NewsNews
Assembly and Senate Democrats Launch www.BuildingABetterNevada.com
Promotes joint agenda and gathers input from Nevadans
Carson City, NV- Assembly and Senate Democrats have launched www.BuildingABetterNevada.com in anticipation of the start of the 2013 legislative session. Nevadans are encouraged to visit the site, where they can share their vision on how to build a better Nevada, keep up to date on important issues during session, and learn about various members and issues in the spotlight section.
Democratic Lawmakers Announce Education Plan
Plan Will Build a solid foundation for Nevada’s Educational System
Las Vegas-Today Democratic lawmakers from the Assembly and State Senate announced their education plan for “Building a Better Nevada”. This policy agenda will serve as a blueprint for moving Nevada forward, with the goal an improved education system.
I-Team: New Policy Tackles Drug Overuse for Foster Children
October 19, 2011 - LAS VEGAS -- More than two years ago, Clark County's child welfare system developed a policy to reduce the use of psychotropic drugs among foster children .
According to some estimates, kids in the system are four times more likely to be medicated than those who live with their families. The policy, however, was never implemented, until now.
LVRJ: County gets help with funeral costs for indigent deaths
September 30, 2011 - The Navy veteran couldn't afford to live, and he couldn't afford to die.
When the 44-year-old Clark County man died in March, with no relatives around, the government was left to pick up his funeral tab. The Department of Veteran Affairs paid $300 of his cremation expenses, but it wasn't enough.
LVRJ: Lawmakers say businesses need more than tax breaks
October 13, 2011 - It's going to take more than tax abatements, clever slogans and promising talk to bring economic diversity to Southern Nevada, a panel of experts said Thursday at Directions 2011.
Legislators are tired of giving tax incentives to businesses relocating from other states and seeing no return on it, Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas, said at the economic forum sponsored by the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Las Vegas Business Press.
HLM: Patient Safety Checklists Now Law in NV
October 27, 2011 - Checklists have been touted as a method of elevating quality of care in hospitals for years. Yet, the medical community does not fully embrace them. Even Atul Gawande, MD, who literally wrote a manifesto on the subject has said, "There's a set of values in the idea of a checklist, and they're in distinct conflict with some of the values we have in medicine."
Nevertheless, the Patient Protection Checklist bill, which requires Nevada hospitals and other medical facilities to develop state-mandated patient safety checklists, was signed into law on Wednesday.
Sparks Tribune: Back To School, Back To Work
August 24, 2011, SPARKS — Twenty-four of 25 Sparks schools and a large number of construction workers will benefit from capital renewal projects during the next couple of years as a result of a jobs bill that freed up additional bonding capacity for Washoe County School District (WCSD).
LVRJ: Rewarding workers who save state money just makes sense
June 20, 2011 - One praiseworthy bill flew beneath the radar during the 2011 Legislature. It wasn't controversial. It didn't make lawmakers lash out in anger. Thus, it received scant attention.
RGJ: Budget deal called 'a proud day for Nevada'
June 1, 2011 - After 114 days of partisan hostilities, peace came to Eagle Valley and the Nevada Legislature on Day 115.
Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, said the agreement provides "essential funding for our schools, community colleges and universities, and services for our most vulnerable."
LVSun: Health Care Transparency Bills Signed Into Law
June 24, 2011 — Gov. Brian Sandoval has signed a package of bills that will greatly increase the amount of information about hospital quality available to the public, a “remarkable achievement” toward improving health care safety, according to a legislator.
The five bills followed an award-winning series by the Sun that highlighted the lack of candor among hospitals about quality of patient care, including incidents of infections, accidents and patient readmissions at the facilities.
LVRJ: Four Education Bills Signed Into Law
June 15, 2011 - Gov. Brian Sandoval on Wednesday signed into law bills that would shake up Nevada's public education bureaucracy and make it easier to fire poor performing teachers.
Changes to laws covering teacher tenure, performance pay, Department of Education governance and charter school authorization were contained in four bills on which the Republican governor and most members of the Democrat-controlled Legislature agreed.
