After a marathon day in which lawmakers did little more than hear hours of impassioned testimony about a gun background checks bill, the Legislature is broadening its policy focus on Wednesday.

In addition to advancing the gun bill, lawmakers will consider strategies for bringing Nevada’s school system on par with some of the best in the world, consider a voter’s bill of rights and even debate licenses for people selling antlers.

Budget subcommittees will also meet Wednesday morning to hear details of the budgets of the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Administration.

Below are some of the highlights on the legislative calendar.

Mental health system restructuring

Members of the Assembly Health and Human Services committee will get an update on regional behavioral health boards — an initiative started in 2017 as a way to focus more on mental health concerns that vary widely by region.

The meeting begins after the adjournment of the Assembly floor session, but no sooner than 1:30 p.m.

SB119: Occupational safety at trade shows

The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee is taking up SB119, which would require people who work at trade shows and convention centers to receive occupational health and safety training. Such training is already required of people doing construction on certain sites related to the entertainment industry.

Supervisors would need to take a 30-hour safety course, while certain other workers would need to take a 10-hour course. The bill is sponsored by a variety of Democrats led by Sen. Yvanna Cancela.

The committee meets at 1:30 p.m.

SB91: Game plan for improving Nevada schools

A bill up for consideration in the Senate Education Committee, SB91, would create a 25-member “Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education” tasked with developing a  “statewide vision and implementation plan to improve the public education system in this State.”

The group’s responsibilities would include conducting a study that compares Nevada’s education system to high-performing systems elsewhere; synthesize findings from past and ongoing studies of Nevada education funding, and develop policy recommendations and an implementation plan that assesses the cost of the changes.

The education committee meets at 1:30 p.m.

AB74 & AB83: Antler dealers and killing animals to save a life

AB74, up for debate in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee would make it illegal to buy, sell, trade or deal with certain antlers — or any big-game mammal’s head or skull — without first getting an antler dealer’s license.

An antler dealer’s license would cost $63 for a Nevada resident or $125 for a nonresident.

Also up for consideration before the committee: AB83, which would expand the rights of Nevada Department of Wildlife employees to kill an animal. Existing law allows NDOW employees to kill animals for a conservation purpose; the bill would also allow them to kill a wild animal if it’s to protect human life.

The committee meets at 4 p.m.

SJ3: Voter’s bill of rights

A proposed constitutional amendment that guarantees voters a set of rights is up for consideration in the Senate Legislative Operations and Elections Committee on Wednesday after passing in the 2017 legislative session. If it passes again this session, it will be sent to a statewide vote where Nevadans can decide whether to add it to the constitution.

Among the guarantees in SJR3 are the right to have questions about voting procedures answered and to have an explanation of procedures posted conspicuously at the polling place and to have a sample ballot provided in a timely fashion.  

The committee meets at 4 p.m.

AB17: Bail changes

A bill proposed by the Nevada Supreme Court and up for a hearing in the Assembly Judiciary committee could result in some major changes to how bail in used in Nevada criminal cases.

AB17 would largely restructure the state’s current system for how a posted bail is assessed toward proceedings in criminal and civil court, removing several portions of law allowing courts to avoid exonerating bail within a 30 day period after the bail is posted.

The bill would instead require that bail be exonerated by a court if the charges against a defendant are dismissed or if no normal action is taken against a defendant. The bill also removes a section of law allowing the court to keep the bail and apply it again if a defendant is charged with another offense “arising out of the same act.”

Members of the committee will also hear details of AB9, another Supreme Court of Nevada backed bill that would amend which jurisdictions small claims cases can be heard.

The committee meets at 8 a.m.

SB17 & SB33: Child support revisions

Under existing law, the Nevada Department of Wildlife is required to suspend licenses and permits to hunt, fish or trap when it receives a court order determining someone has failed to make child support payments.

SB17 proposes to remove the requirement that the department receive a court order to suspend the recreational licenses and permits. Instead, the department would be required to suspend licenses and permits after being notified by the district attorney’s office or any other agency responsible for child support payments that a hearing master has determined an individual to be out of compliance with child support payments.

The legislation also removes an exception in existing law that licenses or permits set to expire less than six months after the issue date are not subject to suspension.

Another bill, SB33, requires certain insurers and self-insurers to notify the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services before paying out a claim of more than $500 for any bodily injury, wrongful death, workers’ compensation or life insurance. If it is determined that there is a child support debt, the insurer is required to pay out the amount specified to the division, its representative or the prosecuting attorney within 30 days.

Both bills, proposed by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, will be heard in Senate Health and Human Services at 4 p.m.

SB18: Jobs and day training for Nevadans with intellectual or developmental disabilities

This bill, filed on behalf of the Division of Aging and Disability Services, removes a requirement that companies that provide jobs and day training services for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities file an annual financial audit if they are a nonprofit. Instead, they will only be required to submit financial statements as needed to determine financial solvency.

It also makes a change to who can receive assistance from the division for acting as a caregiver. Previously, caregivers could receive assistance for caring for either someone with an intellectual or developmental disability; the change would limit it to just those caring for people with intellectual disabilities.