Legislative Briefs

(AP) - The Senate Finance Committee is giving the go-ahead to channel $20,000 toward random, pre-competition drug testing of professional fighters.

Nevada Athletic Commission Chair Bill Brady asked the committee Friday to divert the money from the amateur athletic fund. The fund provides grants to independent clubs to help them cover event costs, such as transportation. It is funded by surcharges that are tacked onto professional sporting event tickets.

Brady says the commission has not conducted these drug tests since 2010, when testing money was returned to the state's general fund to cope with Nevada's budget crisis.

Brady says random, pre-competition testing, which can occur at training camps, is critical for keeping professional fights fair.

The committee approved the motion so a bill allowing the transfer can be drawn up.

(AP) - A bill requiring garages to check the tire pressures on vehicles that come into the shop for repair has cleared the Nevada Senate.

SB144 was approved Friday. The 12-9 vote was along mostly party lines, with Republican Sen. Joe Hardy of Boulder City voting with Democrats for passage.

Under the bill, repair shops would need to fill tires according to manufacturer guidelines. Failure to comply would be a misdemeanor.

The bill now goes to the Assembly.