Legislators send redistricting, other bills to governor

CARSON CITY -- Legislative Democrats have sent Gov. Brian Sandoval another redistricting bill, but the governor is expected to veto it just as he did another redistricting bill just 11 days ago.

The state Senate voted 11-10 Wednesday over united Republican opposition for Assembly Bill 566, which would redraw boundaries of congressional and legislative districts. The bill had passed the Assembly on a 26-16 party-line vote .

The bill is only slightly different from one Sandoval vetoed. The chief difference is that the 3rd Congressional District, represented by Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., would be entirely in Clark County, instead of having a portion in western Nevada. The district would be 47 percent Democrat and 30 percent Republican.

Leaders of both houses have said all along they expect redistricting will be settled in court. Lawsuits have been filed in both state and federal courts.

The vote came on a day when the Assembly and state Senate passed dozens of bills as lawmakers worked to complete their work by a scheduled 1 a.m. June 7 adjournment. By passing most bills by the weekend, they can clear their dockets for a concentrated showdown next week on contested budget and tax bills.

Among bills approved Wednesday were measures by Assembly Speaker John Oceguera to stop incidents in which contractors were billing the state as much as $350 an hour and falsely charging for hours when they were not working.

A bill to earmark proceeds of a $20 fee for filing civil cases in court to the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada also passed the Assembly on a near party-line vote. Former Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, is executive director of the Legal Aid Center.

In other votes Wednesday:

■ The Assembly unanimously backed Oceguera's Assembly Bill 330, which would require state and local governments to open to public inspection all contracts they approve. They also would have to justify why they used private contractors to perform services instead of using their own employees. Those findings must show what the cost of performing the services would be if they were done by their own employees.

Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, said the bill was a response to an audit in December that found private contractors were billing the state for as much as $350 an hour. Others were billing for hours they did not work. Many contracts were held by state workers who were doing private jobs on the side during hours they should have been performing their state jobs.

"We want reports justifying why they hired these people," Oceguera said.

■ The state Senate, on an 11-10 party-line vote, approved Assembly Joint Resolution 5, which would allow the Legislature to call itself into special sessions lasting no more than 20 days. Because the resolution was approved by the Legislature in 2009, it now goes to the voters in the November 2012 election to approve or reject. Governors cannot sign or veto resolutions from the Legislature.

■ Voting 9-12, the state Senate defeated Assembly Bill 78, which would have required home-based businesses earning less than $27,000 a year to pay the $200-a-year business license fee.

■ The Assembly, on a 27-15 vote, approved Assembly Bill 259, which specifies that a $20 fee for filing civil suits will be given to legal programs for the indigent. All Democrats and Assemblyman Lynn Stewart, R-Henderson, voted for the bill.

Assemblyman Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, said most Republicans opposed the bill because it earmarked funds in Clark County to go to one legal aid program, the one run by Buckley.

■ On a voice vote, the Assembly approved a state Senate-amendment version of Assembly Bill 170, which would require that all stores selling cigarettes post signs that say smoking can be dangerous for pregnant women.

■ The Assembly unanimously approved Assembly Bill 202, which would give up to 35 percent tax breaks to new businesses that restore buildings to higher energy efficiency standards.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at
bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.