[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,76,87],{"_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",6580797,"mediaKeyId","3140061-dfa9082644ea625e324e63c4c7e7a369","parentId",3140061,"title","Bill would require language assistance in health-care facilities and bar children from serving as interpreters","audioSeconds",1471,"startMs",1005000,"endMs",2476000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3140061-dfa9082644ea625e324e63c4c7e7a369&start=1005&end=2476","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3140061-dfa9082644ea625e324e63c4c7e7a369/thumbnail_1005000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580797/Nevada/Bill-would-require-language-assistance-in-health-care-facilities-and-bar-children-from-serving-as-interpreters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580797-e6273b894c51b94eab13a1f3abd02e74/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103162&Signature=BhvbJIeeUky5UoKIXrbf~3f1OMjOd9-iXXIIlp4IJrgpvIOuStpLXZipMkK2YFrluMUxeOQ5nVu8g8nq~jueqWwGLLFphKgT1cm8whpO3v6go5oqpn2-eqnk~NU3fGc~xmIdkZOGY~yLUwcbMzpR3DJntEPWrIKTWfyr7nRnZyRoouCjkwRQ6FBgeI5Wnr~DKF3LX77FTjFyIhjNSFCQRQIv12uhN~05vs9CYgl34E3ydeOegMAF4Veh1LSx7pZy6XCWFlC7Yb3xoFb~30AhCYvBjc5jJ3FFxK2oKMpCSmZCxwPttQPqsAR1kJ-luEIVBIrRcgMekhcTIOc6--RSPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada Legislature","date","2025-04-28T21:46:50.32Z","article","Senate Bill 188, presented to the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services, would require certain health-care facilities and providers to take \"reasonable steps to provide a person with limited English proficiency with language assistance under certain circumstances,\" and would prohibit children from acting as interpreters except in narrowly defined emergency circumstances.

The measure’s sponsor, Senator Fabian Donati, told the committee the bill is intended to codify protections already found in federal law. \"This is codifying what the Affordable Care Act requires federally,\" Donati said, adding a personal example: \"I was the one that had to translate for my father when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.\" He said children lack the experience to convey medical nuance and that professional interpreters preserve tone and detail.

The bill text mirrors Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act by addressing language access for persons with limited English proficiency and by prescribing requirements governing use of interpreters and translators. Leticia Delgado, introduced by the sponsor as an intern from UNLV, summarized the bill’s provisions: \"It requires certain healthcare facilities and providers of healthcare to take reasonable steps to to provide a person with limited English proficiency with language assistance under certain circumstances.\" Delgado emphasized national trends and the gap between Nevada’s diversity and the representation in its health-care workforce.

Committee members asked how compliance would be determined. On who decides whether an interpreter \"is qualified,\" the sponsor’s team said the health facility would make that determination and that the bill was written to be flexible to accommodate technological solutions such as remote interpreting services and live transcription. \"We wanted the law to be as flexible as possible because technology is changing,\" a member of the sponsor’s team said.

Testimony from health-care and community witnesses largely supported the bill. Retired community health nurse Lorraine Oliver said the bill’s protections for children were \"very, very strong\" and urged sensitivity to cultural needs in implementation. Bridget Choi, a nursing student and Korean community organizer, recounted taking her grandmother to an imaging center and said \"children should never be placed in the position of translating complex medical information,\" noting the growth of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Nevada.

Representatives of the Nevada State Medical Association and the City of Henderson testified in neutral or supportive tones and thanked the sponsor for clarifying that the bill targets facility-based services and not emergency medical services (EMS). The Nevada State Medical Association noted a friendly amendment offered during the hearing to remove or modify language that would label violations as \"unprofessional conduct,\" and the sponsor indicated willingness to accept that change. Legal counsel from the Legislative Counsel Bureau confirmed that state and federal authorities could each take enforcement actions if both provided for penalties.

The committee heard no formal vote during this hearing. The sponsor closed the bill’s hearing after testimony and reserved closing comments.

If enacted, SB 188 would add state-level enforceability and clearer expectations for Nevada providers about language access at health-care facilities; the bill’s text still provides flexibility for technology-assisted interpreting and for limited exceptions in emergency situations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/28/2025 - Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 188, presented to the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services, would require certain health-care facilities and providers to take \"reasonable steps to provide a person with limited English proficiency with language assistance under certain circumstances,\" and would prohibit children from acting as interpreters except in narrowly defined emergency circumstances.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NV, Nevada","taxId",78440,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580790,"SB 24 adds \"emergency medical responder\" to Nevada statute to match national standards, sponsors say",0,4885000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3140061-dfa9082644ea625e324e63c4c7e7a369&start=4885&end=4885","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3140061-dfa9082644ea625e324e63c4c7e7a369/thumbnail_4885000.jpg","/articles/6580790/Nevada/SB-24-adds-emergency-medical-responder-to-Nevada-statute-to-match-national-standards-sponsors-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580790-95f82d614330a1f4928e5eb6b2487562/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103162&Signature=IuoUJmyuJ5VmDA7aH~IcCxQ-Vyehj4mEqjhSRsuMECbLLk0PFKSFBf4Ot22utyqtZ1-5FfYyOJ62POr9GAWwpvvweTaeguEpYxwgGdMvvDx3vr7jY5uR0E~MrbSmVSNaY2cAMmrE0Fl1svugnsOEiNR5duh93gpTxvlVGCDuzLH-IzK~Fs6wTNYCNSIQLp00RX0kHTWZKzvCstQUrwWB0CvFUx8L-TlHDaFqQPy5o8U-QK4SX9YQDlpj~3NmDy4NquinJRJUUpbTJm~BKiEjmTYMb4z4aCZd-sqCCwM8fIaODCX7kIbsw1el-9UdhHheZO814qS11pvlheSSoCCphA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 24 would amend Nevada statutes to include the certification category \"emergency medical responder\" (EMR) as a recognized pre-hospital provider, aligning state law with national standards and clarifying statutory language changed by earlier legislation.

Bobbie Sullivan, program manager for the State Emergency Medical Services Program, described SB 24 as a cleanup bill: \"This is a clean up bill. It adds emergency medical responder as a recognized pre hospital provider into statutes which was previously called a first responder.\" Sullivan told the committee the state already recognizes EMR certification in regulation, but the statutory language had not been updated in all places; the bill would create statewide consistency and better support rural communities.

Supporters testified the change would help rural response capacity and veteran applicants. Andrew Lee Pilbitt of the United Veterans Legislative Council said the bill addressed impacts to NRS 417 (Department of Veterans Services) and expressed organizational support. Ryan Beeman, representing professional firefighters in Nevada, said the amended language helps rural volunteer recruitment and retention by permitting EMR certification pathways with reduced training hours compared with higher-level EMT certification. Fred Wagner, Southern Nevada chair for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, supported the bill and noted provisions requiring collection and reporting of data about veterans seeking EMR certification.

The hearing on SB 24 was brief; presenters and multiple organizations testified in support. There was no recorded opposition at the hearing and no committee vote during the session. The sponsor closed with a request that the committee consider the efficiency and statewide standardization gains from the statute update.

If enacted, SB 24 would align statutory language with current certification nomenclature and is intended to remove regulatory inconsistency that can complicate rural emergency staffing and training.","Senate Bill 24 would update Nevada statutes to recognize \"emergency medical responder\" as a pre-hospital provider (term replaced earlier nationally for \"first responder\"); sponsors and veterans, firefighters and rural stakeholders testified in support, saying the change clarifies statutes and helps rural emergency coverage.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580795,"Bill would cap permanency caseworker caseloads at 30 in Nevada, with phased implementation",2829,2373000,5202000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3140061-dfa9082644ea625e324e63c4c7e7a369&start=2373&end=5202","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3140061-dfa9082644ea625e324e63c4c7e7a369/thumbnail_2373000.jpg","/articles/6580795/Nevada/Bill-would-cap-permanency-caseworker-caseloads-at-30-in-Nevada-with-phased-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580795-65ab538740a6b407956de80a2488b15e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771103162&Signature=DJINQufHEl77YfFRVa7DH~rYPXm9lMJdIo1z-A3XhUiUpTfVyBr-q4ilXcEQQ2Xep2APYKYSfeFQ28sNRfXxjQbc1oCKIbVJC~a88LPLZWujlvyg51q0vpvbO-x2~8PV6gH4JVBle0MvELN-wil9ID6nJuhuVKZIhGwj8taGT1ptLqvwR9Q5xNRqQBvAhOFr97tqvQpjGetAmuPVfDTgO4lJTRaKH~fbmd9qt8W0vNJAhi3LgWe8yJ369ZTmDycVK9tuwa8~XH2UFIbjlcNs7pQb85Tq68EcCXHaTcv8B5695ev~rWGFXCwoSb1tJM3G7Wc9pAp33fKCH20N40NEOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 183 would amend Nevada law to limit the number of children in custody assigned to a single permanency caseworker to 30, with specific exceptions for sibling groups and short-term emergency circumstances. The measure was presented to the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services and drew extensive testimony from foster parents, current and former caseworkers, advocacy organizations and labor unions.

Senator Melanie Scheibel, sponsor of the bill, and her intern Soraya Bonner described the bill’s core provision: amending NRS 432.02 to prohibit an agency that provides child welfare services from assigning more than 30 children in custody to a single caseworker providing permanency services. The bill explicitly excludes investigation caseloads and allows agencies to assign sibling groups together even if that causes a worker’s total number of children to exceed 30; it also permits temporary exceedance for emergency circumstances limited to 30 days. Scheibel told the committee the full implementation date is 07/01/2026 to allow agencies time to prepare and avoid unnecessary reassignment of children to new workers.

Multiple witnesses with front-line experience urged passage. Rhonda Martinez, a former Clark County Family Services caseworker and current foster parent, described overloaded workers and said high caseloads lead to rushed contacts, minimal communication and errors that affect children’s safety. \"When caseworkers are stretched too thin, human error is increased and in turn leads to failures in the true safety of children and cares,\" Martinez said. Heather Richardson, who spent 16 years with Clark County Family Services, called the situation a \"crisis of safety,\" cited national recommendations of 12–15 children per worker, and urged the committee to adopt 30 as an attainable statewide cap. \"Reducing caseloads is not just common sense. It is lifesaving legislation that will ensure the safety and success of our children,\" Richardson said.

Testimony included labor and advocacy groups. SEIU and other unions noted turnover and recruitment costs: presenters said turnover can cost an agency roughly 70% to 200% of an employee’s annual salary and cited caseworker survival rates from recent local training cohorts. Child-advocacy groups and foster-parent coalitions said manageable caseloads improve permanency outcomes, reduce placement disruptions and increase timely access to services.

Counties and supervisors described current operational pressures. Sponsors cited Clark County figures discussed at the hearing — roughly 3,000 children in care and about 100 permanency caseworkers (a 30:1 ratio), while state-level staff and Washoe County were described as already being under the proposed 30:1 cap. The bill includes an emergency exception and implementation delay to allow hiring and operational adjustments.

No formal committee vote was recorded at the hearing. The bill’s supporters asked the committee to move SB 183 forward; the record includes multiple offers of data from the sponsor and participants to the committee for follow-up.","Senate Bill 183 would amend NRS to limit permanency caseworker caseloads to 30 children, allow sibling-group and short emergency exceptions, and delay full implementation until July 1, 2026; multiple foster-care advocates and current and former caseworkers testified in support at the Assembly committee hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would require language assistance in health-care facilities and bar children from serving as interpreters

SB 24 adds "emergency medical responder" to Nevada statute to match national standards, sponsors say

Bill would cap permanency caseworker caseloads at 30 in Nevada, with phased implementation