State Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, has 11 bill draft requests already filed for the upcoming session of the state legislature, including a request to split the 5th judicial district, moving Mineral County into a district with Churchill County.

McGinness said his bill breaking up the 5th judicial district is at the request of Mike Richards, justice of the peace of the New River Township in Fallon.

The bill would create Lyon County, one of the fastest growing counties in the state, as a separate judicial district, instead of combined with Churchill County. However Churchill County would be combined with Mineral County.

"What it will do is cut down on travel. Currently there are two Lyon County judges that spend a lot of time here and do a lot of driving. Then our judge goes over there. Plus it would cut down the driving for (Judge John) Davis into Mineral County," McGinness said.

Judge Davis, based in Tonopah, isn't in favor of splitting off Mineral County from the 5th judicial district, he said.

"I totally understand he likes the district the way it is. I hope he will come testify so we'll hear all sides of the issue," McGinness said.

The senator said he's not sure how the bill will fare.

"It won't cost the counties anything becuase there's still district courtrooms in all those places but it will cost the state. They will have to pay the salary of an additional judge," McGinness said. "That could be an issue with the state budget being in the state it's in."

Among other bills Sen. McGinness include:

* A bill to change the real property transfer tax law made at the request of the law firm of Lionel, Sawyer and Collins when a mining company is merely transferring land from one subsidiary to another.

* A bill allowing a local building inspector to inspect stair lifts for the handicapped instead of having to pay for a state inspector who inspects elevators and escalators.

* McGinness wouldn't honor a request for $250,000 annually for the Nevada Economic Development Commission to lobby against the closure of military bases, but agreed to sponsor a bill to set up a support group that could perhaps receive donations from military contractors.

McGinness noted a base realignment closing commission targeted the Hawthorne Army Base and the Nevada Air National Guard base in Reno.

* A bill to enhance penalties for contributing to the delinquency of a minor was made at the request of Mark Wier, a constituent in Mesquite. He wanted it specifically targeted toward people who try to recruit juveniles to join gangs.

* A request for an additional quarter-cent sales tax provided for in Assembly Bill 418 in the 2005 legislature will go toward funding more police officers in Clark County. McGinness said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department approached him about sponsoring the bill while he was still chairman of the Senate Taxation Committee.

* A bill to allow people who retire from state jobs and are receiving benefits from the state Public Employees Retirement System the ability to continue serving as volunteer firefighters and receive a "deemed wage," or a nominal fee.

Two bills he requested may be pulled after the issues were resolved McGinness said, one dealing with grazing at Carson Lake pasture in Churchill County, another involving a constituent who had to pay $250 to renew his driver's license after his insurance lapsed.