Gov. Sandoval signs bill to give Nevada state workers raises

CARSON CITY — Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill increasing the cost-of-living raises for state workers from 2 percent to 3 percent per year.

Senate Bill 368 was amended by lawmakers to increase the pay hikes, which get passed on to other public employee groups as well.

In a tweet, Sandoval said he was proud to invest in the state’s public employees with the additional pay increase.

Sandoval proposed in his budget COLAs of 2 percent per year. Earlier, he signed a measure implementing those raises, Assembly Bill 517.

The first 3 percent increase takes effect for state workers July 1.

Altogether on June 9, Sandoval signed 30 bills and vetoed two others.

Among the measures signed by Sandoval are:

■ Assembly Bill 52, which creates a permitting process to expand safe lithium exploration opportunities in Nevada.

■ Senate Bill 283, which creates the Vegas Golden Knights specialty license plate for the National Hockey League franchise, which will begin play this fall.

■ Senate Bill 511, which simplifies the application process to purchase a license, tag or permit to hunt, fish or trap.

■ Senate Bill 47, a recommendation from the Governor’s Drought Forum that requires the state engineer to make certain preparations prior to interbasin transfers.

■ Senate Bill 443, which requires the division of aging and disability services to employ sign language interpreters.

■ Senate Bill 428, which creates the Tule Springs State Park license plate.

The vetoed bills were Assembly Bill 175, which proposed language to define health benefits for the purpose of determining the minimum wage, and Assembly Bill 376, which proposed deadlines for some criminal procedures.

Sandoval said AB175 could cause employers to cease offering health insurance. He said the deadlines in AB376 could be unreasonable in some cases.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3820. Follow @seanw801 on Twitter.