Lawmakers wrangle over Nevada budget in 15th week

With three weeks left to set a state budget and find money to fund it, state lawmakers are bracing for long hours and their first weekend hearings in Nevada's capital city this session.

Legislators are ready to approve major education and social services spending in Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget proposal, and will begin resolving differences between Assembly and Senate money committees by the end of the week.

Tax committees will continue hearing testimony on various proposals for new levies, including several not included in Guinn's record $1 billion plan. But the panels aren't expected to approve any major tax bill until the conclusion of private, informal meetings between key senators and Assembly members.

On Monday, Senate and Assembly fiscal committees will hold two hearings on state spending in a final push to determine whether Guinn's proposed $4.83 billion, two-year budget should be funded as is, cut or increased.

Assembly Judiciary reviews the first of several medical malpractice bills up for discussion during the week. SB122 would let the general public and doctors participate in the process of setting malpractice insurance rates and force insurance companies to notify the state before pulling out of the market.

It's similar to an Assembly measure and may be combined with AB320 before final approval.

Assembly Government Affairs takes up SB487, giving rural Lincoln County the green light to make money by selling its water in partnership with private Vidler Water Co.

Assembly Natural Resources reviews Sen. Dean Rhoads' plan to clarify state law governing livestock watering rights. SB76 is backed by the Nevada Cattlemen's Association which has also proposed amendments to prevent federal agencies from gaining stockwater rights.

The Republican-controlled Senate Government Affairs Committee takes up some Democrat-backed bills on worker rights. AB65 gives Nevada state employees long-sought collective bargaining rights while leaving the ultimate decision on any negotiated deals with the Legislature.

AB356 mandates large grocery stores offer adequate health insurance for their employees, or pay back any health services the state provides.

On Tuesday, legislation on homeowner associations and medical malpractice lawsuit reform reaches the Assembly. The Judiciary Committee begins review of SB97 limiting lawyer fees and removing two exceptions from Nevada's cap on pain-and-suffering jury awards.

It's nearly identical to an initiative petition to go before voters next year. The bill also allows payment of medical malpractice awards over time and limits liability of doctors only partially involved in an act of malpractice.

Judiciary also takes up SB100 creating a state commission to resolve Nevada homeowner association disputes. The panel would collect data on fines and foreclosures by homeowner associations, and would mediate any disputes that arise from regulations or elections by the groups. It could impose discipline including administrative fines.

Also on Tuesday, Senate Judiciary may review an Assembly bill barring the death penalty for juveniles. Other Assembly death penalty reforms are also pending before the panel, along with an anti-terrorism measure backed by Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson.

On Wednesday, Assembly Government Affairs reviews legislation making it a misdemeanor crime to knowingly file a false complaint against any Nevada official or state worker. Opposed by civil liberties advocates activists, SB342 is intended to broaden 2001 legislation that outlawed false or fraudulent complaints against police officers. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled that statute unconstitutionally narrow.

On Thursday, Assembly Judiciary is likely to review SB38, the anti-terrorism bill by Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno. Raggio is planning to resolve differences between his bill and Perkins' AB250 before either wins final approval. Both impose new enhanced penalties for terror acts but have been criticized by civil liberties advocates.

The Senate Finance meets twice on Thursday to finalize budgets.

On Friday, fiscal committees continue budget closings in the morning and then join to resolve budget differences. Those differences include a big rift over public school funding, with Assembly Democrats proposing to add $374 million more than what Guinn has proposed.

Friday also is the last day for committees in one house to pass bills that came over from the other house. Measures that don't emerge from the panels on deadline are dead.

In the first weekend legislative hearings in Carson City this session, Assembly Ways and Means meets Saturday to close budgets and Assembly Commerce and Labor continues review of SB400, which would ban state regulation of broadband services such as high-speed Internet. The broadband measure has sparked a face-off between big phone companies, and the Nevada consumer advocate worries it may increase basic phone rates.