[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6609742,"mediaKeyId","2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e","parentId",2906692,"title","Bill would let Nevada school employees bargain over dependent coverage; supporters say it could help retain teachers","audioSeconds",688,"startMs",6532000,"endMs",7220000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e&start=6532&end=7220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e/thumbnail_6532000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6609742/Nevada/Bill-would-let-Nevada-school-employees-bargain-over-dependent-coverage-supporters-say-it-could-help-retain-teachers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609742-e55b8f8e3445043610c6dfff3adfc83d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079486&Signature=UIva1aCuges3vrS-LfIUTW2f7Aqyj7Th~~-Ac6WYwL3ZyX9VnisShJIwBeZhED7J3pNF6npg7T1HvBvfGP6Js~18sw~4-20CkQb~iRGRiaVrcs~LKWmkJEUvKYNFiZgmvm8Gq2Gb6QjR2omgqQUjWYJuCC8755LRukpmwrc1ykx~wSaQx6ax~QeMr~xIQ8P9yZWPuqx~qjzzpSsYS1JysbTjo0jCtVCKBCdX4cCQFx8xH1H6e0M-tMofI4F0U0cH0-Y-5H4WXJ2CPPXBRKXTu6rVteZ5R32iifVrgrmSOFJtXt0IH7oo9jq0rcQ0qF-LchmsYmmmzZTN0I-AYyjb9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada State Legislature","date","2025-04-09T01:49:14.48Z","article","At a Senate Committee on Health and Human Services hearing, Tom Zumtobel, CEO of the Teachers Health Trust, presented Senate Bill 410 to clarify that “insurance benefits” for public employees include dependent coverage and therefore may be a subject of mandatory collective bargaining. That change would permit unions and school districts to negotiate contributions for dependent premiums rather than leave those contributions off the bargaining table.

Why it matters: Presenters said rising dependent-premium costs create a recruitment and retention problem, particularly for educators who are more often women and may be sole providers for their households. Zumtobel and multiple Clark County educators described examples in which family premiums consumed a substantial portion of monthly pay: one educator described paying $768 a month, another said she paid $766 monthly for two children. The testimony stressed that the bill does not mandate that a district pay dependent premiums, just that the topic be negotiable.

Supporters: Marie Neises, president of the Clark County Education Association, said SB 410 would allow bargaining teams to address dependent-premium inequities and help retain educators. Jessica Jones, a Clark County teacher and union officer, described having to switch to a high-deductible plan and the monthly trade-offs she faced as a single parent.

Opposition and concerns: School district representatives and the Nevada Association of School Superintendents said the subject is sensitive because it could add another bargaining item during a period of fiscal uncertainty; they asked for more time to study the effect on district budgets. Clark County School District officials noted current practice is to provide employee coverage and offer employees the option to purchase dependent coverage; they said negotiators and districts would need clarity on expectations and fiscal impacts.

Committee action: The committee did not record a final committee vote on SB 410 during the hearing. Members asked procedural questions about whether the bill merely clarifies negotiability (supporters) and whether adding additional bargaining subjects could produce unintended fiscal expectations (concerns from superintendents).

Closing: Supporters urged the committee to allow the topic to be negotiated to reduce out-of-pocket cost burdens that can push educators out of the profession; opponents urged caution and suggested more targeted amendments or delayed consideration while district finances remain uncertain.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/8/2025 - Senate Committee on Health and Human Services","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 410 would clarify that \"insurance benefits\" in mandatory collective bargaining includes benefits for dependents, allowing public-employee unions and employers to negotiate contributions for dependent premiums.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NV, Nevada","taxId",78440,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6609745,"Proposal would create ongoing state funding for local public health using insurance premium tax",1526,4474000,6000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e&start=4474&end=6000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e/thumbnail_4474000.jpg","/articles/6609745/Nevada/Proposal-would-create-ongoing-state-funding-for-local-public-health-using-insurance-premium-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609745-ba45f1aa201f0af7e67cb44244cacc2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079486&Signature=XFbzee9PogCGo1c2VN7et1PSt8Wkw0dPR6aNcPYdx0LfWGCqM0LKqUQiEmBc8zb4ecTQAU2mi5t5DAtzt6qv1I6zS-JMDrk3wxtSUjiKWGn7p~8Y95HY-iYzheDco6xfBj9hMX1RIxpJdAarjxBn3R~G49epQc82dDgTiRSwgh9xXe5Ug6p42CycdZiytugmxfUhPbUWZ9uHM2e6irRfCEcjJ2B0~CNJdOg3pF9sH2W1CleVgEU-KrrxRTibI61JbITBHLWI0QBmo2jLD~bv5F1OK98CgyfgTQVQWTHbjXNKW9wc9e~lHN2Dsq-YRZ99x20szLLycwl9OskR5-pBzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amy Heinz Sutherland, health and human services manager for the Nevada Association of Counties, presented Senate Bill 423 to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services as a follow-up to the 2023 investment in public health (SB 118). The bill would create an account for ongoing, flexible funding dedicated to foundational public health services and proposes a funding allocation model that combines a base amount per county with dedicated tribal and state allocations.

Why it matters: Local public health authorities told NACO that federal categorical grants that funded critical services have been cut or terminated and that Nevada faces a “funding cliff.” Presenters cited an estimated near-$100 million loss in federal grants: approximately $75 million in epidemiology and laboratory capacity (ELC) funds, $11 million in immunization program funds and $10 million in SAMHSA funds. Those cuts, presenters said, have led to staff layoffs and program suspensions.

The amendment presented at the hearing proposes a smaller, phased state investment than earlier interim proposals: $4,925,000 to start with delayed implementation to 2027 to allow planning. Under the proposed allocation model each county would receive a base allocation (the amendment describes a per-county base), with additional pooled funds for tribal authorities and for statewide public-health functions that only the state can deliver. Funding would be restricted to foundational public health services (FPHS) — communicable disease control, chronic disease and injury prevention, environmental public health, maternal/child and family health, and access/linkage to clinical care — and would be administered by the division of public and behavioral health with reporting and oversight.

Local health districts and county public-health leaders described how SB 118 dollars were used: examples included expanded disease surveillance, youth vaping prevention, lab capacity, mosquito abatement, transportation for seniors, and telehealth and IT investments in rural districts. Northern Nevada Public Health, Southern Nevada Health District and smaller rural districts testified about current operational needs and the fragility created by recent federal grant reductions.

Funding source and precedent: The sponsor and presenters proposed the insurance premium tax (IPT) as the revenue source, noting that the IPT is a major and growing revenue source for the state (a 3.5 percent tax on insurance premiums) and has been used for other statutory allocations. Program advocates argued the IPT is a sustainable and logical choice to support public health infrastructure statewide.

Opposition and questions: Testimony in opposition was limited. Representatives of school superintendents later expressed concerns about adding bargaining subjects in another bill (SB 410) and overall district fiscal constraints, but no broad stakeholder opposition to SB 423 was recorded during the hearing.

Closing: Presenters urged the committee to support creating a predictable, flexible funding stream for FPHS to stabilize local public health infrastructure and preserve capacity to draw down federal funds in the future.","NACO and the Division of Public and Behavioral Health presented Senate Bill 423 to codify ongoing flexible funding for foundational public health services, proposing base allocations for counties, tribal and state allocations, and a request to use a portion of the insurance premium tax to create a sustainable revenue stream.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6609750,"Senate hearing spotlights $50 million proposal to fund Nevada 'centers of medical excellence'",5956,902000,6858000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e&start=902&end=6858","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e/thumbnail_902000.jpg","/articles/6609750/Nevada/Senate-hearing-spotlights-50-million-proposal-to-fund-Nevada-centers-of-medical-excellence","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609750-ad9badacec530707b8c8e62ef90ac41b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079486&Signature=nacj~A3lUkbZI9Lp8Fh9HN~x8ay9y55qyaVBWTZPW49gRxhUfeYKcbYQ3MmGxqvhH223rxufI3tXJ1mKrMyf2-k~Brarq3aEQlcn6J2nXxE-tvMD-qarCZfCm~qbv76-7woCgV8q1n4colEoMAv-vIW~G3-Uu9q6xEF6-aStInzmZHE6Ep5DQxau8U72CLoKmmwK0QSZd9nT0wM9N8v4-dhohi-rvMgSXO6NZY67zonWOYUtHYTNHcvzxmatWDBsbS2Bl5p3psWNgRGsupTKpP9tXb~x9I8XvqDzVaNrZkB~Aco2SgfRW~EFIaxBTzxU4lNu6ACGXuTS-sJsCHZAIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, sponsor of Senate Bill 434, told the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services that the bill would create a statewide health care access and recruitment grant program to address shortages of specialized providers and to establish “centers of medical excellence.” The bill as presented would create an account funded initially with a $50 million general-fund appropriation and thereafter by diverting 0.5 percent of anticipated revenue otherwise deposited to the state rainy-day fund, subject to statutory triggers and caps.

Why it matters: Nevada has long documented shortages of specialty physicians and other health professionals across the state. Cannizzaro cited state data showing large shortfalls in many specialties and said the bill aims to fund targeted investments that would increase clinical capacity, expand graduate medical education and attract specialty practices that are currently unavailable in-state.

The bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to produce a statewide workforce assessment every two years to identify geographic and specialty shortages and to guide grant awards. Eligible applicants would include health care providers, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations; projects would need to address certified shortages, secure matching funds at least equal to the grant amount and demonstrate financial sustainability beyond the grant period. The department would review applications and make funding recommendations to the Interim Finance Committee for approval.

Supporters framed the bill as an attempt both to “grow our own” workforce and to create anchor institutions and partnerships. John Packham, associate dean for statewide initiatives at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, said modest growth in license counts has not kept pace with Nevada’s rapid population growth and aging workforce and called SB 434 a “grow your own” strategy. Packham quoted a proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today,” urging immediate action to expand training and fellowship capacity.

Medical and institutional supporters described concrete needs. Joseph Albernaz of City of Hope said many Nevadans must travel out of state for advanced cancer care, and that a funded program could attract institutions or partnerships that would increase access to treatments and clinical trials. Paul Dieter of Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada and representatives from hospitals and medical schools in Southern and Northern Nevada said the bill could support fellowships, residencies and specialty recruitment.

Cannizzaro and Packham emphasized accountability provisions: grants would include milestones, reporting, audits and the authority for DHHS to modify, suspend or terminate funding for projects that fail to meet requirements. The conceptual amendment offered at the hearing would also prevent the state controller from making a transfer into the new account if the rainy-day fund balance is less than $1,000,000 and would suspend additional transfers when the program account reaches $60,000,000; transfers would resume only if the account falls below $30,000,000.

No committee vote on SB 434 was recorded at the hearing; senators asked questions and dozens of health-care organizations testified in support, including City of Hope, Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, HCA Healthcare, Roseman University of Health Sciences, Touro University Nevada, the Nevada Primary Care Association and hospital systems. Several speakers urged emphasis on rural and underserved areas and prioritizing projects that demonstrate measurable increases in provider capacity.

Closing: Sponsors and proponents asked the committee to consider the policy merits of a targeted, oversight-driven grant program to address long-standing and specialty-specific workforce shortages rather than a general appropriation without accountability.","Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro presented Senate Bill 434 to create a statewide grant program to recruit and expand health care providers through competitive “centers of medical excellence,” proposing a $50 million initial appropriation and a funding mechanism using a portion of rainy-day transfers under guardrails set in statute.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6609732,"Panel advances bill to extend attorney-fee protection for mandated reporters in child-abuse cases",0,8250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e&start=8250&end=8250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e/thumbnail_8250000.jpg","/articles/6609732/Nevada/Panel-advances-bill-to-extend-attorney-fee-protection-for-mandated-reporters-in-child-abuse-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609732-47e439b0cdea436b44ebbcdf9b3d3c62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079486&Signature=kKk6tGRnXfLAA0CUO44RvwYTkckhL~juxcEsEJE-M35LBu8IeJXoVcuJcWVx0~trXLeJj5yGk05shzJ4r0wxtMZiLq58OXp4xHxJLNouC-kfRaARmoViO4772X5ooLHJYRz4jSg5OpHGaE-AeX40apTHfTxsO8USq4OXE4a7OW8pegkgnA05he~wmqLmRGzw0vgRR1lIIPpbaBqpu5Qxd-ZGnWKdiMRfGNqqmJaZDsOu7FmwOZ3yXrQ9A5LcFASa-jI6EGGXpbdhvsy4INTrTj7ZnWJFPQY2LB0it73iOv0-8CcjlA00JB8qzYqQ6WxPiPyrX7w6CfR2hGsq~WwZNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clark County District Attorney’s Office presented Senate Bill 409 to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, describing the measure as a targeted statutory change to encourage medical professionals and other mandated reporters to provide necessary medical opinions and information in child-abuse investigations.

Amity Latham, a child-welfare prosecutor in the Clark County DA’s Office, told the committee that the bill implements an additional protection found in the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) as amended in 2018. Nevada has long protected mandated reporters from liability and provided a presumption of good faith under NRS 432B.160; SB 409 would add a remedy allowing a prevailing mandated reporter to request reasonable attorney’s fees and costs in a civil action arising from a report or from providing information or assistance in good faith.

Latham said the lack of that fee-shifting protection has made some medical providers reluctant to offer expert opinions needed by child-protective services and prosecutors. The bill is limited in scope, she said, to mandated reporters and is intended to encourage medical professionals and others to participate fully in abuse investigations without heightened fear of protracted litigation costs.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and other supportive agencies offered brief testimony in favor. After the hearing, the committee took formal action on SB 409: Senator Lang moved to do pass the bill and Senator Stone seconded; the motion carried, and the committee assigned a floor statement to Senator Titus.

Closing: Proponents argued SB 409 would align state law with federal practice, remove a barrier to timely medical evaluation and protect professionals who make good-faith reports; no organized opposition testified in committee.","Clark County prosecutors and law-enforcement witnesses supported Senate Bill 409, which would add the right to recover attorney's fees and costs for mandated reporters who prevail in civil actions arising from good-faith reports of child abuse or neglect, aligning Nevada law with federal CAPTA protections.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6609737,"UMC seeks statutory clarity to operate crisis stabilization center, modernize residency language",838,7532000,8370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e&start=7532&end=8370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906692-c285fdcc0e6ac1a5e45e9f08f3596a4e/thumbnail_7532000.jpg","/articles/6609737/Nevada/UMC-seeks-statutory-clarity-to-operate-crisis-stabilization-center-modernize-residency-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6609737-289297f6328d348d1e0531be4d2101c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079486&Signature=Ps64Jf6t-WDKMpzoU2aD3vyYdKSnDETMR4ubwlDMVnsGb4NpvuSfsHMRdWAh5At9o0RWP3cmMD6MouZbnirWN18NDDFt8-t3s1GsKkhAePbH5xSUBzB2W2Pp4BANOCPdaXgDOkln0o7Q9ZHye8W1IP0Yi8FssHKwYEGIkdTZvVET~opUdw6xC9oTzlDBGSUN7qpINbZ2nJ5PNQ8loeFXJrvOf3cGiFUQRh48rsPtbEvGr9Ve9i5P-39FXCyahH22gRbVW6QtbfvgTwv6uvIOEKWgNxc81cYY6ANI77R0jEGI2eCc5ttie0Ii9JQv-E1G8~P8DPKAv8CAG8mwj554zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shana Tello, academic and external affairs administrator at University Medical Center, presented Senate Bill 408 to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. UMC described opening a 24/7 crisis stabilization center that would provide medical detox, counseling, intensive outpatient therapy and short-term stabilization to people experiencing a behavioral-health crisis and said the bill would clarify the hospital’s ability to offer these services through a separate organization or provider number where appropriate.

Tello said the center is intended to decompress the emergency department by matching patients to an appropriate level of care, providing medication and follow-up community resources. The bill also seeks to modernize statutory language that currently authorizes hospitals to employ “physicians, dentists and interns” by replacing “interns” with “residents and fellows” and by clarifying application to dental residency programs in a conceptual amendment offered at the hearing.

Blaine Osborne of Nevada Rural Hospital Partners and Joanna Jacob of Clark County testified in support, saying the change would give UMC operational flexibility and help the county coordinate services for people in crisis. No opposition was recorded during the hearing.

Closing: Sponsors asked the committee to adopt language clarifying UMC’s authority to deliver crisis stabilization services and to update residency-related statutory language to reflect current training nomenclature and practice.","University Medical Center asked the Senate Health Committee for statutory changes to permit a separate provider structure for a new 24/7 crisis stabilization center and to modernize language authorizing employment of \"interns\" to cover residents and fellows; the bill drew support from regional hospital partners and Clark County.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would let Nevada school employees bargain over dependent coverage; supporters say it could help retain teachers

Proposal would create ongoing state funding for local public health using insurance premium tax

Senate hearing spotlights $50 million proposal to fund Nevada 'centers of medical excellence'

Panel advances bill to extend attorney-fee protection for mandated reporters in child-abuse cases

UMC seeks statutory clarity to operate crisis stabilization center, modernize residency language