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In business government New laws: driver's licenses, taxes, transportation and more By Cy Ryan staff writer CARSON CITY — People living in the United States illegally will qualify for a Nevada driver's privilege card, filmmakers who produce in Nevada will be eligible for a tax credit, motorists in Clark County will pay an additional 3.4 cents for a gallon of gasoline, and thousands will have health insurance coverage under a new federal law managed by the state. These are only a few of the 45 laws passed by the 2013 Legislature that took effect Jan. 1. Also in 2014, a second representative from Southern Nevada will sit on the state Transportation Board and sale of consumer products that contain Bisphenol — a carbon-based industrial chemical present in many hard plastic bottles or in metal-based food and beverage cans — is banned. Here's a closer look at some of the laws: n The 2014 political seasons opened early this year, as judicial candidates were able to file their candidacy Jan. 6 instead of waiting until March. Scott Gilles, chief of elections, said Supreme Court Justice Mark Gibbons and District Judge Todd Russell of Carson City had already scheduled appointments before the year began. n Opponents of the Affordable Care Act intend to file an initiative petition with the Secretary of State's Office to repeal the health care act that is run by Nevada's Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. They will need to collect 101,667 registered voters' signatures to qualify the petition to be presented to the 2015 Legislature. If the petition is unsuccessful at the Legislature, it will go to the voters on the 2016 ballot. n The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles is serving an influx of undocumented persons who are applying for driver's privilege cards. DMV spokesman Kevin Malone said the computer programming was done and the forms were in place by late December. n The DMV also ushered in another new law, which will phase in eight-year driver's licenses instead of licenses that expire every four years. Individuals with odd-numbered birth years still will receive a four-year license at their upcoming renewal; they will be issued an eight-year license on their next renewal. Those with even-numbered birth years will get the expanded eight-year license for their upcoming renewal. Those 65 years and older will still have to renew their license every four years. n In a three-year trial program, filmmakers who come to Nevada will be entitled to a tax credit. The Legislature set aside an annual $20 million in credits to offset the cost of production (those who produce pornographic films will not qualify for the tax credit). These credits can be sold to other companies by the filmmaker. n The Legislature gave the Clark County Commission the authority to increase the fuel tax for three years to pay for new roads and repair old streets. The commission approved a proposal that raises the tax with inflation through 2016, capped at a 10-cent increase. n To give Southern Nevada a bigger voice in how the state spends highway dollars, lawmakers approved removing Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto from the state Transportation Board and replacing her with a Las Vegas resident. Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed Tom Skancke. n Another new law requires that advertisements by health care professionals include a list of licenses and certifications he or she holds. n Out-of-state businesses that operate in Nevada must pay within 10 days a $200 registration fee for their first vehicle and $150 for each additional one. n Court records may not be sealed if the case involves a drunken driver who kills somebody. n In common interest communities, the homeowners association must follow certain rules in imposing a fine for violations. The association must detail the violations and in some cases include a photograph; the owner must have a "reasonable opportunity" to correct the violation. Las Vegas' No.1 Business Resource Has Never Been More Important. Get your one-year subscription to and we'll include our best leads via email. All for only $50 a year. LasVegassUn.com named "Best Website in Class" by the Nevada Press Association 2013. VEGASINC.COM/SUBSCRIBE For additional information call 800.254.2610 or email subscriptions@gmgvegas.com 10 20140113_VI10_F.indd 10 | 13 JANUARY 2014 | 1/9/14 1:26:32 PM

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