By NICK YAMASHITA
Moapa Valley Progress
The first of every year always seems to mark the beginnings of new things. Many try to start off on a new foot and set resolutions for life. These new beginnings are met with excitement and inspired motivation.
However, there are some new changes that people are not always ecstatic about and that can includes new laws that have taken effect.
This will be a simple summary of new laws regarding Nevada, especially Southern Nevada and Clark County. These laws are already in full swing and enforceable.
Among the most notable is the new federal regulation concerning the sale of cigarettes and tobacco. On Dec. 20, 2019, the President signed legislation to amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act which raised the federal minimum age for the sale and purchase of tobacco products from 18 to 21.
“This makes the nation more unified as 19 states have already done this before,” stated representatives of the Food and Drug Administration.
An informal survey conducted among local residents showed reactions about this new law to be split.
The survey performed resulted in a majority of people agreeing with the changes. About 92% of those were 21 years of age or older. A minority of people disagreed with the new law. Not surprisingly, all of these were ages 20 or under.
Nevada also became the first state in the United States to pass legislation regarding employment and marijuana use which went into effect on January 1. According to Assembly Bill 132, if job seekers test positive for marijuana during the hiring process, employers can no longer deny them from a job on that information alone.
However, there are certain stipulations in place especially concerning the amount of substance found in the drug test. Also, the new law does not apply to law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs or anyone who drives vehicles for a living.
The Nevada Clean Air Act also took effect this year. If individuals vape or use e-cigarettes, there are now limitations on where they can use such products. Anywhere that smoking is prohibited, these products are also not allowed. This includes indoor places of employment, public space and more.
Along with that the Vaping Tax SB 263 now adds a tax to those same devices. The new tax is 30% which will go toward vaping prevention programs and efforts.
Concerning guns and firearms, there are two major new laws. The first one is the “Red Flag” Gun Law AB 291. This law was intended to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people or those who want to harm and hurt others/themselves. It also includes a more serious punishment concerning those who negligently leave firearms around children.
Most local people surveyed were in opposition of this new law. These folks expressed concerns about restricting the right to the 2nd Amendment.
In addition, according to a few locals, the wording of the new law could be misconstrued. It could be used against innocent and good people who are simply using their right to bear arms, many said.
The 2nd major law change is on Background Checks SB 143 which requires almost all private party gun sales and gun transfers to go through a state administered background check conducted by a federally licensed firearm dealer. Again, most locals surveyed were against this law.
As for the employees of Nevada, the biggest change will be their pay rate. Starting January 1, the minimum pay was raised to $9 per hour. This will continue to increase to $12 per hour by the year 2024.
This is a pretty hefty pay raise as the previous minimum wage was set at $8.25 per hour.
The last two laws in place for the new year concern health care. AB 469 and AB 170 concern all citizens of Nevada.
AB 469 concerns medical billing practices. The bill is meant to prevent out of network emergency care providers from overcharging patients. It purportedly helps protect patients from unexpected medical bills and hopefully helps in reducing the debt of Nevada residents.
AB 170 makes Nevada the fifth state to implement steps preventing insurers from denying coverage to patients due to pre-existing conditions.
There is much change to accept for the year of 2020. If individuals have any concerns regarding these laws and want to make changes, contact local representatives and state representatives. Also keep in mind, the above are simply summaries and there is much more entailed to these laws. Be sure to research these new laws and statutes fully.
