Criminal Justice (Policing)

SB 298 revises Nevada law to expand protections for peace officers during investigations. It updates the definition of "punitive action" to explicitly include denial of seniority or compensation increases (NRS 289.010), and prohibits law enforcement agencies from denying these increases during investigations - similar to existing rules against unpaid suspension (NRS 289.057). This directly affects peace officers (e.g., police officers) by preventing agencies from using withheld raises or seniority as punitive measures while investigations are ongoing. The bill ensures that such denials can only occur if an investigation leads to dismissal or demotion, aligning them with other punitive actions under existing protections.

AB 54 increases penalties for drivers who fail to take required precautions when approaching traffic incidents, specifically if their failure causes death or serious injury to a first responder. The bill upgrades the offense from a misdemeanor to a category B felony, imposing a prison term of 1-6 years and a fine of $2,000-$5,000. It applies to drivers who do not slow down, proceed cautiously, prepare to stop, or avoid adjacent lanes near incidents involving first responders like police, firefighters, EMTs, tow operators, or transportation personnel. The law targets drivers endangering those responding to crashes, stalled vehicles, or roadway hazards, with penalties taking effect after passage.

AB 299 increases penalties for individuals who solicit prostitution in Nevada. It raises the minimum fine for a first offense from $400 to $800 and increases the civil penalty per offense from $200 to $600, payable to local prosecutors. The bill also requires police to make an arrest without a warrant when they have probable cause to believe someone violated prostitution laws, and allows individuals to petition courts for record sealing two years after their case is dismissed (previously automatic upon completing treatment programs). This bill directly affects people who solicit sex acts, with harsher financial and legal consequences for repeat offenses.