Bill would funnel recorder fees to fund legal services for children

Former Nevada Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley is promoting a bill in the Legislature to increase fees at county recorders’ offices and funnel the money to legal services for abused or neglected children.

But as nonprofits and agencies compete for a shrinking budget pie, legislators asked supporters to explain why the cause merited special attention.

“I know you will face many programs asking for money,” Nevada Supreme Court Justice Nancy Saitta said at a Wednesday committee hearing, during which no action was taken. “But these will be the students you will not be paying for in the prison system.”

The bill would raise a surcharge for recording a document, deed, map or survey to $3 from $1 and direct the additional money toward legal services to children in the foster care system.

The fee increase would not apply to marriage licenses.