sixth week of the 2009 session on Monday with a state Senate hearing on a tax increase of up to 3 percent on hotel rooms in the Las Vegas and Reno areas to help deal with Nevada’s budget crisis.

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Bill sets up cancer drug donation plan

Should someone with cancer die or have their prescriptions changed, state lawmakers would like their unused prescriptions donated to a program that would safely distribute them to others in need.

Fixed transit plan debated

Sen. Mike Schneider berated casino owners Thursday for trying to change a bill he introduced that would require Southern Nevada governments to establish a fixed transit corridor.

Nurses call for safer patient ratios

CARSON CITY — About 150 nurses from across the state rallied Thursday at the Legislature, urging lawmakers to support a proposal that would set nurse-to-patient ratios to ensure safety in hospitals.

Expansion of ‘Good Samaritan’ law sought

CARSON CITY — Lawmakers were urged Thursday to expand Nevada’s “Good Samaritan” law that protects many medical professionals from being sued as a result of their volunteer efforts during natural or man-caused disasters.

High school rodeo group may lose some funding

CARSON CITY — Nevada teenagers who ride and rope in high school rodeo events said Thursday that fewer students would represent the state in national competitions if lawmakers approve Gov. Jim Gibbon’s proposed budget cuts for the state Agriculture Department.

Gaming, mining industries tell tax panel to look elsewhere

CARSON CITY — Gaming and mining leaders told legislators Thursday that their industries have been hard hit by the recession and cannot afford to be targeted for tax increases as a way to bail out state government.

Buckley backing hard-money lending bill

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, on Wednesday backed a bill that would give investors access to regulatory ratings and examination results on hard-money lenders.

Lawmakers look into ‘green jobs’

CARSON CITY — Lawmakers questioned Wednesday how Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford’s “green jobs” initiative would keep running once federal stimulus dollars are gone, and also asked about rules in the plan for contractors who would train and employ Nevadans.

OSHA official says workplaces safer

CARSON CITY — Far fewer people are dying in job-related accidents in Nevada as a rash of Strip construction accidents in 2007-08 has induced workers and companies to pay more attention to safety, the head of Nevada OSHA testified Wednesday.

Veterans court plan debated

CARSON CITY — A legislative panel heard mixed testimony Wednesday on a plan to set up a specialized court for military veterans struggling to readjust to civilian life.