A special thank you to the Nevada Statewide Coalition Partnership for sharing their Legislative updates with CASAT OnDemand!

The 2019 Nevada Legislature made history as the nation’s first female majority legislature. The 80th (2019) Session of the Nevada Legislature began on February 4, 2019 at 11:28am, and adjourned sine die (for an indefinite period, with no future date designated for resumption) on June 4, 2019, at 12:15am. Highlights of the final hour included the passage of SB551, a bill to remove the expiring payroll tax rate indefinitely which is aimed to send the revenue to school safety and funds for teacher raises. This had been a priority for Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak who had promised teacher raises during his campaign.

Outlined below are lists of bills related to community and behavioral health that either passed or failed as well as a few that are still pending, post session. For bills that have passed their respective houses, (pending measures) but have not yet been signed into law by Governor Sisolak, the Governor has until June 15 to sign, veto, or to allow pending bills to become law without a signature.

Final Budget Bills

The legislature passed a two-year budget in three budget bills (the capital improvements project, state worker pay and appropriations) and one authorization bill.  In the eleventh hour, two bills were passed that provided extra appropriations of nearly $60 million in additional or restored spending that was not included in the state’s budget. This funded a variety of projects from a new courthouse in rural White Pine County, $20 million for a new UNLV engineering building and increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates.

Projects that have been funded:

• $1 million to relocate the National Atomic Testing Museum
• $1 million to the Reno Rodeo Association for the advance planning and schematic design of a master plan to “rehabilitate, repair, renovate and improve” the Reno-Sparks  Livestock Center
• $500,000 to the UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration to increase the “diversity of leaders in the gaming industry”
• $3 million to the Springs Preserve Foundation, including $1 million to renovate the Nature Gallery and develop “classroom and indoor play spaces for children” and $2 million for the “design of the Science and Sustainability Center to expand exhibit space and construct a large classroom facility.”
• $709,150 to Vegas PBS for production of the Outdoor Nevada television series
• $20 million for design and construction of a new UNLV engineering building
• $9.5 million to Nevada Medicaid and Check Up programs to increase the acute care per diem reimbursement rates by 2.5 percent.
• $5.5 million for school resource or school police officers
• $5 million to funding for a new White Pine County Courthouse
• $4.7 million for programs of social, emotional and academic development in public schools
• $2.7 million in block grants for social workers in schools
• $2 million to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
• $1.1 million to the Lou Ruvo Center for operations previously funded through the University of Nevada, Reno’s School of Medicine
• $1 million to the Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation for afterschool programs
• $1 million to the Office of Grant Management and Procurement for a pilot program to offer matching funds for federal grants
• $1 million for replacement of state government employees during a remodel of the Grant Sawyer government building in Las Vegas
• $649,300 to the Department of Motor Vehicles for computer software
• $458,000 to Great Basin College for a welding lab expansion
• $105,000 to Western Nevada College for refurbishment of Marlette Hall

Successful Assembly Bills Related to Behavioral Health

• AB49: AN ACT relating to controlled substances; requiring the Chief Medical Officer to upload certain information relating to a drug overdose to the computerized program to track certain prescriptions for controlled substances; requiring the program to allow the upload of such information to the extent of available money; revising requirements concerning the uploading of certain information to the program; authorizing certain action against practitioners and licensing boards who commit certain violations relating to the program; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective May 14, 2019, for the purpose of adopting any regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and on January 1, 2020, for all other purposes.

 

• AB60: Revises provisions related to criminal justice (BDR 3-425). AN ACT relating to criminal justice; revising the definition of domestic violence; increasing certain penalties relating to a battery which constitutes domestic violence; revising provisions relating to the procedure for arresting a person suspected of committing a battery which constitutes domestic violence; enacting provisions relating to the procedure for arresting a person suspected of committing a battery against certain persons; imposing a fee on certain unlawful acts that constitute domestic violence; requiring such fees to be deposited into the Account for Programs Related to Domestic Violence; revising the definition of stalking; increasing certain penalties related to stalking; revising provisions relating to the crime of facilitating sex trafficking; revising provisions relating to the crime of assault; revising provisions relating to the crime of battery; revising provisions relating to the Committee on Domestic Violence; revising provisions relating to the Office of Advocate for Missing or Exploited Children; providing penalties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• AB66: (Washoe Regional Health Policy Board) AN ACT relating to mental health; authorizing the holder of a license to operate a psychiatric hospital that meets certain requirements to obtain an endorsement as a crisis stabilization center; providing for the licensure and regulation of providers of nonemergency secure behavioral health transport services; authorizing a licensed provider of such services to transport persons with mental illness under certain conditions; requiring certain health maintenance organizations and managed care organizations to negotiate with such hospitals to become in network providers; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective June 3, 2019, for the purpose of performing any preparatory administrative tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and on January 1, 2020, for all other purposes.

 

• AB76: (Southern Regional Health Policy Board) Revises provisions relating to regional behavioral health policy boards (BDR 39-470). AN ACT relating to mental health; authorizing the Commission on Behavioral Health to employ certain persons to assist the regional behavioral health policy boards; revising the counties that comprise certain behavioral health regions; creating the Clark Behavioral Health Region; revising the appointing authority to and members of a regional behavioral health policy board; revising the duties of a regional health policy board; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• AB85: (Northern Regional Health Policy Board) Revises provisions governing mental health. (BDR 39-443) AN ACT relating to mental health; requiring the adoption of regulations governing the involuntary administration of medication to persons with mental illness and the medical examination of a person alleged to be a person in a mental health crisis; authorizing the adoption of regulations concerning the plan for the discharge of a person admitted to a mental health facility or hospital; revising certain terminology and standardizing certain time periods relating to admission to mental health facilities; revising the authority of certain accredited agents to make certain certifications and transport persons with mental illness; revising requirements concerning notification to certain persons of the emergency admission of a person to a mental health facility; revising the procedure for proceedings for the involuntary court-ordered admission of a person to a mental health facility or a program of community-based or outpatient services; authorizing the disclosure to a provider of health care of certain information related to a person who seeks mental health services; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective May 15, 2019.

 

• AB114: Revises provisions governing the prevention of suicide by pupils (BDR S-647). AN ACT relating to education; requiring the reporting of certain information concerning courses and training related to suicide among pupils; requiring the reporting of certain information relating to suicide, attempted suicide and suicidal ideation by pupils; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• AB132: Revises provisions governing employment practices (BDR 53-29). AN ACT relating to employment; prohibiting the denial of employment because of the presence of marijuana in a screening test taken by a prospective employee with certain exceptions; authorizing an employee to rebut the results of a screening test under certain circumstances; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective January 1, 2020.

 

• AB 133: Sets forth legislative findings and declarations concerning homeless youth. (BDR S-399). AN ACT relating to public welfare; setting forth legislative findings and declarations concerning homeless youth; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective May 15, 2019.

 

• AB142: Eliminates the statute of limitations for the prosecution of sexual assault in certain circumstances. (BDR 14-175). AN ACT relating to criminal procedure; eliminating the statute of limitations for the prosecution of sexual assault if the identity of the person accused of committing the crime is established by DNA evidence; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• AB 164: Revises provisions relating to marijuana (BDR 40-619). AN ACT relating to marijuana; imposing certain requirements relating to advertising by a marijuana establishment and a medical marijuana establishment; revising provisions relating to medical marijuana establishment agents; providing for the registration of agents who work or volunteer at or contract with a marijuana establishment; revising provisions relating to disciplinary action against a medical marijuana establishment agent and a marijuana establishment agent; authorizing civil penalties for certain violations relating to advertising; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.  Sections 1, 3, 13 and 14 of this act effective on October 1, 2019. Sections 2 and 4 to 12.7, inclusive, of this act effective on January 2, 2020. Sections 7 and 8 of this act expire by limitation on the date on which the provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 666 requiring each state to establish procedures under which the state has authority to withhold or suspend, or to restrict the use of professional, occupational and recreational licenses of persons who: (a) Have failed to comply with a subpoena or warrant relating to a proceeding to determine the paternity of a child or to establish or enforce an obligation for the support of a child; or (b) Are in arrears in the payment for the support of one or more children, are repealed by the Congress of the United States.

 

• AB 239: Revises provisions relating to controlled substances (BDR 54-703). AN ACT relating to controlled substances; revising requirements concerning the review and investigation of a complaint concerning certain violations relating to controlled substances; requiring certain professional licensing boards that regulate prescriptions for controlled substances or practitioners who issue such prescriptions to develop and disseminate an explanation or technical advisory bulletin concerning certain requirements relating to such prescriptions; clarifying the independent authority of the State Board of Pharmacy to take disciplinary action; revising provisions concerning prescribing controlled substances for the treatment of pain; requiring a system for the maintenance of electronic health records to have certain capabilities; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective June 3, 2019.

 

• AB260: Revises provisions governing mental health (BDR 4-1031). AN ACT relating to public employees; revising provisions relating to confidential communications made during a peer support counseling session; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective May 29, 2019.
  

 

• AB 367: Revises provisions governing persons affected by addictive disorders (BDR 17-690). AN ACT relating to persons with addictive disorders; establishing the preferred manner of referring to such persons in Nevada Revised Statutes and the Nevada Administrative Code; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• AB 378: Makes various changes relating to the transportation and admission of certain persons alleged to be a danger to themselves or others to certain facilities or hospitals (BDR 34-711). AN ACT relating to mental health; requiring the model plan for the management of a crisis, emergency or suicide involving a school to include a plan for responding to a pupil with a mental illness; clarifying that consent from any parent or legal guardian of a person is not necessary for the emergency admission of that person; requiring a person who applies for the emergency admission of a child to attempt to obtain the consent of a parent or guardian of the child and maintain documentation of such an attempt; requiring the notification of a parent or guardian of a child of the emergency admission of the child; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective June 5, 2019.

 

• AB430: Providing for a study concerning maternal, infant and early childhood home visitation services (BDR S-1001). AN ACT relating to children; requiring the Legislative Committee on Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice to conduct a study concerning maternal, infant and early childhood home visitation services; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective May 25, 2019.
  

 

• AB466: Requires the creation of a pilot program to facilitate certain financial transactions relating to marijuana. (BDR 18-870). AN ACT relating to financial transactions; requiring the State Treasurer to create a pilot program for the establishment of one or more closed-loop payment processing systems to facilitate certain financial transactions relating to marijuana; setting forth certain requirements for a closed-loop payment processing system; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective June 5, 2019, for the purposes of adopting regulations and performing any other administrative tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, and on October 1, 2019, for all other purposes. This act expires by limitation on June 30, 2023.

 

• AB469: Revises provisions governing billing for certain medically necessary emergency services (BDR 40-704). AN ACT relating to health care; limiting the amount a provider of health care may charge a person who has health insurance for certain medically necessary emergency services provided when the provider is out-of-network; requiring an insurer to arrange for the transfer of a person who has health insurance to an in-network facility under certain circumstances; prescribing procedures for determining the amount that an insurer is required to pay a provider of health care which is out-of-network for certain medically necessary emergency services provided to an insured; requiring the reporting of certain information related to that process; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective May 15, 2019, for the purpose of adopting any regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and on January 1, 2020, for all other purposes.

 

• AB472: Revises provisions relating to insurance coverage of maternity care. (BDR 57-812) AN ACT relating to insurance; prohibiting an insurer from denying certain coverage for maternity care because the insured acts as a gestational carrier; deeming a child carried by a gestational carrier to be the child of the intended parent for certain purposes; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Successful Senate Bills Related to Behavioral Health

• SB13: Authorizes the board of county commissioners of a county to form a nonprofit corporation to aid the county in providing certain governmental services (BDR 20-483). AN ACT relating to counties; authorizing the board of county commissioners of a county to form a nonprofit corporation to aid the county in providing certain services during an emergency; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective October 1, 2019.
  

 

• SB37: Revises provisions relating to the regulation of marriage and family therapists and clinical professional counselors (BDR 54-250). AN ACT relating to professions; revising the scope of the practice of clinical professional counseling and the practice of marriage and family therapy; revising the expiration date of certain licenses issued by the Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors; revising the prorating of certain fees for certain licenses issued by the Board; revising provisions relating to the issuance of a license by endorsement; revising provisions governing the fees the Board is authorized to charge; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Sections 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 to 15, inclusive, effective June 6, 2019 for the purpose of adopting regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative tasks that are necessary to carry out those provisions, and on July 1, 2019, for all other purposes. Section 6 effective on January 1, 2020.
  

 

• SB62: Revises provisions relating to manufacturers and wholesale dealers of tobacco products (BDR 32-424). AN ACT relating to tobacco products; revising the information that manufacturers of tobacco products are required to indicate in certain certifications submitted to the Department of Taxation and the Attorney General; requiring styles of cigarettes to be included in the directory of cigarette brand families maintained by the Department; revising provisions governing notice of additions to or removals from that directory; providing penalties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective October 1, 2019.

 

• SB81: Revises various provisions relating to tobacco products. (BDR 32-190). AN ACT relating to tobacco products; revising provisions governing the licensing of persons engaged in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of tobacco products; requiring wholesale dealers of other tobacco products to keep on hand at all times a certain inventory of other tobacco products; establishing procedures to claim a refund for any amount, penalty or interest erroneously paid in connection with taxes on tobacco products; revising provisions governing the possession, transfer and sale of cigarettes and the reports filed by wholesale dealers of cigarettes; revising provisions governing revenue stamps; requiring manufacturers and retail dealers of cigarettes to maintain certain information on file with the Department of Taxation; revising requirements for wholesale dealers of cigarettes and distributors to report certain information to the Department; revising civil penalties imposed for certain violations of law governing tobacco products; revising provisions governing the imposition and payment of the tax on other tobacco products; revising requirements for wholesale dealers and retail dealers of other tobacco products to retain certain records; revising provisions governing changes to the directory of cigarette manufacturers and brand families maintained by the Department; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Sections 1 to 28, inclusive, 30 to 73, inclusive, 74 to 82, inclusive, subsection 1 of section 83, and section 84 effective May 23, 2019. Section 29 and subsection 2 of section 83 effective 180 days after passage and approval of this act. Sections 73.3, 73.7 and 82.5 of this act become effective: May 23, 2019 for the purpose of adopting regulations and performing other preparatory administrative tasks necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and January 1, 2020, for all other purposes.

 

• SB94: Revises provisions governing the Account for Family Planning (BDR 40-446). AN ACT relating to family planning; revising provisions governing the Account for Family Planning; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• SB178: Creates the Council on Food Security and the Food for People, Not Landfills Program (BDR 18-57). AN ACT relating to public health; creating the Council on Food Security within the Department of Health and Human Services; prescribing the membership and duties of the Council; creating the Food for People, Not Landfills Program; authorizing the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt regulations to carry out the Program; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• SB204: Revises provisions relating to the mental health of pupils (BDR 34-551).AN ACT relating to mental health; requiring a policy for the prevention of suicide to be adopted for each public and private school in this State; requiring certain plans and outreach to address the needs of pupils who are at a high risk of suicide; requiring the Department of Education to adopt a model policy for responding to suicides; requiring a plan for response to a crisis, emergency or suicide at a school to include certain provisions related to suicide response and intervention; requiring all pupils and school staff to receive training in the prevention of suicide; requiring a course in health to include instruction concerning mental health; revising the contents of certain suicide prevention training provided to certain law enforcement agencies; authorizing the denial or revocation of a license to operate a private school for failure to adopt such a policy; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Sections 1 to 9, inclusive, 14, 15 and 16 effective on July 1, 2019. Sections 10 to 13, inclusive, effective on July 1, 2021.
  

 

• SB209: Revises provisions relating to hemp (BDR 49-584). AN ACT relating to hemp; replacing the term “industrial hemp” with the term “hemp” and revising the definition thereof; requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt regulations requiring the testing and labeling of certain commodities and products made using hemp and certain similar products which are intended for human consumption; prohibiting a person from selling or offering to sell such commodities or products unless the commodities or products satisfy certain standards relating to testing and labeling; authorizing the retesting of a crop of hemp that has failed certain tests prescribed by the State Department of Agriculture; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Sections 5 to 8, inclusive, 10 to 13, inclusive, and 14 to 18, inclusive, effective on July 1, 2019. Section 13.5 of this act becomes effective June 5, 2019 for the purpose of adopting regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of that section; and on July 1, 2020, for all other purposes.

 

• SB270: Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and administer the Nevada Housing Crisis Response System (BDR 38-792). AN ACT relating to public welfare; requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and administer the Nevada Housing Crisis Response System; requiring the Nevada Housing Crisis Response System to provide certain services to persons who are transient, at imminent risk of homelessness or homeless; authorizing the Director of the Department to solicit and accept money to carry out the Nevada Housing Crisis Response System; requiring the Department to submit an annual report to the Legislature concerning activities and services to prevent homelessness in this State; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• SB276: Directs the Legislative Commission to appoint a committee to conduct an interim study concerning the costs of prescription drugs (BDR 57-599). AN ACT relating to prescription drugs; directing the Legislative Commission to appoint a committee to conduct an interim study concerning the costs of prescription drugs in this State; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019

 

• SB295: Creates the Nevada National Guard Youth Challenge Program. (BDR 34-566). AN ACT relating to education; creating the Nevada National Guard Youth Challenge Program; setting forth the requirements for the operation of the Program; requiring the Office of the Military to enter into an agreement with the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the board of trustees of a school district to establish a challenge school; setting forth certain requirements for the operation of a challenge school; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.
  

 

• SB 302: Revises provisions relating to personal information collected by governmental agencies. (BDR 52-547). AN ACT relating to privacy; requiring a governmental agency to comply, to the extent practicable, with certain standards with respect to the collection, dissemination and maintenance of records containing personal information of a resident of this State; prohibiting the Legislative Auditor from including certain information in the report of an audit; requiring the Legislative Auditor to report certain information concerning the security of the information system of an agency of the State under certain circumstances; authorizing a governmental agency to require a person to submit a record containing personal information by electronic means; requiring certain state agencies to remove data from certain electronic waste; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Sections 1.5 and 7 effective June 5, 2019. Sections 1, 1.1, 1.3, 2, 2.7, 3, 5 and 6 effective on January 1, 2021.

 

• SB 346: Revises provisions related to marijuana (BDR 40-1065). AN ACT relating to marijuana; authorizing an independent contractor to enter into a contract with a marijuana establishment or medical marijuana establishment to provide certain training; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective January 2, 2020.

 

• SB347: Revises provisions relating to hemp (BDR 49-976). AN ACT relating to hemp; revising provisions relating to the growth, handling and production of hemp; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• SB430: Expanding the definition of “chronic or debilitating medical condition” for certain purposes related to the medical use of marijuana (BDR 40-1152). AN ACT relating to marijuana; expanding the definition of “chronic or debilitating medical condition” for certain purposes relating to the medical use of marijuana; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• SB465: Revises provisions relating to redevelopment areas (BDR 22-1159). AN ACT relating to redevelopment; revising provisions governing the amount of the proceeds of certain taxes levied in a redevelopment area that must be allocated to the redevelopment agency and used for certain purposes related to redevelopment; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Effective July 1, 2019.

 

• SB481: Revises provisions relating to health insurance (BDR 57-788). AN ACT relating to health insurance; establishing requirements for obtaining a certificate of authority for self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements; establishing requirements for short-term limited duration medical plan cancellation and rescission; allowing certain consumers to purchase individual health insurance policies outside the rating area where they reside; revising provisions relating to health benefit plans that are not purchased on the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Sections 1 to 5, inclusive and section 13 effective July 1, 2019. Sections 6 to 10, inclusive, of this act become effective on July 1, 2019, for the purposes of adopting regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, and on January 1, 2020, for all other purposes. Section 12 of this act becomes effective on July 1, 2019, for the purposes of adopting regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, and on January 1, 2021, for all other purpose
  

 

• SB482: Revises provisions relating to health insurance (BDR 57-531).AN ACT relating to health insurance; authorizing the Commissioner of Insurance to enter into certain types of interstate compacts; authorizing the Commissioner to allow reciprocal licensure with certain states; authorizing the Commissioner to apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for a certain waiver; removing certain waiting period requirements for health benefit plans for individuals not purchased on the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Sections 1 to 55, inclusive, 58, 59, 60 and 61 effective May 29, 2019. Sections 56 and 57 effective October 1, 2019.

 

• SB458: This bill makes an appropriation for allocation to nonprofit organizations to provide programs for the creation and maintenance of school gardens for certain Title I schools.

 

• SCR6: Directs the Sunset Subcommittee of the Legislative Commission to conduct an interim study concerning professional and occupational licensing boards (BDR R-520). Directing the Sunset Subcommittee of the Legislative Commission to conduct an interim study concerning professional and occupational licensing boards. Effective June 2, 2019.

Pending Legislation Related to Behavioral Health

June 15 Deadline

Bills Enrolled and Delivered to the Governor as of June 10, 2019

• AB19: Revises provisions related to certain temporary and extended orders for protection (BDR 3-417). The bill provides that an extended order for protection against domestic violence and an extended order for protection against stalking, aggravated stalking, or harassment expire after not more than 5 years. The penalty for intentionally violating such an extended order is increased.  Revises provisions related to certain temporary and extended orders for protection. (BDR 3-417). AN ACT relating to orders for protection; revising provisions relating to service of process of temporary and extended orders for protection against domestic violence; increasing the duration that certain temporary and extended orders for protection remain effective; increasing the penalty for certain violations of temporary and extended orders for protection against domestic violence; renaming the Repository for Information Concerning Orders for Protection Against Domestic Violence to the Repository for Information Concerning Orders for Protection; requiring the Repository for Information Concerning Orders for Protection to include certain information and other records relating to orders for protection against a person alleged to have committed the crime of sexual assault, orders for protection against stalking, aggravated stalking or harassment and orders for protection against domestic violence; providing penalties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 6, 2019.

 

• AB224: This bill revises provisions governing the NV Grow Program; appropriates $425,000 to the Nevada System of Higher Education to enable the College of Southern Nevada to assist and carry out the NV Grow Program (BDR S-28).  AN ACT relating to economic development; revising provisions governing the NV Grow Program; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 6, 2019.

 

• AB326: Provides for tax credits for certain business entities that invest in certain fresh food retailers located in underserved communities and similar areas. (BDR 18-318). AN ACT relating to economic development; providing for tax credits for certain business entities that invest in certain fresh food retailers located in underserved communities and similar areas; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 6, 2019.

 

• AB414: Makes an appropriation to provide grants to assist senior citizens and certain other persons with independent living. (BDR S-101). AN ACT making an appropriation to provide grants to provide respite care or relief of informal caretakers to assist senior citizens and certain other persons with independent living; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 6, 2019.

 

• AB 489: Revises provisions relating to grants (BDR 18-1109). AN ACT relating to grants; revising the powers of the Administrator of the Office of Grant Procurement, Coordination and Management of the Department of Administration; establishing a fund to provide money for matching federal and nongovernmental organization grants; authorizing this State to seek and obtain federal and nongovernmental organization money for certain community projects; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

• AB495: This bill makes a $2m appropriation to the Nevada Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Inc. to be used for programs provided by the Alliance throughout the State and to Nevada Partners to be used for the construction and operation of a community learning center. It also makes a $1.8m appropriation to Nevada Partners to be used for the construction and operation of a community learning center. Makes appropriations to certain nonprofit organizations in the State. (BDR S-1118). AN ACT making appropriations to the Nevada Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Inc. to be used for programs provided by the Alliance throughout the State and to Nevada Partners to be used for the construction and operation of a community learning center; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 6, 2019.

 

• AB 533: Revises provisions relating to cannabis. (BDR 60-1217). AN ACT relating to cannabis; creating the Cannabis Advisory Commission; prescribing the membership and duties of the Commission; creating the Cannabis Compliance Board; prescribing the membership and duties of the Board; transferring the authority to license and regulate persons and establishments engaged in certain activities relating to cannabis from the Department of Taxation to the Board; repealing, reenacting, revising and reorganizing certain provisions related to cannabis; establishing requirements relating to the delivery of cannabis and cannabis products to a consumer; revising provisions relating to inventory control systems; prohibiting a local government from licensing a business that allows consumption of cannabis on its premises; requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt regulations relating to certain commodities or products made using industrial hemp and certain similar products; providing penalties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.   Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 6, 2019.

 

• SB90: Makes various changes relating to the health of children (BDR 40-448).  AN ACT relating to the health of children; revising requirements relating to the testing of children for lead; establishing the Diapering Resources Account and providing for the distribution of money from the Account to provide diapers and diapering supplies to low-income families; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 6, 2019.
  

 

• SB263: Revises provisions relating to the regulation and taxation of certain vapor products, alternative nicotine products and tobacco products (BDR 32-700). AN ACT relating to public health; requiring that certain vapor products and alternative nicotine products be taxed and regulated as other tobacco products; revising provisions related to the areas in which smoking is prohibited; revising provisions pertaining to the sale or distribution of cigarettes, cigarette paper, tobacco, products made or derived from tobacco, vapor products and alternative nicotine products to persons under the age of 18 years; providing penalties; making appropriations; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on Jun 02, 2019.

 

• SB366: Establishes provisions relating to dental therapy. (BDR 54-661). AN ACT relating to dental care; establishing the profession of dental therapy governed by the Board of Dental Examiners of Nevada; revising provisions relating to dentistry and dental hygiene; providing penalties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 7, 2019.

 

• SB378: Revises provisions relating to prescription drugs (BDR 18-574). AN ACT relating to prescription drugs; revising provisions concerning coverage of prescription drugs under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program; revising provisions governing restrictions imposed on the list of preferred prescription drugs to be used for the Medicaid program; revising the criteria for selecting prescription drugs for inclusion on the list; replacing the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee with the Silver State Scripts Board; authorizing certain public and nonprofit insurers to use the preferred prescription drug list for Medicaid as their formulary; revising provisions governing the duties of pharmacy benefit managers; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on Jun 03, 2019.

 

• SB425: Requires the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services to amend the State Plan for Medicaid to provide certain additional home and community-based services (BDR 38-919). AN ACT relating to public welfare; requiring the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services to amend the State Plan for Medicaid to provide certain additional home and community-based services; requiring the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy of the Department to provide tenancy support services to the extent authorized by federal law; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 6, 2019.

 

• SB458: Makes an appropriation for the creation and maintenance of school gardens for certain Title I schools. (BDR S-580). AN ACT making an appropriation for allocation to nonprofit organizations to provide programs for the creation and maintenance of school gardens for certain Title I schools; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 7, 2019.

 

• SB544: This bill establishes the Patient Protection Commission, one of Governor Sisolak’s priorities. It will undertake a holistic review of the state’s health care system. Creates the Patient Protection Commission (BDR 40-1221). AN ACT relating to health care; creating the Patient Protection Commission; providing for the appointment of certain employees of the Commission; prescribing the duties of the Commission; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Enrolled and delivered to Governor on June 6, 2019.

Nevada Behavioral Health Assembly Bills that Failed

• AB32: This will would have authorized nonprofits and government agencies to establish workforce development programs through GOED.

 

• AB47: (Rural Regional Behavioral Health Policy Board) This bill would have stablished a pilot program to address behavioral health crisis response needs in certain rural counties.

 

• AB157: This bill would have required the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a statewide plan for the delivery of services to victims of human trafficking and Nevada’s Department of Education and the State Board of Education to develop and distribute certain informational material relating to the human trafficking of children.

 

• AB191: This bill would have made a $2m appropriation to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants of money for the purpose of providing Mobile Outreach Safety Team services to persons in a behavioral or mental health crisis.

 

• AB340: Administration of opioid antagonists in schools, this bill would have authorized health care professionals, who can prescribe, to issue an order for opioid antagonists to a public or private school for the treatment of an opioid-related drug overdose that may be experienced by any person at the school.

 

• AB358: This bill would have created the Tomorrow’s Doctors Program, an education loan forgiveness program for certain health care professionals who practice in rural areas.

 

• AB544: This bill would have raised the minimum age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 (w/ military exemption).

Nevada Behavioral Health Related Senate Bills that Failed

• SB205: This bill would have required the Administrator of the Office of Grant Procurement, Coordination and Management to create a pilot program to award grants of money to provide matching funds to certain governmental and nonprofit organizations that demonstrated financial need for assistance.

 

• SB238: This bill sought to require several industry changes aimed to make Nevada the gold standard for regulating the industry. Most of the provisions were amended into AB533 except for the public information campaign. This bill would have created a Responsible Use of Marijuana Public Education Committee which would have been responsible for the developing and carrying out, in collaboration with a marketing or advertising agency, a public information campaign relating to the responsible use of marijuana;

 

• SB266: This bill would have required the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish the Mental Health First Aid Program, to the extent that money is available, to provide training concerning the identification and assistance of people who have a mental illness or substance use disorder or who may be experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis. The bill outlined training requirements and DPBH’s duties with regard to the Program and required an annual report to the Legislature.

 

• SB283: This bill would have expanded the scope of the existing Prescription Monitoring Program. Specifically it would have revised statutory language related to the list of preferred prescription drugs used by the Medicaid Program and give the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) more flexibility in developing Medicaid’s list of preferred prescription drugs.

 

• SB344: Family planning services and Community Health Workers. The bill would have required Medicaid to provide reimbursement rates for family planning services at family planning clinics that are greater than or equal to the rates currently paid for such services or 105% of the rates of reimbursement under the current Medicare fee schedule. SB344 (First Reprint): Would have increased access to LARCs & to pay for Community Health Workers. The bill would have allowed community health centers and FQHCs to use grant money to pay for birth control devices (think IUDs and other LARCs) for Medicaid patients (so they wouldn’t be losing so much money on each patient).  It would have prohibited charging a co-pay for Medicaid.  It would have also allowed Medicaid to start paying for Community Health Workers.

 

• SB361: This bill would have expanded access to birth control by allowing for self-administered contraceptives to be dispensed by a pharmacist.

 

• SB484: This bill would have required a provision in the State Plan for Medicaid that authorized reimbursement under Medicaid for the services of a chiropractor.

Resources for Detailed Information the Results of the 2019 Legislative Session

Bill Tracking Records

The Nevada Legislature website provides all Nevadans with access to NELIS, the Nevada Electronic Information System. For detailed histories of every bill and resolution introduced throughout the 2019 legislative session, including those highlighted above, see https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bills/List.

NELIS provides users with a brief summary of the measure and the number of the bill draft request. Then, in chronological order, the measure’s legislative history is traced up to the date of the history’s publication. There are also detailed records of the text of the proposed legislation, any amendments, votes, fiscal notes, meetings or exhibits related to the particular bill, including the final text of any bill signed into law.

Organizational Reports Submitted to the Nevada Legislature from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019

The Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB) compiled a list of reports that provide detailed information on the performance of state agencies and organizations which constituents can access via The Legislative Council Bureauwebsite.  For a complte list of reports and links to the documents, see https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Library/Documents/ReportsToLeg/2017-2019/LegislativeReports.pdf

What is the Legislative Council Bureau (LCB)?

Per the Nevada Legislature,

“Legislative service agencies were created to free legislators from dependence upon the executive branch of state government and lobbyists for information and assistance. With service agencies, a legislator is not dependent upon a lobbyist or a governor to draft a bill, research data, or provide information about other states with similar problems. The more professional and expert the service agency staff, the less legislators need to depend on sources of support that may be biased.

Many states, including Nevada, use the basic legislative council pattern providing for a body composed of legislators from each house and from each party empowered to function during the interim between sessions. Powers and responsibilities vary among the states, but basically councils carry out functions assigned by the full legislatures. These functions range from simple administrative duties to extensive power of legislative oversight, policy research, and emergency appropriations.

Although many states maintain separate staff for each house in addition to partisan staff, the Legislative Counsel Bureau is a nonpartisan centralized agency serving both houses and members of all political parties.

In March of 1945, the Nevada Legislature recognized a need for more information and assistance in order to deal with increasingly complex tasks as described in the preamble to the bill creating the Legislative Counsel Bureau:

At each biennial session of the legislature, that body is confronted by requests for legislation expanding and changing the functions of and increasing the appropriations of numerous offices, departments, institutions, and agencies of the state government; and . . . not withstanding the information provided by the messages and budgets of the governor and the reports of public officers, it is impossible for the legislature or its committees to secure sufficient information to act advisedly on such requests in the time limited for its sessions.

The 1945 law establishing the bureau charged it with assisting the Legislature to find facts concerning government, proposed legislation, and various other public matters.

During the next several years, the duties of the bureau and its staff were modified and expanded. In 1963, the Nevada Legislature reorganized the Legislative Counsel Bureau, giving it structure and responsibilities similar to those it has today. One part of this change was the incorporation of the Statute Revision Commission into the Legislative Counsel Bureau as the Legal Division. The Statute Revision Commission was originally created by the Supreme Court in 1951 and became involved in bill drafting as an adjunct to its statute revision work. The 1963 legislation also added a Fiscal and Auditing Division and a Research Division” (Nevada Legislature, The People’s Branch of Government, The Legislative Counsel Bureau, 2010)

Get Involved!

To get involved with behavioral health promotion, prevention, and intervention efforts in your community, or to learn more about how behavioral health policy impacts your local community and the state of Nevada, see the following resources.

Behavioral Health Coalitions and Regional Behavioral Health Coordinators for Nevada

Northern Nevada Behavioral Health Coalition
https://nevadacertboard.org/nnbhc/

Valerie Cauhape, MA, MPH
Rural Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator
The Family Support Center
vcauhape@thefamilysupportcenter.org

Dorothy Edwards
Behavioral Health Program Coordinator
Washoe County Human Services Agency
DAEdwards@washoecounty.us

Jessica Flood, MSW
Northern Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator
Nevada Rural Hospital Partners
jessica@nrhp.org

Ariana Saunders
Regional Behavioral Health Coordinator, Southern Nevada
ariana.saunders@clarkcountynv.gov 

Prevention Coalitions

Carson City
Partnership Carson City (PCC)
https://www.pcccarson.org/

Churchill
Churchill Community Coalition (CCC)
http://www.churchillcoalition.com/

Clark
Prevention, Advocacy, Choices, Teamwork (PACT) Coalition
http://drugfreelasvegas.org/

Douglas
Partnership Douglas County
https://www.pdcnv.org/

Elko
Partners Allied for Community Excellence (PACE) Coalition
https://www.pacecoalition.org/

Esmeralda
NyE Communities Coalition
https://nyecc.org/

Eureka
Partners Allied for Community Excellence (PACE) Coalition
https://www.pacecoalition.org/

Humboldt
Frontier Community Coalition (FCC) of Humboldt County – Humboldt County Coalition
http://www.frontiercommunity.net/humboldt-county-coalition.html

Lander
Frontier Community Coalition (FCC) of Lander County – Lander County Coalition
http://www.frontiercommunity.net/lander-county-coalition.html

Lincoln
NyE Communities Coalition
https://nyecc.org/

Lyon
Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties
https://healthycomm.org/

Mineral
Healthy Communities Coalition (HCC)
https://mineralcommunityhospital.com/organizer/healthy-communicite-coalition-2/ 

Nye
NyE Communities Coalition
https://nyecc.org/

Pershing
Frontier Community Coalition (FCC) of Pershing County – Pershing County Coalition
http://www.frontiercommunity.net/pershing-county-coalition.html

Storey
Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties
https://healthycomm.org/

Washoe
Join Together Northern Nevada (JTNN)
http://jtnn.org/

White Pine
Partners Allied for Community Excellence (PACE) Coalition
https://www.pacecoalition.org/

The Nevada Tobacco Prevention Coalition
(Statewide opportunities)
http://www.tobaccofreenv.org/

References

Nevada Legislature website
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/

KUNR Ongoing Coverage: 2019 Nevada Legislative Session
https://www.kunr.org/topic/ongoing-coverage-2019-nevada-legislative-session#stream/0

Nevada Statewide Coalition Partnership
http://healthiernv.org/