PANELS TO BE BUSY AS DEADLINE NEARS

CARSON CITY - Legislative panels race the clock starting todayas they
try to act on scores of bills before a Friday deadline. Most measures
still stuck in the committees after that date are dead.

Committee work sessions and bill hearings are scheduled throughout the
week, the session's 10th, as Assembly and Senate panels try to clear
the decks in line with new rules adopted to ensure lawmakers adjourn
by May 31.

"Scheduled lunches aren't going to exist anymore," Senate Commerce and
Labor Chairman Randolph Townsend said in talking about the busy week
his panel has - starting todayMonday with a double session on the
state's worker compensation insurance system, infertility and other
issues.

Assembly Judiciary Chairman Bernie Anderson echoed Townsend, saying
his committee would have double sessions during the week in order to
get bills processed by the Friday deadline.

Both said Saturday floor sessions are possible - the first this
session. That might be needed because fewer Assembly and Senate floor
sessions are planned during the week to give committees more time to
complete work on measures.

Also todayMonday, Senate Finance will take up measures dealing with
rural education funds, services for veterans and museums; and Assembly
Ways and Means will discuss water pollution controls and penalties for
manufacturing illegal drugs.

A Senate Judiciary subcommittee takes up three bills on concealed
weapons - two to expand the permit law and one to tip off spouses if a
partner gets an OK to pack a gun.

And Assembly Education reviews bills dealing with disabled students,
door-to-door fund-raising by students, writing skills, student
discipline and other school issues.

On Tuesday, Senate Commerce and Labor takes up electric utility
restructuring, Senate Finance considers various capital improvements
and the state's Department of Information Technology, and Senate
Government Affairs considers a room tax proposal for Mesquite.

Also Tuesday, Senate Judiciary takes up a bill that would bar children
from Nevada arcades during graveyard hours. And security guards would
be required at all times.

The measure comes almost two years after 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson
was raped and murdered in the early morning hours at a Southern Nevada
casino.

Assembly and Senate Taxation committees have crowded agendas Tuesday.
One measure, up in the Assembly panel, provides tax credits to
employers that provide on-site child care services for employees.
Another doubles the room tax in Las Vegas from 2 percent to 4 percent
to pay for more parks, museums, other cultural facilities.

Assembly Transportation reviews a bill to eliminate a requirement for
motorcyclists to wear helmets; and Senate Transportation considers a
bill to deregulate tow trucks, buses and other aspects of the
transportation industry.

Assembly Health and Human Services considers a labor-backed bill
requiring the state Board of Health to set staffing ratios at
hospitals for nurses and other personnel.

And various capital improvement projects and special appropriations -
including one for a fire ant survey - will be reviewed by Senate and
Assembly money committees.

On Wednesday, Senate Finance will review the state's nuclear projects
office, which has been in hot water with some lawmakers because of its
aggressive anti-nuclear dump efforts.

Finance will meet with Assembly Ways and Means the same day to discuss
Gov. Kenny Guinn's Millennium Scholarship plan - which is up against a
rival version produced by Assembly Democrats.

Senate Government Affairs will discuss economic diversification,
building permit fees and rural community planning issues; and Senate
Commerce and Labor reviews the telecommunications industry.

Senate Judiciary discusses high-tech crime; and Assembly Judiciary
discusses a plan to ease marijuana penalties, a dispute between
casinos and the slot machine industry, and referral services that
really are fronts for prostitutes.

Assembly Government Affairs reviews powers of housing authorities,
master plans and zoning ordinances; and an Assembly Education
subcommittee discusses a bill dealing with children caught with
firearms in school or on a school bus.

On Thursday, Assembly Constitutional Amendments takes up a proposal
dealing with property tax limits; and work sessions are planned by
Assembly Government Affairs, Transportation and Judiciary and by
Senate Taxation and Government Affairs.

A joint budget subcommittee talks about class-size reduction and
per-pupil funding for Nevada public schools; and the lawmakers'
Interim Finance Committee will meet the same day.

Senate Commerce and Labor debates legislation dealing with ways to
protect homeowners against construction defects.