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Casino Security Bills Proposed at Conference

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Dec. 7, 2001 -- Nevada Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins' proposed bill requiring large Nevada hotels to submit emergency response plans to state government officials received strong support at a Thursday casino security conference at The Orleans.

Perkins, a Democrat and Henderson's deputy police chief, told 65 security officers and law enforcement officials that circumstances in post-Sept. 11 America mandate increased preparedness around the country and, particularly, in Las Vegas.

"To ignore the fact that Las Vegas could be a target would be a mistake," Perkins said. "Now we must prepare for the possibility that one of our megaresorts will be targeted by terrorists."

Perkins plans to introduce an antiterrorism bill in 2003, during the next legislative session. The proposed measure would enhance antiterrorism training for police officers and enact new state laws defining as crimes terrorist acts, threats or hoaxes.

The part of Perkins' proposal most interesting to the assembled security bosses was his plan to require the state's hotels to file emergency response plans with the Nevada Division of Emergency Management.

Perkins' remarks focused on his rationale for the plan, which he later said would only affect hotels with 200 or more rooms.

He promised to allow Nevada's casino industry significant input into deciding what each property's emergency response plan would have to cover, noting that its use would likely extend beyond antiterrorism measures to include fire and disaster preparedness.

"Imagine how useful it would be for a Metro chief responding to an incident at Mandalay Bay," Perkins said. "The officer could call and ask for the Mandalay contact information and note exactly what Mandalay's planned response would be."

Perkins said he believes resort security officials already do a good job protecting guests and property.

"But by requiring them to file a plan with the state, I think we are partnering with them to provide the best possible public safety scenario for our visitors and our residents," he explained.

Filing plans could save critical time for law enforcement agencies responding to an emergency, Perkins noted.

"The purpose is to promote communication, so state and local law enforcement know what your plans are if there is an emergency," he said.

ADT Tyco security expert Douglas Florence applauded Perkins' plan.

"This is a wise thing," Florence said. "It will raise the level of preparedness, and that's a good thing."

Perkins predicted that his bills, if passed and signed by the governor, could take effect as soon as July 2003.

The program's costs would probably be offset by an industry-specific tax or by offsetting part of the hotel room tax, he said.

Perkins said the plans were not an attempt to expand state bureaucracy.

"Hopefully these files won't be like most things filed with the state, sitting on a shelf and gathering dust," he said.

Las Vegas and Nevada need to make a special effort combatting terrorism because the size of the Strip's megaresorts make them a more inviting target than targets in other cities and states, the speaker said.

"I'm not an alarmist, and I don't think warnings about terrorism are a self-fulfilling prophecy," Perkins said. "We have to realize that the Sept. 11 attacks targeted high-profile areas. Las Vegas fits that description."

Gov. Kenny Guinn and Nevada Resort Association President Bill Bible failed to return Thursday phone messages.

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