Nevada strikes down anti-communist law dating back to 1950

CARSON CITY, Nev. – It's no longer OK to fire someone in Nevada just because they're a Communist.

Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill Wednesday striking down language in an archaic Nevada law that dates back to the Red Scare.

The measure, SB506, is part of an ongoing effort by legislative staff to scratch out obsolete laws still on the books.

Before Wednesday, it was legal for employers to take action against a person who's a member of the Communist Party or any other organization required to register with the Subversive Activities Control Board.

The board was created by a 1950 federal law sponsored by former U.S. Sen. Pat McCarran, a Nevada Democrat. It investigated people suspected of promoting totalitarian dictatorships in the U.S.

Organizations haven't been required to register with the board since 1968.