Recently, appointments have been made to various committees by the Legislative Commission and legislative leadership. Please view my committee appointments below:

Ongoing Statutory Committees:

Legislative Commission's Subcommittee to Review Regulations (NRS 233B.067)

Chair- Legislative Committee on Education (NRS 218.5352)

Legislative Committee on Senior Citizens, Veterans and Adults with Special Needs (A.B.9)

Interim Studies:

Vice Chair- Governance and Oversight of the System of K-12 Public Education (A.C.R.2)

Requirements for Reapportionment and Redistricting (A.C.R.19)

Nonlegislative Committees:

Advisory Council on Parental Involvement (NRS 385.610)

Education Commission of the States (NRS 399.015, Article III)

To view all 2009-2010 Interim Committee Appointments, click here

Revises the maximum amount of property tax assistance for certain senior citizens

SB 122

BILL STATUS: April 8, 2009- Referred to Committee on Finance, EXEMPTION EFFECTIVE

Existing law authorizes a senior citizen who is at least 62 years of age and whose household income does not exceed a certain amount to receive a refund of all or a portion of the property tax accrued against his home. If the senior citizen owns his home, the amount of the refund must not exceed the amount of the accrued property tax or $500, whichever is less.   This bill increases the maximum refund for such a senior citizen to the amount of the accrued property tax or $1,000, whichever is less.

Prohibits the unauthorized possession, reading or capturing of another person’s personal identifying information through radio frequency identification

SB 125

BILL STATUS: Approved by Governor, Chapter 205. Effective Oct. 1, 2009

This bill prohibits a person from knowingly and intentionally possessing, reading or capturing the personal identifying information of another person, without the knowledge and consent of the other person, through the use of radio frequency identification. This new crime is punishable as a category C felony.

To learn more about SB152, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Requires certain persons to record foreclosure sales and sales of real property under a deed of trust within a certain period of time

SB 128

BILL STATUS: Approved by Governor, Chapter 247. Effective July 1, 2009

Nevada has the highest foreclosure rate in the country and we can no longer afford to let those numbers increase. Senator Parks is taking steps to solve this problem. Existing law provides for a trustee to execute a power of sale on real property after a breach of an obligation or payment of debt due to the trustee. Senator Parks’ bill would amend this law to require (1) the beneficiary of the deed of trust to pay all sums of money necessary to acquire a clear title to the property and to record the deed of trust; and (2) the trustee to record the sale of the property with the appropriate office of the county recorder within 30 days after the date of the sale. Existing law provides for a person to proceed on an action for the recovery of any debt or for the enforcement of any right secured by a mortgage or other lien upon real estate.

To learn more about SB128, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Provides for the placement of recycling containers in certain locations

SB137

BILL STATUS: Approved by the Governor, Chapter 222. Effective Oct. 1, 2009

Taking care of Nevada's environment is essential to making sure we have a better future. One way to do this is by increasing the amount of recycling in the state. SB137 will provide for the placement of recycling containers on the premises of certain apartment complexes, the Nevada System of Higher Education and its branches and facilities. This is one step on the path to a cleaner and healthier Nevada.

To learn more about SB137, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Provides for the issuance of special license plates for family members of persons killed in the line of duty while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States

SB 139

BILL STATUS: Approved by the Governor, Chapter 139. Effective Oct. 1, 2009

This bill entitles qualified persons to be issued license plates specially designed by the Department with a gold star to indicate that the recipient is a family member of a person killed in the line of duty while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. This bill excepts these special license plates from: (1) the provisions that require a minimum number of applications for the plates; (2) the requirement that the Commission approve or disapprove the plates; and (3) the limit on the number of separate designs of special license plates that may be issued by the Department at any one time.

To learn more about SB 139, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada to waive tuition and certain fees for certain members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their spouses and dependents

SB 148

BILL STATUS: April 11, 2009- Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed

Existing law authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada to charge tuition to students who are not bona fide residents of Nevada and to charge certain fees to students who are bona fide residents. Existing law also authorizes the Board of Regents to waive certain fees for a member of the Nevada National Guard or a recruit for the Nevada National Guard.
This bill expands the waiver of fees for a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States. This bill also authorizes the waiver of certain fees and tuition for a widow, widower or dependent child of a person who is killed while serving in the Nevada National Guard.This bill also authorizes the waiver of tuition for a dependent child of a person who sustained a permanent partial disability while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.

To learn more about SB 148, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Enacts the Green Jobs Initiative

SB 152

BILL STATUS: May 29, 2009- Enrolled and delivered to Governor

On Friday, Februrary 23, Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford presented “The Green Jobs Initiative."  This legislation would create job-training centers throughout Nevada that would train workers on green-collar jobs and put them to work using federal recovery money.Using federal stimulus money, Horsford said his bill, SB 152, could help train 3,200 workers at a cost of $3,500 each. There’s also enough stimulus money to weatherize 6,550 low-income homes – more than five times the number weatherized in 2008. Nevada’s future is in capturing our renewable energy resources and making our buildings more energy efficient.

To learn more about SB 152, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Revises provisions governing mandatory bargaining with employees of local government employers

SB 154

BILL STATUS: April 21, 2009- Passed in Senate (Yeas: 12, Nays: 9). In Assembly Committe on Government Affairs. May 16, 2009- Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.3, no further action allowed

Under existing law, certain subjects are within the scope of mandatory bargaining between a local government employer and a recognized organization, whereas other subjects are reserved to the local government employer without negotiation. This bill would make the policies for transfer and reassignment a subject within the scope of mandatory bargaining for all employees instead of just for teachers. It would also expand the scope of mandatory bargaining to include any matter significantly related to an enumerated subject within the scope of mandatory bargaining, but only upon written request from a recognized employee organization.

To learn more about SB 154, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Requires the establishment of the Cancer Drug Donation Program

BILL STATUS: April 8, 2009- Passed in Senate (Yeas: 21, Nays: None). In Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services. blank_page May 16, 2009- Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.3, no further action allowed

Senate Bill 159 requires the State Board of Pharmacy to establish the Cancer Drug Donation Program. The Program will distribute and dispense cancer drugs donated to the Program to cancer patients. It also authorizes persons to donate cancer drugs at any pharmacy, medical facility, health clinic or provider of health care that participates in the Program. The donated drugs must be in the original, unopened and sealed packages and must not be adulterated or misbranded. Part of the bill provides immunity from civil liability for damages caused by any act or omission of a person who donates a cancer drug to the Program, or who accepts, distributes or dispenses a cancer drug donated to the Program.

To learn more about SB159, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Revises the date of the primary election and provisions governing voter registration by mail

SB 162

BILL STATUS: Approved by the Governor, Chapter 295. Effective October 1, 2009

Senate Bill 162 changes the date of the primary election from the twelfth Tuesday before the general election of each even-numbered year to the second Tuesday in June of each even-numbered year. To provide an example, if the provisions of this bill had been in effect in 2008, the primary election would have been held on June 10, 2008, instead of August 12, 2008.

To learn more about SB 162, click here

Designates the official state insect of Nevada

SB 166

BILL STATUS: Approved by Governor, Chapter 24. Effective Oct. 1, 2009

This bill would make the Vivid Dancer Damselfly (Argia vivida) an official state insect of the State of Nevada. The insect was chosen through a contest that was open to all fourth grade and Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) classrooms in Nevada to select a state insect. In order to participate in the contest, the classes were required to submit a one-page, research-based essay supporting the nomination of an insect found in Nevada. The winners are the fourth grade class taught by Mr. David R. Slater at John R. Beatty Elementary School, which is located on Hidden Palms Parkway in Las Vegas.

To learn more about SB 166, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Requires school districts to use environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products

SB 185

BILL STATUS: Approved by the Governor, Chapter 244. Effective July 1, 2009

In order to prevent students and school personnel to potentially hazardous chemicals and substances, Senate Bill 185 has been introduced. This bill will require the State Board of Education to adopt regulations setting forth the standards for environmentally sensitive cleaning products for use in Nevada public schools.

To learn more about SB 185, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Provides for the issuance of permits for the operation of motor vehicle tire recycling centers

BILL STATUS: Approved by the Governor, Chapter 260. Effective May 28, 2009 for the purpose of adopting regulations, and Oct. 1, 2009 for all other purposes

In order to make sure we are protecting Nevada's environment, Senator Copening has introduced Senate Bill 186. This bill would establish a program for the recycling of motor vehicle tires, including, without limitation, the issuance of permits to operate motor vehicle tire recycling centers of fees for the permits. This bill would also prohibit a person from operating a motor vehicle tire recycling center unless the operator holds a permit.

To learn more about SB186, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Revises provisions relating to the reissuance of certain prescription drugs

BILL STATUS: Approved by the Governor, Chapter 261. Sections 1,2,3,6, and 8 effective May 28, 2009 for the purpose of adopting regulations and on Oct. 1, 2009 for all other purposes. Sections 4, 5, and 7 effective Oct. 1, 2009.

Senate Bill 197 will enable more Nevadans to receive the prescriptions they need. This bill authorizes nonprofit pharmacies to reissue unused prescription drugs from public and private mental health facilities to nonprofit pharmacies. Those nonprofit pharmacies will then be able to distribute those drugs free of charge.

To learn more about SB197, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

SB 211

BILL STATUS: April 11, 2009- Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed

Existing law prohibits a person from manufacturing or engaging in the wholesale distribution of certain drugs unless the person is licensed to do so by the State Board of Pharmacy. This bill requires wholesalers and manufacturers who are licensed by the Board to file with the Board an annual report disclosing certain gifts and other economic benefits that the wholesaler or manufacturer has provided to certain persons. This bill requires that the annual report identify information which is a trade secret and prohibits the Board from disclosing such information.

To learn more about SB 211, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

SB 232

BILL STATUS: April 11, 2009- Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed

The Sales and Use Tax Act of 1955 was approved by the voters by a referendum and therefore may not be amended, annulled, repealed, set aside, suspended or in any way made inoperative except by the direct vote of the people. Senate Bill 232 would require the submission of a question to the voters at the 2010 General Election of whether the Sales and Use Tax Act of 1955 should be amended to provide an exemption for durable medical equipment and mobility enhancing equipment prescribed by a licensed provider of health care.

To learn more about SB 232, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

SB 233

BILL STATUS: April 20, 2009- Referred to Committee on Finance. April 21, 2009- To Committee, exemption effective

Senate bill 233 would require the Health Division of the Department of Health and Human Services and the county, city, town and district boards of health, within the limits of legislative appropriation, to establish a program that provides certain immunizations, without charging for the cost of the vaccine, booster or medicine, for each child if: (1) the child is a resident of this State; (2) the child is less than 4 years of age; and (3) the cost of the immunization is not eligible for payment or reimbursement by an insurer, health plan, health benefit plan or program of public assistance.

To learn more about Senate Bill 233, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

SB 235

BILL STATUS: Approved by the Governor, Chapter 25. Effective Oct. 1, 2009

This bill requires a juvenile court to hold a hearing to determine whether the case of a person should be transferred from the juvenile court to the criminal court for criminal proceedings if: (1) the person is charged with the commission of a delinquent act that occurred when the person was at least 16 years of age but less than 18 years of age; (2) the delinquent act would have been a category A or B felony if committed by an adult; (3) the person is identified by law enforcement as having committed the delinquent act before the person reaches 21 years of age; and (4) the person is apprehended by law enforcement after the person reaches 21 years of age.

To learn more about SB 235, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Directs the Legislative Commission to provide for a study concerning the establishment of a health insurance exchange in Nevada

SB 316

BILL STATUS: June 1, 2009- Passed in Assembly (Yeas: 35, Nays: 7). In Senate, to enrollment

Senate Bill 316 requires the Legislative Commission to provide for a study conducted by the staff of the Legislative Counsel Bureau concerning the establishment of a health insurance exchange in this State. The report of the study and any recommendations for legislation will be submitted to the Legislative Commission not later than June 30, 2010. This bill also requires the Legislative Commission to submit the report and any recommendations for legislation to the 76th Session of the Nevada Legislature.

To learn more about SB 316, or to track the legislation's progress, click here

Requires instruction on financial literacy in the public high schools

SB 317

BILL STATUS: Approved by the Governor, Chapter 268. Effective July 1, 2009

During this tough economic time that Nevada is facing, it is crucial to make sure that we are teaching our students to practice financial responsibility to guarantee that their generation is better prepared to deal with economic hardships. That is why State Senator Allison Copening (Dist. 6), has proposed Senate Bill 317, which would require the Department of Education to ensure that instruction in financial literacy is provided to pupils enrolled in a public high school in Nevada. A pupil must demonstrate satisfactory completion of the instruction by passing a test before he/she receives a diploma.

To learn more about SB 317, or to track the legislation's progress, click here