Sandoval OKs another 11 bills as deadline for signing or vetoes draws closer
Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval signed 11 bills on Tuesday, whittling down the pile of bills he has to sign before Friday to about 40.
Measures approved include a bill to establish a 5 percent bidding preference for state purchasing contracts submitted by Nevada businesses, a rating system for hospitals and an expansion of anti-bullying legislation from 2015. He didn’t veto anything on Tuesday.
Under Nevada’s constitution, the governor has 10 days after the adjournment of the Legislature to take action on a bill, or it automatically becomes law.
For a full list of bills Sandoval has signed, vetoed and has yet to make a decision on, check out The Nevada Independent’s spreadsheet.
Here’s a look at some of the bills he signed on Tuesday:
AB280: Bidding preferences for state contracts
Sandoval signed a measure backed by Democratic Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson designed to give Nevada-based businesses a leg up in bidding for state purchasing contracts.
AB280, which passed unanimously out of the Assembly and Senate, would require the state to give a 5 percent preference for any Nevada company’s bid or proposal for a state purchasing contract, including the furnishing of commodities or contract for services. It lays out requirements for a business to be considered Nevada-based, and prohibits them from combining the preferences with others or claiming the preference for grants or contracts that use federal money.
The state already allows for veteran-owned businesses to receive a similar 5 percent bidding preference.
SB482: Ratings for hospitals
A bill requiring hospitals and other medical facilities that receive a star rating from the federal government to post the most recent rating in their facility has now become law.
The legislation, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, would also require that the state Division of Public and Behavioral Health post a link to the star rating given out by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on its website along with a link to the so-called “Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting Program” maintained by the federal government.
The bill also requires the Board of Health establish its own system for rating health care facilities, which must be posted online by the Division and posted publicly at each health care facility.
The measure passed the Assembly 29-13, with Republicans Richard McArthur and Robin Titus joining the Democrats in support, and cleared the Senate 13-8, with only Republican Heidi Gansert joining the Democratic caucus in support.
SB225: Anti-bullying policies at schools
Sandoval signed a bill that mandates training on the needs of people of diverse gender identities, requires schools to establish a safety team focused on preventing bullying, and sets up a procedure for handing off school bullying investigations to law enforcement.
Democratic Sen. David Parks sponsored SB225, which builds on anti-bullying law adopted in 2015. It also requires training on how schools should work with students with disabilities.
The bill initially attracted heavy backlash because it sought to require private schools — including religious ones — to follow state anti-bullying policy and train employees on how to work with the LGBT community.
Parks amended the bill to make private school participation voluntary, saying that would cut the cost of hiring more staff to implement policies at private schools.
The bill passed 15-6 in the Senate and 31-7 in the Assembly.
SB467: Nevada Ready 21 Technology Program
Sandoval signed this bill, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Education, creating the Nevada Ready 21 Technology Program to provide students and teachers with 24-hour access to their own state-funded laptop. The goal of the program is to improve student engagement with their coursework, improve the attendance and graduation rate of students and reduce behavioral incidents in the classroom.
The legislation spells out how the Commission on Educational Technology would oversee the program and dole out grants to school districts. Those receiving the grants will be required to annually report to the commission about the implementation of the program.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously and cleared the Assembly with only four Republicans against the measure — John Ellison, Lisa Krasner, Jim Marchant and Robin Titus.
SB554: Business registrations for ride-sharing companies
Sandoval signed a bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Kelvin Atkinson that requires new drivers for ride-sharing companies to provide the company, within six months of being hired, proof that they have a state business license.
Drivers are also required to show proof of a business license on every anniversary of their start date. Uber and Lyft drivers are already required to obtain a state business license, but the bill is to ensure that drivers are complying with the law.
Ride-sharing companies would also be required to share the name of drivers with the Secretary of State to ensure compliance with state law.
A last-minute amendment presented at a 10 p.m. hearing on the bill on the last day of the legislative session would have required drivers show proof within three months of being hired — but the amendment was never adopted.
The bill passed the Assembly 32-10, with 10 Democrats voting against the measure, and cleared the Senate 16-5 with Republican Sens. Pete Goicoechea, Don Gustavson, Scott Hammond, Ben Kieckhefer and Michael Roberson opposed.
Gov. Sandoval signed the following bills into law Tuesday:
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Caption: Flanked by legislative leadership, Gov. Brian Sandoval signs several budget bills into law on Monday, June 5th, 2017. Photo by David Calvert/The Nevada Independent