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Bill to create bachelor-level behavioral health practitioners and internships wins committee support
Summary
Senate Bill 165 would create a new behavioral health and wellness practitioner career ladder, fund NSHE degree programs and establish accredited psychology internships to retain graduates in Nevada. Proponents said it fills workforce gaps in child behavioral care; one neutral speaker raised logistical questions.
Senator Rochelle Wynne (Senate District 3) and supporters presented Senate Bill 165 to create a new behavioral‑health workforce pathway focused on children's mental health. The bill establishes a bachelor's‑level Behavioral Health and Wellness Practitioner degree track across Nevada System of Higher Education campuses (UNLV, UNR, Great Basin), creates a licensing pathway for the new practitioners, and funds accredited psychology internship positions to retain doctoral interns within Nevada.
Proponents described the program as “prevention‑oriented” workforce development: residency‑style placements embedded in schools and community organizations, plus a psychology internship (analogous to medical residencies) so graduates can stay in state rather than leave for accredited internships elsewhere. Tara Raines, a practitioner who helped study models in Oregon, testified the approach allows earlier intervention and is backed by international and U.S. examples showing reduced later severe mental‑health needs when upstream services are available.
The sponsor said initial funding could come from existing provider‑fee (hospital provider tax) mechanisms and qualifying opioid‑settlement funds, noting the bill does not mandate private‑insurer coverage but creates Medicaid pathways and higher‑education appropriations. UNLV and other NSHE representatives said they are shovel‑ready to stand up accredited internships and clinical training sites if funding is in place; UNLV reported prior state support to launch a doctoral specialization in child and adolescent psychology and said 2026 cohort targets are feasible.
Supporters included the Nevada System of Higher Education, UNLV practice, Desert Research Institute affiliates, family and patient advocates, children's mental‑health consortium members and adoption/foster advocates. Testimony in neutral included a retired teacher who asked whether curriculum changes were needed.
Work session: Committee members voted to do pass SB 165 in the committee’s work session. The motion passed by voice vote and the chair assigned the floor statement (see actions).
