9/4/08-In ongoing preparations for the 2009 regular session, state lawmakers, state agencies and local governments in Nevada have been busy requesting bills for consideration when the Legislature convenes at the statehouse.
One bill draft request would give the Las Vegas Metro Police more money to hire officers by increasing the sales tax by one-quarter cent.
Voters in Clark County approved a plan four years ago to boost the sales tax by one-half of a cent to pay for more officers. In 2005, the Nevada Legislature increased the sales tax by one-quarter cent. Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, said law enforcement now wants the other half, The Associated Press reported.
As a result of the tax increase approved three years ago, about 760 new officers will have been added by next summer in Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas.
If approved by the state Legislature, the Clark County Commission would still need to approve the tax increase before it could be implemented.
Other requests for possible legislation include a proposal to allow local governments to use automated systems to enforce traffic laws and authorize counties to impose fuel surcharges on moving traffic violations to defray the cost of fuel used for law enforcement.
These and other proposals can be considered during the session that begins Feb. 2, 2009.