Assembly Democrats urge attention to non-budget priorities

Democratic leadership in the Assembly called attention Thursday to some legislative priorities they say have not drawn enough attention this session.

"We think that these issues are getting lost in the process because of the emphasis on taxes and the budget," said Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson.

He and Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said priorities include audits to improve accountability in public schools and the university system, establishment of a prescription-drug help desk for seniors, anti-terrorism legislation and consumer legislation dealing with telemarketers and insurance companies.

"We believe these bills are important to residents of the state of Nevada," Buckley said.

She and Perkins said Assembly Democrats want some of those measures made top priorities for passage within the first 45 days of the 2003 session.

Buckley admitted even if lawmakers approve performance audits for the school districts and university system, they can't be finished in time for consideration this session.

"But it sends a message that we want our existing dollars spent appropriately," she said.

"If we put $40 million into textbooks, we want to know was it spent on textbooks," Perkins said.

They also called for sanctions on school administrators who don't comply with state laws requiring discipline plans to control disruptive students. Perkins said those laws are already on the books, but that teachers tell them too often nothing is done with violent and disruptive students.

Buckley said the prescription-drug help desk at the Office of Consumer Health would help seniors and others with limited resources obtain free or reduced-cost drug programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

"They have these programs, but too often people -- even some doctors -- don't know about them," she said.

She said the Consumer Health Assistance office tells her starting the program won't cost the state any money. She said it would benefit those who don't qualify for Senior Rx benefits.

Perkins, who is deputy chief of police in Henderson, said legislation defining terrorism as a crime with defined punishments also is coming. That bill will require resorts to develop emergency-response plans and file them with local police and fire agencies.

Perkins said another bill on the priority list is establishing a "do not call" registry for telemarketers. A similar bill failed two years ago, but Buckley said support "just builds and builds for this proposal."

Finally, Perkins said they are backing a bill to prevent insurance companies from using credit reports in calculating premium rates. He said some one with one late payment on his or her record can suddenly find the price of car and home insurance going up and the practice should be stopped because the two aren't necessarily related.

They said they expect those priorities to get through the Assembly by the 45th day of session.