Latest news with #SenateBill350
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislation would extend review period between death warrant and execution
State Sen. James Ohrenschall said he 'personally doesn't support the death penalty' and would rather see it abolished, but the legislation would at least ensure attorneys have an adequate amount of time to litigate issues once a death warrant is issued. (Photo: Jeniffer Solis/Nevada Current) Four years after state lawmakers failed to pass legislation to abolish the death penalty, despite having a Democratic trifecta, a bill this year would extend the time period for carrying out a potential execution. Nevada law currently calls for an execution to take place between 60 and 90 days after an execution is warranted. Senate Bill 350, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. James Ohrenschall of Las Vegas, would lengthen the timeframe to between 180 and 270 days. Ohrenschall said he 'personally doesn't support the death penalty' and would rather see it abolished. There have been 23 states that have abolished the death penalty, citing concerns including but not limited to racial disparities in the number of death row inmates, the high costs of capital cases going to trial, and documented likely instances of people being put to death after wrongful convictions, as well as people being exonerated while on death row. The legislation seeks to ensure attorneys have an adequate amount of time to litigate any issues that arise once an execution is ordered, Ohrenschall said. The legislation would also ensure that there is only one execution warrant that would be pending in Nevada at any given time. 'In Nevada, unlike other states, an execution warrant is issued by the district judge in the county where the conviction occurred,' said David Anthony, an attorney who specializes in capital cases who alongside Ohrenschall described the bill to a legislative panel. 'In many other states, execution warrants are issued by a single entity.' The bill passed out of the Senate April 21 on a 13-8 party-line vote. The legislation was heard Wednesday by the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Nevada hasn't executed anyone since 2006. The state tried, and failed, to execute Scott Dozier in 2017. A lengthy legal battle over the drugs being used to kill Dozier resulted in the execution being postponed until he died by suicide in early 2019. Ohrenschall, along with Democratic Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, both introduced separate bills in 2021 to abolish the state's death penalty. Former Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak said at the time he had a 'hard time with the idea of a complete abolition' and thought executions should be reserved for extreme cases. Despite uncertainty on whether Sisolak would sign a bill abolishing the death penalty, the Nevada Assembly voted 26-16 in a party line vote to advance Yeager's bill. The legislation then stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee and died without getting another vote. Anthony said SB 350 represented 'a common sense reform that helps bring the law into conformity with what the actual practice is in litigating capital cases.' While there are ways for people to appeal their cases and delay their execution, 'there are certain constitutional rights that cannot be litigated until there is an execution warrant,' he said. The bill, Anthony said, would also give the Nevada Department of Corrections additional time to complete all the protocols statutorily required prior to an execution, including mental health evaluations and health exams. NDOCDirector James Dzurenda told lawmakers Wednesday the logistics of training staff, notifying victims and procuring the drugs for an execution is hard to accomplish in a short time period. The logistics for planning more than one execution concurrently would be 'a nightmare process for corrections,' he added. 'What we do is we prepare,' Dzurenda said. 'Even right now we are preparing for an execution in case we get one next week. That's a lot of wasted taxpayer money. If we had an extension at the beginning of an execution we could prepare when we get a warrant. Right now we have to prepare before we get a warrant.' There are currently 59 people on death row in Nevada according to the Death Penalty Information Center. But Dzurenda also said that if the timeframe is extended 'too much could actually hurt the process' and opens the possibility for 'appeals that may not have been necessary in my eyes or get these far fetched appeals that could stretch out an execution.' Similar to efforts to get rid of the death penalty, the Nevada District Attorneys Association opposed efforts to change the timeframe for carrying out executions. Jennifer Noble, a lobbyist with the association who testified against the bill Wednesday, said there is already a lengthy and robust process for people to challenge and appeal their guilty verdict as well as the death sentence. 'This bill will not make anything easier on victims,' Noble said. Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice, in a letter supporting Ohrenschall's legislation, wrote it wouldn't lead to unnecessary delays but 'rather reflect the time actually needed to ensure due process at a time when the stakes could not be higher.' Mark Bettencourt, the executive director with the Nevada Coalition Against the Death Penalty, said while the coalition was still pursuing an end to the death penalty, the legislation was a 'common sense bill' to ensure that if an execution was carried out it wasn't rushed. 'It's been almost 20 years since we've had an execution in this state,' he said. 'To rush that now risks a botched execution and taking the life of an innocent person.'
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Death penalty, guns topics of 2 bills introduced in Nevada Senate
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — If it seems like death penalty cases drag out in the courts already, new legislation introduced on Thursday would ensure that the process slows down even more. Senate Bill 350 (SB350) changes the time frame surrounding execution orders. Instead of current requirements that the warrant for carrying out the death penalty be issued with a window of 60 to 90 days, SB350 would make it a window of 180 to 270 days. Legal challenges that are common in such cases often lead to a second or even third warrant, which is required to set the week when for the execution within 15 to 30 days. SB350 would change that to 180 to 270 days. 'Reba's Law' at Nevada Legislature toughens penalties for animal cruelty, torture The bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. James Ohrenschall, would allow lawyers more time to explore legal options and file lawsuits. ALSO THURSDAY: A bill designed to keep guns out of the hands of people in serious mental distress was introduced at the Nevada Legislature. SB347 builds on existing laws that allow police to place people on a mental health crisis hold. That authority can be used to hold a person — but not for more than 72 hours — for transport, assessment, evaluation, intervention and treatment during a mental health crisis. 'Shocked': Lawmaker bristles at where funds come from to bury Nevada's indigent prisoners Democratic Sens. Melanie Scheible and Nicole Cannizzaro want to expand that authority to include the confiscation of firearms, either owned or in the person's possession. When the person is released, they will be provided with procedures for getting the firearm(s) back and police will also be notified. But the return would not be immediate. The law enforcement agency would have 30 days to file a petition in district court to determine the dangers of returning the firearm. The person would be informed of the procedure for requesting a hearing on the matter and the consequences for failing to do so. If a court determines that the return of a firearm would result in a substantial likelihood of serious harm to the person or others, the court may authorize the law enforcement agency to retain possession, sell, destroy, trade or donate the firearm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Critical health initiatives come to the Statehouse
AEDs are now a common sight in many public places. (Stock photo) The American Heart Association (AHA) supports critical health initiatives in Indiana, focusing on the implementation of Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs), the establishment of a statewide stroke registry, and the increase of tobacco taxes. These efforts aim to significantly improve public health outcomes and save lives. AEDs are now a common sight in many public places, but the education and training to use them effectively have not kept pace. With 20% of all cardiac arrests occurring in public places, translating to 365,000 incidents outside of hospitals annually, and a 90% fatality rate, immediate intervention is crucial. The primary reason for this high fatality rate is that only about 40% of individuals receive the necessary help before Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrive. For every minute that CPR is delayed, the chances of survival decrease by 10%. Given that EMS response times can range from 4 to over 10 minutes, timely intervention is vital. Approximately 23,000 children under 18 experience sudden cardiac arrest each year, with nearly 40% of these incidents being sports related. The AHA recognizes that while schools' primary responsibility is education, they also serve as community gathering places. Therefore, it is essential for schools to provide a safe environment for children, staff, and visitors. Implementing and practicing CERPs can increase a child's survival rate to 70%. Senate Bill 350 wants schools to collaborate with local EMS to strategically place AEDs within 1-3 minutes of any event or venue, the ideal timeframe for effectiveness and survival. Schools are already equipped for this, as staff are trained in CPR and AED use, and they regularly practice preparedness for fires, tornadoes, and other potential mass-casualty events. A sudden cardiac arrest can be devastating to families, witnesses, and the community. Each child deserves a chance to go home. Adding a CERP enhances their emergency response plans and educates children on how to respond in a sudden cardiac emergency, creating a Nation of Lifesavers. In addition to CERPs, the AHA is focusing on improving stroke care through House Bill 1310, which aims to establish a statewide stroke registry. This legislation is a crucial step forward in enhancing stroke care and outcomes for all Hoosiers. Strokes are the sixth-leading cause of death in Indiana, and timely, accurate data is essential in reducing stroke-related morbidity and mortality. HB1310 will ensure that Indiana's health care providers can collect and report comprehensive stroke data, enabling the creation of a robust statewide stroke registry. Primary stroke and thrombectomy centers already use databases to track patient outcomes, with 46 out of 58 utilizing the AHA's 'Get With The Guidelines®' program. By leveraging this existing framework, the statewide registry will provide invaluable insights into stroke trends, treatment effectiveness, and areas for improvement in the health care system. This initiative will help identify gaps in care, support the implementation of best practices, and ultimately reduce the burden of stroke across the state. The AHA is offering access to this database to the State of Indiana at no cost, highlighting the importance of tracking this data. Increasing tobacco taxes is another significant health initiative being championed by the AHA through the Tobacco Free Indiana (TFI) coalition. Higher tobacco taxes have proven health benefits, and the revenue generated can be used to fund health and tobacco prevention programs. Reducing tobacco use lowers health care costs, benefiting businesses as well. Tobacco taxes are a proven method to reduce and prevent the use of dangerous and addictive tobacco products, particularly among young people and in communities targeted by aggressive tobacco marketing. TFI advocates for a significant $2 tax increase, as small increases are often offset by discounts, coupons, and buy-one-get-one-free offers from tobacco companies. Parity in the cost of alternative tobacco products, such as vapes or e-cigarettes, is also necessary to discourage switching to cheaper, unhealthy alternatives. Any tax increase must be substantial to achieve public health benefits. Tobacco tax revenue can be directed towards tobacco prevention and control programs and other health initiatives. In these challenging fiscal times, the revenue can also help address budget shortfalls in Medicaid. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
