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2-Minute Preview: Red Rock development, police seizures and grading hospitals

Riley Snyder
Riley Snyder
Michelle Rindels
Michelle Rindels
Legislature
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It’s the end of yet another week at the Nevada Legislature, and lawmakers are preparing to tackle a number of weighty policy issues from police seizure of property to the establishment of “green banks” to finance solar installations.

Here’s what to watch for on Friday:

Red Rock and Development

Some legislators are taking an early break from Carson City with a hearing on a measure that would push back against proposed development near protected areas such as the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Lawmakers will be present in Las Vegas for a hearing on AB277, which is sponsored by freshman Democrat Steve Yeager and would substantially limit a local government’s ability to zone non-public property near conservation areas.

The measure would prohibit local governments from increasing the number of residential structures zoned within a five mile radius of natural conservation areas such as Red Rock, Sloan Canyon and Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails. It would also stop local governments from expanding or establishing new nonresidential zoning districts within the same five-mile radius.

Yeager said the bill was inspired by recent controversy over the proposed Blue Diamond Hill development within eyesight of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Watch the hearing on the bill at 8 a.m. in the Assembly Government Affairs committee.

A-F letter grades for medical facilities

Restaurants already have letter grades based on their health inspections. Under SB482, so would hospitals.

The bill, backed by the Senate Committee on on Health and Human Services, would require the State Board of Health to set up a rating system for medical facilities that ranges from A to F. Scores would be based on how well the facility complies with the law, regulations and standards.

Ratings would be posted online and — similar to in a restaurant —  in a conspicuous place near the main entrances.

Watch the hearing at 3:30 p.m. at the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Police seizing property

Nevada legislators are scheduled to hear a bipartisan attempt to revamp property forfeiture and property seizure by police officers.

SB358, which is sponsored by Republican Sen. Don Gustavson and co-sponsored by Democratic Senate Leader Aaron Ford, would repeal existing state law surrounding property seizures and establish a new system that would make it more difficult for law enforcement to seize private property.

Under the new system, property could be only forfeited in cases where the defendant is found guilty, reaches a plea deal or if an agreement is reached between parties. It lays out several conditions for law enforcement to meet before seizing property, lays out a policy for defendants to ask a court to mitigate or return seized property, and requires law enforcement to retain a public list of seized property.

Watch the hearing on SB358 at 1 p.m. in the Senate Judiciary committee.

Green banks

Lawmakers are proposing the creation of a state “green bank” that would meld public funds with private investments to offer loans for clean energy improvements.

Green banks partner with private entities to leverage public dollars toward more clean-energy investments, such as rooftop solar installations. The bill, SB407, creates a Clean Energy Loan Account and sets parameters for its use.

Watch the hearing at 1 p.m. in the Senate energy subcommittee.

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