Most of us are used to deadlines — we live with them everyday. But deadlines weren’t introduced to the Nevada Legislature until 1999. The imposition of a 120-day session, with its accompanying deadlines, has dramatically changed the way things operate in Carson City. Before 1999, the Legislature at times lasted from Martin Luther King Day in January through the Fourth of July. Now, to keep to the 120-day limit, legislative leaders have ordered a series of important, and sometimes politically fatal, deadlines.
As you are reading this, several key dates have already passed. Legislators had to introduce all their bills on the floor by March 16. Assembly and Senate committees had to introduce all their bills by March 26. So, if you’re a legislator or committee chairman and you didn’t get your bill off your desk, through the Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB) and recommended by the right committee, you’re out of luck. It’s dead. Many a good bill draft likely suffered this fate and will have to wait for 2003.
If you were lucky and/or skilled enough to get your bill introduced, you now have until April 27 to get it passed out of the “house of origin” (whichever house, Senate or Assembly, introduced the bill). By May 21, the bill must be voted on by the “second house” and on its way to the governor for signature, or it’s dead. Of course, there are exceptions to these rules. Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Washoe County, and Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Clark County, have five “emergency measures” at their discretion. Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Clark County, and Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Douglas County, have two emergency bills each. Furthermore, all budget bills and bills with money attached are exempt from the rules.
A total of 1,498 bills were requested this legislative session. The deadlines were designed to reduce the number of bills, and thus the amount of work that needs to be done. However, that is not the case if you belong to the LCB staff. According to Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, legislative staff can work an average of 60 to 70 hours a week during normal crunch time. Before, during and after deadlines they’re at the office an astounding 90 to 100 hours a week. It is a credit to the staff of the LCB that even though they’re working the equivalent of two full-time jobs during the session few, if any, major mistakes are made.
These deadlines make April and May chaotic months in Carson City. While half the session is complete, some of the biggest issues are left to resolve. Electric utility deregulation is still being debated, questions remain in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that killed the “Teacher Tax”, and battle lines are being drawn over the reapportionment of each legislator’s district. Stay tuned.
Deadlines are a stubborn and fixed part of being a legislator. Leadership has exceptions, so they’re somewhat safe. If you’re just a little legislator, hell-bent on getting your bill passed, a missed deadline could deal a blow to your re-election hopes. If you’re a constituent, you may be wondering why your really great idea died in March.