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Senate Finance hears bill to create community-based rehabilitative group homes for adults and young adults
Summary
Lawmakers and advocates discussed Assembly Bill 514, which would create a new licensed provider type for community-based rehabilitative residential mental health care and carries a phased general‑fund cost in the 2025–27 biennium; supporters say it responds to a Department of Justice ruling.
Assembly Bill 514 would establish a temporary model of group‑home, community‑based rehabilitative residential mental health care for young adults and adults, supporters told the Senate Finance Committee on June 1.
The measure, introduced to the committee by Assemblymember Tracy Brown and presented by Stacey Weeks of the Medicaid Division, would create a new license type for providers serving a vulnerable population. "There'll be a new license type for this facility," Weeks said, adding the change stems from the population's needs and the requirement for stricter licensing.
The bill is intended in part to help the state comply with a Department of Justice ruling, Assemblymember Tracy Brown said. Weeks provided an early fiscal estimate during the hearing: "The general fund impact ... from 2025 to 2026, the general fund impact is 30,800," she said, and reported larger projected general‑fund figures in later years, noting federal match would be available for many services. Weeks summarized projected general‑fund impacts across the biennium, as presented to the committee.
Supporters included Sarah Adler of NAMI Nevada, who testified, "We are 100% in support of this bill." No callers registered opposition or neutral testimony during the hearing.
The bill had earlier policy and financial hearings in the Assembly and was described to the committee as a straightforward model intended to develop community‑based residential rehabilitative mental health services. The committee took no formal vote during the hearing.
If advanced, the bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services and the Medicaid Division to implement the new licensing and to pursue either a state plan amendment or waiver to secure federal match, steps Weeks said would drive significant implementation activity in the first year.
Supporters and staff emphasized the licensing change and federal funding strategy, and senators asked clarifying questions about costs and the licensing approach. The committee closed the hearing on AB 514 without recorded action and moved on to the next agenda item.
