Legislative Highlights

2007 Session

For the 2007 legislative session the Nevada Women’s Lobby established a number of priorities within the key areas of families in poverty, youth at risk, health and education. The process of selecting bills on which to take a position and give instructions to our lobbyist, Julianna Ormsby, was straightforward but not always easy.

Bills relating to our issues were selected and steering committee members with expertise in that subject read the bills and made recommendations. The legislative team then decided whether to oppose or support the bill, and determined how active we wanted Julianna to be. We could also take no position or monitor bills, so we needed to keep updating our information during the session. At the beginning of the session bills were being drafted at a rapid pace. In one marathon meeting the legislative team considered over 120 bills that pertained to our issues.

A significant number of bills, both good and bad, died midway through the session when they did not come out of committee in the house in which they had been introduced. Some we supported but which failed were: AB 442 to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; and AB 172 to increase the number of property tax refunds to the elderly. Among those we opposed which did not get to a vote were: AB 86 which required drug testing for welfare applicants; AB 588 to reduce the amount of state taxes on banks; SB 286 authorizing school teachers to carry concealed firearms; and numerous bills that would have excluded undocumented residents from Nevada’s Millenium Scholarship program.

Two specific topics we selected to work on were child care subsidies and child support enforcement. These are two areas where adequate funding can make all the difference to families, especially to single-parent families, working to achieve self-sufficiency. NWL took the position that co-payments required for child care subsidies are beyond the reach of many families that would otherwise be eligible for support. Unfortunately no budget or needs assessment proposal was approved to change the current situation. Even more critical than state subsidies for needed services is ensuring that families receive the child support to which they are entitled. AB 536 dealing with child support enforcement did pass, and will reorganize responsibility for this within the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. However it will not go into effect until 2011.

There were many additional bills for which the Lobby provided information and testimony. A number of legislators requested our support for bills they had introduced. Throughout the session it was clear that even those legislators who did not always agree with our position on issues nonetheless valued the information we provided. Congratulations to Julianna Ormsby for establishing herself as a knowledgeable and effective presence in Carson City.

2005 Session

Pharmacy
One of the most controversial bills this session was the Canadian Drug Importation Bill, supported by NWL, opposed by the pharmaceutical lobby, and threatened with a veto because the federal government outlaws importation. This bill was held up but was passed in the special session, with assurances that drugs imported from Canada are as safe as those purchased in the U.S. The state will license Canadian pharmacies that meet Nevada standards and list them on the website of the NV Office of Consumer Health Assistance. Although the federal government considers importation of drugs illegal, they have not prosecuted individuals or states currently importing drugs. It will be up to the consumer to decide whether to use Candadian drugs. Savings can be as much as 50%.

NWL also worked with AARP to support a requirement that drug companies report large gifts they provide to physicians in marketing their drug products. The bill never moved out of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Education
Full-day kindergarten was a high profile issue from the beginning with funding earmarked at $72 million. This passed in the special session with only $22 million provided for at-risk schools.

Statutes to ensure a safe and respectful learning environment in public schools were reinforced by requiring school districts to adopt methods for reporting incidents of harassment and intimidation, and to train school personnel. Assemblymen Parks and Hardy accomplished this by merging the best of their two bills.

Children
Child support enforcement was high on NWL’s list for active lobbying, and we supported two important bills:

• $150,000 was appropriated for an audit of child support collection and enforcement.
• We lost a bill extending the Committee on Children, Youth and Families.

NWL strongly opposed a bill establishing joint custody as in the best interest of the child in child custody proceedings. In the end a compromise rejected the joint custody presumption but kept a list of factors judges must consider in determining best interest of the child.

Another bill adopted provides that children placed in state custody will be placed with siblings when possible.

Health
125,000 more pregnant women will qualify for Medicaid under a waiver authorized this session, allowing coverage for women up to 185% of poverty.

Funding for mental health services, triage centers and Mental Health Courts was requested in several bills, and more than $14 million for these programs was approved in AB 175.

Domestic Violence
Legislation was passed prohibiting compromising of criminal charges when a civil case involves domestic violence cases.

The Nevada Council on Domestic Violence was created in AB219 which also requires an evaluation of domestic violence counseling programs in rural areas.

End of session "Pork bills" included funding for many programs NWL sup-ported: An Office of Minority Health, a non-emergency referral phone system (2-1-1), Medicaid coverage for children aging out of foster care, an audit of child support enforcement, a pilot program to teach English to pre-K children, the review of complaints regarding health, safety, welfare and civil rights of children under care of a governmental entity or private facility. Funding for these pro-grams alone amount to over $2 million.

2003 Session

• Provided $836 million in new tax revenue--below what we believe is needed for long-term state funding
• Revised death penalty laws addressing some inequities and injustices
  Required external review of decisions made by managed care organizations
• Revised procedures by which insurance companies can raise medical malractice rates, to eliminate unfair increases
• Continued funding for integration of child welfare services in Clark and Washoe Counties
• Gave individuals the right to designate a non-relative for hospital visitation and decisions on disposition of a body
• Restored voting rights to certain ex-felons
• Required state labor commissioner to enforce labor laws whether an employee is lawfully or unlawfully employed

2001 Session

• Revamped the child welfare system in Washoe and Clark Counties
• In Medicaid: eliminated the assets test, provided for expedited enrollment of pregnant women and provided Medicaid coverage for breast and cervical cancer
• Defeated insurance industry's attempt to repeal mandated benefits in health plans, most of which require health care coverage for women and children
• Raised cap on child support payments
• Declared legislative intent that public schools should eliminate harassment and intimidation
• Funded expansion of teen pregnancy prevention programs
• Provided for operation of youth shelters
• Increased funding for domestic violence programs
• Expanded energy assistance for low income Nevadans

1999 Session

• Required insurance coverage of contraceptives
• Passed limited mental health parity bill
• Created health care ombudsman
• Passed Employment Non-Discrimination Act
• Strengthened protections for victims of domestic violence
• Provided for direct access to ob/gyn in managed care
• Blocked school voucher legislation

1997 Session

• Passed ground-breaking Patient Protection Act
• Defeated some punitive aspects of welfare reform legislation
• Removed statute of limitations on rape crimes
• Required mandatory counseling for domestic violence abusers
• Provided confidential addresses for victims of domestic violence
• Established statewide registry of domestic violence abusers
• Defeated bill to make English the official language

1995 Session

• Killed bill for public vote on parental notification for teen abortion
• Deleted "tailhook" clause from hotel liability bill
• Blocked passage of very punitive welfare reform bill
• Defeated school voucher and charter school bills
• Strengthened domestic violence laws
• Created family resource centers

1993 Session

• Repealed discriminatory sections of the sodomy law
• Defeated parental notification requirement for teen abortion
• Created new crimes of stalking and aggravated stalking
• Provided for battered women’s defense in criminal cases
• Passed rape shield bill to provide anonymity to victims
• Created Office for Missing and Exploited Children

1991 Session

• Increased grants to welfare recipients (never implemented)
• Provided state funds for WIC program
• Created Nevada Commission for Women

1989 Session

• Increased grants to welfare recipients (never implemented)
• Strengthened child support enforcement laws
• Funded displaced homemaker pilot program