Legislature Watch: Six bills seniors need to follow this session

The 2011 Legislature has been in session for two weeks and things are starting to hum.

Actually, there are only two issues that will dominate this 2011 session, and they are the governor's budget and redistricting. Lawmakers must find a way to make these budget cuts work or else they must increase revenue period.

It is understandable that the governor doesn't wish to raise taxes; however, as former Gov. Kenny Guinn once put it "you can only go to the well so many times, and when it's empty, if praying for rain is the only solution, it's pretty unrealistic. You need to then look elsewhere (raise revenue) to keep the well full."

Getting back to senior issues, there are six bills being sponsored by the Legislative Committee on Senior Citizens, Veterans and Adults With Special Needs: AB123, which makes various changes relating to certain facilities that provide health and related care; AB126, which makes various changes concerning vulnerable persons; SB55, which revises provisions concerning crimes against older persons; SB127, which revises provisions concerning guardianships for certain veterans and their dependents; SB128, which revises provisions governing guardianships; SB129, which requires training of certain persons who operate or work in certain facilities. The Nevada Senior Corps Association supports all of these bills as advantageous to seniors and veterans.

Please support these bills, and the simplest way to do this is to go online to www.leg.state.nv.us/ and on the right-hand side you will see "Share Your Opinion on Legislative Bills." Then simply fill in the form, hit submit, and the legislators will have your opinion; however it will not be made public. If you don't have access to a computer you can send a postcard to: Legislative Counsel Bureau, 401 S. Carson Street, Carson City, NV 89701 expressing your support.

If you watch the TV news and talk shows, it is all about education and how much more money is needed. I'm all for kids getting a great education, but not to the exclusion of important programs such as mental health and personal care for seniors and the disabled. All of us are trying to come up with programs that operate as lean as possible, but we need to have enough funds to at least keep our doors open.

Let the Legislature know your opinions as it is very important that they hear from you. If they don't, we lose. Stay Tuned.

• Janice Ayres is president of Nevada Senior Corps Association.