Latest news with #SenateBill116
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislation would end long spell of no pay raises for county elected officials in Nevada
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways (Photo: Alejandra Rubio/Nevada Current) State lawmakers are considering legislation that sets out a five-year plan to give pay raises to elected county officials, who haven't had a raise since 2018. On Tuesday, Sen. Skip Daly (D-Sparks), who sponsored Senate Bill 116, told members of the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs that pay for county elected officers is set by statute. The bill, Daly said, would 'set a chain of events in place so they won't have to come back to the Legislature,' by establishing automatic annual raises that would end in 2030. The raises, which would take effect in July, would allow officials to use one of two formulas to elevate the pay for the elected district attorney, sheriff, county clerk, county assessor, county recorder, county treasurer and public administrator of each county. County commission salaries would be set by a schedule based on each county's size and population. For all but county commissioners, the base rate would be established at 3% more than the salary of the highest paid-employee under the elected official's supervision, or by a formula that compounds the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index from fiscal year 2019 through fiscal year 2024, and adds it to the official's 2018 salary. The increase would adjust base rates to more closely reflect the market, Daly said. 'It will make it easier to attract more qualified people to run for these positions, and it will make it easier to attract qualified subordinate support staff,' he added, noting that some deputy assessors and others required to possess a high degree of specialized knowledge, earn more than their elected counterparts and would currently have to take pay cuts if elected to replace them. 'If any of you know anything about property taxes, it's not easy,' Daly said. 'There's a lot of calculations, and you have to have qualified people that can do that work.' Employee raises, Daly noted, are subject to a pay range that would offer protections against an elected official handing out excessive raises in order to boost their own salary. The legislation also allows county commissioners, at any time, to provide a 2% cost of living increase to all elected officials in the jurisdiction. 'We believe that there are additional guardrails in here for counties to not only bring equity of pay to county elected offices, but to allow for the Board of County Commissioners to adjust and respond to fiscal emergencies,' testified Vinson Guthreau, executive director of the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO). Gov. Joe Lombardo, in 2022, his last year as sheriff of Clark County, earned total pay and benefits of $210,965.37, according to Transparent Nevada, which tracks government salaries. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson earned just over $322,000 in 2022, the last year for which records are available. The legislation also sets salaries for county commissioners throughout the state. Clark County commissioners currently earn an average of $93,938. The average Washoe County commissioner earns just over $91,000. Pay for elected county commissioners, beginning July 1, would be set at: $121,000 for Clark County; $116,000 for Washoe County; $39,000 for Lyon County, Carson City, Elko County, Nye County, Douglas County, and Storey County; $36,000 for Churchill County and Humboldt County; $33,000 for White Pine County and Pershing County; and $30,000 for Lander County, Mineral County, Lincoln County, Eureka County, and Esmeralda County. Each county commissioner would be entitled to a 3% increase for the next five years, beginning July 2026. Salaries would thereafter be frozen at the 2030 fiscal year level until additional legislative action. Annual raises must not be paid if the county commission 'determines that sufficient financial resources are not available' to pay for the increases. Elected county officers, including commissioners, would not be entitled to retroactive pay for annual increases that were not granted. Commissioners would also be allowed to pay themselves and county elected officials a reduced salary, as long as it's across the board and equally proportional. Assemblyman Max Carter, a Democrat from Clark County, said lawmakers are 'getting flooded' with messages 'citing some concern about fiscal responsibility in these crunching times.' 'These people haven't had a raise in seven years,' Daly responded. 'Tell me the good time? There is no good time. So I think it needs to be done.' The bill passed the Senate last month by a vote of 19-2, with two Republicans, Sen. Carrie Buck of Henderson and Sen. Robin Titus, who represents Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, Lyon, Mineral, and parts of Nye County, opposed. Guthreau of NACO characterized just two 'no' votes in the Senate as 'a win.' Nevada Republican Party Legislative Affairs Director Joshua Skaggs testified in opposition to the measure. 'We support lower taxes and fees and a reduction in the scope of government at all levels,' he said. 'No private business would ever consider paying employees based on what another employee in the organization earns.' The bill, he said, is an unfunded mandate that would further widen the gap between private and public employees, and 'requires ever-increasing pay that increases, based not on merit or the value of the job, but rather based only on what other employees earn and the passage of time.' 'The Economic Forum made it very clear that Nevada has economic problems,' Janine Hansen, president of Nevada Families for Freedom, testified in opposition, referring to the forum reducing projected state tax revenue to reflect anticipated impacts of President Donald Trump's tariff policies. Noting the median salary for a full-time worker in Nevada 'is only $53,000,' Hansen said 'it doesn't look good when we are raising salaries for government employees when the people are struggling to put food on the table' The committee took no action on the bill.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Street racing increased over last few years
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Sioux Falls police say street racing has increased over the last few years with the growth of Sioux Falls. Both the city and the state are cracking down on street, exhibition and drag racing. 'Incredibly distasteful' says TenHaken to Trump's AI Pope photo In March, the legislature passed Senate Bill 116, which makes speed racing a class 1 or 2 misdemeanor for drivers and a class 6 felony for race organizers. This law will go into effect on July 1. The Sioux Falls City Council also passed an ordinance in March that lifts the ban on exhibition driving on private property if the group has a permit authorized by the police department. Sgt. Travis Olson said the ordinance allows people to 'continue their hobbies' under a safe and official capacity. The intent of the ordinance is to hopefully keep racers and exhibition drivers off public streets. Before, any form of excessive engine noise, speeding or tire screeching was in violation of the city laws, even on private property. Under the new ordinance, groups must apply for a temporary permit to hold their events on private property. They must also have insurance and safety officers present. No permits for these driving events will be issued between the hours of 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Although it's hard to pinpoint exactly how many calls the police get for street racing or how many attempts police make to shut it down, Olson did say that the problem has been increasing over the last few years. Burbank, SD mom runs all 6 World Marathon Majors He also said it's difficult to respond to these complaints because the groups tend to race quickly and leave the area before law enforcement arrives. It can be hard to track the frequency of the speed racing, because there can be various reports, like a noise complaint or speeding. These incidents aren't in isolated areas in Sioux Falls either, Olson added. He did say that a lot of activity occurs on 57th Street, and that 69th Street and Veterans Parkway are also popular spots. 'The truth is we get complaints on it from all over the city,' he said. Olson wanted to remind the public that exhibition, speed and drag racing is not legal on any public roads in Sioux Falls. He also pointed out that there are drag strips for legal vehicle racing shortly outside of Sioux Falls at the Thunder Valley Dragway and I-90 Speedway. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Street racing ban passes House Transportation
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – A bill that would prohibit organized street racing is one step closer to becoming law. The House Transportation Committee voted 11-0 to pass Senate Bill 116. Two representatives were excused from the vote. Its next stop will be to the full House of Representatives and if passed, sent to Gov. Larry Rhoden's desk. SD DOC announces release of high-risk offender 'When vehicles are operated at extreme speeds on public roads, serious and even fatal accidents are a predictable result,' prime sponsor Republican Sen. Sue Peterson said. 'Unsanctioned illegal street races and competitions magnify these risks exponentially.' Under SB 116, if someone drives a vehicle on a public road in an organized, illegal speed competition or exhibition, they can be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and have their license revoked for 18 months. The bill also aims to penalize organizers of street races. Anyone who coordinates and collects money for a speed race or similar exhibition could be charged with a Class 6 felony. Minnehaha County State's Attorney Daniel Hager supported the bill and said it will help law enforcement officers crack down on street racing, especially in Sioux Falls. 'This bill really helps strengthen the safety of our public streets. All of us are using those, our children are using them, they must be safe,' Hager added. 'What we've seen in Sioux Falls, we've seen some racing that has resulted in death. We've seen the racing that has resulted in dangerous behavior. This is about safety.' Puppies not abandoned outdoors, say Sioux Falls PD Spokespeople for the Attorney General's office, South Dakota Police Chiefs Association and the South Dakota Municipal League were also at the hearing to support SB 116. Cash Anderson, a lawyer for the South Dakota Criminal Defense Lawyers, spoke in opposition. He claimed the more conduct that is criminalized, that opens the door for more law enforcement contact, including search and seizures. Anderson also criticized the broad and vague language of the bill. The bill includes an exemption for races on private land and sanctioned events approved by the Transportation Commission and local authorities, like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum both spoke in support of stricter street racing laws at a previous hearing for the bill and with KELOLAND News. 'You may not think it's dangerous to open up your crotch rocket at 85 down what seems to be an open highway, but a light turns green and someone crosses the intersection and you can end with a death. And so it's just — it's not legal behavior. We have speed limits for a reason,' TenHaken said in May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia senators file bill to require DNA samples from misdemeanor offenders with ICE detainers
A group of Georgia senators filed new legislation that would expand who, and when, genetic material is harvested for use by state law enforcement. If passed, Senate Bill 116 would expand beyond those subject to DNA sampling from Georgians, or others, convicted of felonies. Currently, convicted felons are DNA swabbed by the Georgia Department of Corrections when they are taken to their detention facility, are serving a probation sentence or are serving under the State Board of Pardons and Paroles' jurisdiction. Those charged with felonies for crimes involving controlled substances and narcotics, marijuana, hallucinogenics, stimulants and depressants. If the bill passes, several changes would take effect. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Man who was head of DEA in Atlanta is now running day-to-day operations for agency BUNDLE UP: Temperatures, wind chills to plummet after wintry mix moves out Gwinnett County opts out of Georgia's new homestead exemption law, but not everyone agrees DNA samples would be taken from anyone charged with a felony and held in custody at a detention facility or by GDOC. For the purposes of the bill, detention facility means 'a penal institution under the jurisdiction of the department, including penal institutions operated by a private company on behalf of the department, inmate work camps, inmate boot camps, probation detention centers, parole revocation centers, county jails, and municipal detention facilities.' Additionally, those charged with misdemeanors while under an immigration detainer by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would also have their genetic information stored for potential future law enforcement needs. The bill stipulates that the facility where the suspect is detained would be responsible for obtaining the genetic material for the sample. Once DNA samples are taken, they must be stored in a data bank held by the state or analysis by forensic organizations or contracted third party servicers. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
