Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 3

3A 120-Day session countdown REMAINING: May 'iThe RENO TUESDAY, MAY 1,2001 I EJ 2 1 3 I 4 1 5 y2ooi it 0 1 22 23 jU 25 7 28 30 NEVADA LEGISLATURE 35 Vegas senator wants moratorium on executions "You will not find the rich and powerful on death row. You'll find individuals without means and without power. Joe Heal D-North Las Vegas SB 254: The bill calls for a study on the fairness of the death penalty system in Nevada and a two-year moratorium on executions during the study. The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard the measure Monday and is expected to hold a work session on the bill either Friday or next week. If the bill is voted out of the committee, it then has to go to the Assembly Committee on Elections, Procedures and Ethics, which reviews all measures that propose an interim study.

AB 353: The measure would exempt mentally retarded people, with an IQ of less than 70, from the death penalty instead giving them life in prison without the possibility of parole. The measure was approved by the Assembly last week and will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee at 8:30 a.m. today, room 2149 in the Legislature Building in Carson City. AB 327: The bill gives defendants in death penalty cases the final word during sentencing arguments before the jury. The measure was approved by the Assembly and also will be heard this morning by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SB 254: Calls for a study on fairness of death penalty. By Jennifer Crowe RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Nine days after the execution of a man who refused to appeal his death sentence, a Las Vegas senator Monday urged an Assembly committee to reinstate a blanket moratorium on executions until July 1,2003. Senate Bill 254, as amended by the Senate, also calls for a study of the fairness of the death penalty in Nevada. The measure allows a two-year moratorium on executions, though volunteer death row inmates could move forward to execution. During a hearing on the bill in the Assembly Judiciary Committee, Republican Sen.

Mark James, a Las Vegas lawyer, called for the Assembly to reinstate the full moratorium and eliminate the volunteer provision. "Send that back to the Senate and we'll do our best to get it passed and to the governor," James said. But Assembly leaders argued as vehemently to remove the moratorium entirely. Republicans control the Senate, but Democrats hold the Assembly majority. "I would support a moratorium on the death penalty if we could be assured of a moratorium on murder," said Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, a Henderson deputy police chief.

"In this present debate we're making martyrs out of murderers." SB 254 has been entwined in controversy since James' Senate Judiciary Committee approved the study and moratorium last month. Proponents of the moratorium say it only makes sense to halt executions while the state studies how the death penalty is applied in Nevada. Opponents, who include Republicans and Democrats as well as prosecutors and victim's The work session could be Friday or next week. James said the extensive hearing on SB 254 in the Senate clearly demonstrated the need for a death penalty study in Nevada. Looking at the death row inmates in Nevada and you find a majority of poor, minority men, James said.

"No one with a fully funded private defense has gotten the death penalty in this state," James said. Add to that the fact that at least six people have been removed from death row since capital punishment was reinstated in Nevada in 1979 and it's clear there are problems with the system, James said. Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, chief sponsor of SB 254, said research shows some clear problems with the death penalty system in Nevada. "You will not find the rich and powerful on death row," Neal said.

"You'll find individuals without means and without power." Perkins presented emotional testimony recounting the heinous crimes committed by Nevada's death row inmates. He Lawmakers brace for budget Bill adds colleges to scholarship list 8 a.m.: Assembly Government Affairs, Room 3143; Assembly Judiciary, Room 31 38; Assembly and Senate Finance subcommittees on human resources and K-12, Room 31 37; Assembly and Senate Finance subcommittees on public safety, natural resources and transportation, Room 2134; Senate Commerce and Labor, Room 2135. a.m.: Senate Judiciary, Room 2149. 11 a.m.: Senate and Assembly floor sessions. burner." Some lawmakers say a tax shift, not an increase, could be the solution, though it seems likely any plan to take from local governments and give to the state would face huge opposition.

A bill this session that would take from local governments to give school teachers a raise has been hugely controversial and prompted strong lobbying efforts from local governments. Without new money, teachers will compete with other state workers for raises. The state may be able to purchase more textbooks to alleviate a shortage, but those books could come at the expense of more money for foster care programs. "When you look at the needs within the state, there's just not enough money to go around," said Jan Gilbert, lobbyist for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, which focuses on right groups across the state, say a moratorium is an insult to victims who already have suffered enough. Sebastian Bridges was executed by lethal injection April 21 after refusing to challenge his conviction for the murder of his estranged wife's lover.

Bridges' execution was Nevada's ninth since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to revive capital punishment in the mid-1970s. All but one of Nevada's executions have involved "volunteers" who wouldn't appeal. Assembly Judiciary Committee chairman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, also a death penalty opponent and co-sponsor of SB 254, said the bill will go to a work session for more study before the committee votes. 1 p.m.: Economic Forum, Legislative Building, Nevada Room 4100.

1:30 p.m.: Assembly Energy, Room 1 21 Assembly Taxation, Room 31 42; Assembly Transportation, Room 3143; Senate Transportation, Room 2149. 2 p.m.: Senate Legislative Affairs and Operations, Room 2144; Senate Taxation, Room 2135. 3:30 p.m.: Assembly Ways and Means, Room 3137. 3:45 p.m.: Assembly Elections, Procedures and Ethics, Room 3138. health care, women, children and minority issues, the environment and worker's rights.

"When there is so little money it can get ugly. We're pitting human services against teachers against state workers. That's why the state needs to examine its income." As word of the potential budget shortfall has spread, people concerned their program might be cut or shrunk have inundated lawmakers'in recent weeks with e-mails and phone calls. Education has particularly been a lightning bolt of controversy this session. Word of a proposal to boost special education funding has parents of gifted and talented children worried those programs will be scaled back.

The state funds special education at about $29,200 per special education classroom. The average salary, including benefits, for a Washoe County special education teacher is public lands. Under the revised measure, county commissioners could adopt ordinances dealing with public lands within their boundaries; and local district attorneys could get involved in legal actions involving pubic lands if the state attorney general refuses to do so. In its original form, the bill had applied to public lands controlled by both the U.S. Forest Service and federal Bureau of Land Management.

The amendment took out the Lions Tiqers reminded the committee of how 3-year-old Mailin Stafford was beaten to death and how University of Nevada, Reno police Sgt. George Sullivan was murdered by a man with a hatchet. "A moratorium on the death penalty is nothing more than justice delayed," Perkins said. "It is a final insult and last indignity to the victims of murder." said the change is an equity issue. Students in the adult education program who were supposed to graduate high school before the May 2000 cutoff could be eligible for the money.

At the same time, students who stayed in traditional high school and graduated before May 2000 wouldn't be able to get a scholarship. "We want to close that loophole," Nichols said. Nichols said the change does not impact students seeking a general equivalency diploma. As long as the student was on track to graduate after May 2000, earns a GED and meets the other requirements, that student can apply for a Millennium Scholarship. However, the student's grade-point average in traditional high school still must equal 3.0, the requirement for all scholarship applicants.

SB 113 also deletes the repayment provision of the Millennium Scholarship law. Currently, students must repay the money if they become ineligible. Nichols said that unfairly targets minority and low-income students who have had a tough time transitioning to college their freshman year. Of the students who lost eligibility last fall, one-third were minority students, she said. Nichols said eliminating the repayment provision would be an incentive for those students to stay in school and regain eligibility for a scholarship.

She said SB 113 needed to be approved soon so that the first class of Millennium Scholars would not be subject to repaying the money. "It's clearly more of an obstacle for them to stay in college," Nichols said of the repayment requirement. v0i. 20 no. 1 21 How to reach us In Person 955 Kuenzli Reno Mon.

Fri. 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. estimates Staying in touch Gazette-Journal Capitol Bureau Jennifer Crowe, bureau chief Phone: (775) 882-3553 Fax: (775) 882-4806 E-mail: jcrowergj.com Legislative coverage on RGJ.com www.rgj.com news2legislaturein- dex.html State government sites Nevada Legislature www.leg.state.nv.us Official state site silver.state.nv.us Gov. Kenny Guinn www.state.nv.usgovgov.htm about $51,200.

To cover the costs of special education, a federally mandated program, requires Washoe County schools to take general fund money. For the 2000-2001 school year, Washoe County pulled about $15.6 million from the general fund to meet federal requirements for special education. School officials and statewide education lobbyists don't want to pit one program against another and are urging parents to lobby for more education funding for all students, not just a certain program. "We've been putting Band-Aids on the real problems trying to cover up the sore," Arberry said. "Now everybody is saying the Band-Aid isn't enough and it's my turn." legislation Forest Service and left in the BLM.

The measure stems in part from long-standing hassles over public lands in the West, including a recent dispute over a washed-out road in extreme northeast Nevada. The battle, which included court-ordered mediation and a citizens attempt to reopen the road, gave rise to the Shovel Brigade and became a symbol of some Westerners' dissatisfaction with federal land use policies. Shortfall expected: Blamed on slowing gaming, sales taxes. By Jennifer Crowe RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL With analysts predicting a tight state budget for the next two years, competing interests such as education, health care and state workers could be fighting over a small pool of money. An independent state panel of financial experts today will make their projections for Nevada revenues for the next two years.

Lawmakers must use those figures when voting on the $3.85 billion general fund budget proposed by Gov. Kenny Guinn. State analysts have predicted a $100 million to $180 million shortfall in the proposed two-year budget, largely due -to slowing gaming and sales taxes, which account for three-quarters of the revenue. Guinn has pledged a budget built on no new taxes, but some say the state can't make it the next two years without some changes. "I'm not in favor of raising taxes, but we have services that need to be provided to existing residents and the growing number of new residents," said Assembly Ways and Means Committee chairman Morse Arber-ry, R-Las Vegas.

"It needs to be done. We can't keep putting it on the back Senate kills ASSOCIATED PRESS A day after its approval in the Assembly, a "Sagebrush Rebellion" bill was killed in the Nevada Senate. Backers of AB391, to let local district attorneys jump into legal disputes over public lands if the state attorney general won't, asked for and got a voice vote for no further consideration of the bill, said Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno. "This arbitrary and capricious Sagebrush Rebellion' By Jennifer Crowe RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL A plan approved Monday by the Assembly Education Committee would include nonprofit, private Nevada colleges in the Millennium Scholarship program and prevent older students from using the program to go to college.

Senate Bill 11 3 makes various changes to the program approved by the Legislature two years ago at the request of Gov. Kenny Guinn. The bill allows students who graduate from a Nevada high school after May 2000 and meet various other requirements to get thousands of dollars toward a college or university education. SB 1 13 would expand the list of eligible schools beyond those in the University and Community College System of Nevada to include the proposed Nevada State College at Henderson and Sierra Nevada College, a private institution in Incline Village. "Given the demands of meeting the needs of Nevada, we're all enriched by encouraging the development of private higher education in this state," UCC-SN Chancellor Jane Nichols said.

However, SB 113 also would exclude people in the adult education program. Currently, adults returning to earn their high school diplomas, including those in prison, can receive scholarship money. Nichols said the intent is not to keep adults from continuing their education, but to keep the Millennium Scholarship program fair. The program was intended to boost college-going rates among high school seniors, not to send droves of adults back to college. Nevada deputy school superintendent Keith Rheault Reno Gazette-Journal The Reno Gazette-Journal (ISSN 0754-1415), a Gannett Newspaper, is published daily by Reno Newspapers, P.O.

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Want to advertise? Classified (775) 348-7355 Display (775) 788-6490 (775) 885-5550 Carson-Douglas Display 888-9045 action by the Republicans assaults the very nature of the legislative process," said Jackie Holmgren of the Nevada Committee for Full Statehood. Proponents of the measure, buried last Friday, plan a protest demonstration this Friday in front of the Legislative Building. AB391 was approved Thursday by the Assembly after being amended to delete criminal penalties that could be sought against anyone who interfered with the state's rights to manage holding the post for nearly six years. Parven was named ERC administrator by Myla Florence, director of the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. The commission oversees the state's equal rights program, handling discrimination complaints relating to race, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age and disability.

Equal rights commission has new head Shoppers Square presents Circus Vazquez Family Circus ASSOCIATED PRESS Lynda Parven, whose 10-year state career has focused on welfare issues, has been named administrator of the Nevada Equal Rights Commission. Parven, who had been acting administrative services officer for the state Welfare Division, takes over the job paying $57,043 a year from Bill Stewart, who resigned after Elephants Clowns Under the Big Top Performances April 27th May 1st Fri. 5 7 p.m., Sat. Sun. 3:30 5:30 7:30 Mon.

Tue. 5:30 7 p.m. Free Children's Admission Tickets available at all Shoppers Square Merchants Circus located on the Corner of Colonial Drive Locust Street IrSOTHmC TO IT! By Phone General Information (775) 788-6200 Fred H. Hamilton President and Publisher 788-6236 Bob Boisson Marketing Manager (775) 788-6214 Christine Chin Strategic Development Director 327-6723 Becky Christiansen Controller (775) 788-6203 Tonia Cunning Executive Editor (775) 788-6357 Karen Ferguson Advertising Director (775) 788-6246 Steven Fine Online Director (775) 788-6537 Steve Fountain CommunityNewspapers Operations Mgr. (775) 885-5564 Kevin R.

Johnson Production Director (775) 788-6205 Scott Landers Circulation Manager (775) 788-6296 Todd Miller Information Technology Director (775) 788-6221 Carol A. Pierce Human Resources Director 788-6212 Dave Williams Circulation Director (775) 788-6270 Web site www.RGJ.com BElF" 11 Spring Open House Class Schedule Opening Sunday, May 6 Mother's Day Craft Show May 4, 5, 6 Handmade Crafts for Mom To find that special Mother's Day gift, shop any one of our 46 merchants, and don't forget to enter mom in our Mother's Day Contest Shoppers Square Mall Annex 2nd Level 11AM-6PM Cooking School Kitchen Store Gourmet Deli 225 Crummer Lane 826-2628 wwwJfothtogToIt.com Corner of East Plumb South Virginia.