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Subcommittee funds regional center caseload growth, defers standardized-assessment hires and preserves provider rates
Summary
Legislative subcommittee approved partial funding to match updated caseload projections across Nevada's three regional centers, deferred approval of 17 new developmental specialist positions to implement standardized functional needs assessments, and approved service-rate funding to continue existing provider rates based on revised caseloads.
Lawmakers on the Nevada Legislature's Human Services Subcommittee approved adjusted funding and some new positions for developmental services across the three state regional centers, while deferring a planned personnel addition tied to standardized functional needs assessments.
Kimber Ellsworth, fiscal analyst for the Legislative Counsel Bureau, told members the executive budget originally proposed funding to add 111 positions across the three regional centers to meet projected caseload growth; updated March 2025 caseloads reduced that need to about 100 positions. The subcommittee approved an alternative motion that authorized 42 new positions and funding aligned with February 2025 actual caseloads while removing a rate increase factor from some caseload decision units.
On standardized functional needs assessments, the governor had recommended adding 17 developmental specialist positions (funded in FY 2027) to implement standardized functional assessments required under federal Medicaid waiver rules. During discussion members expressed concern about whether state staff were the right resource and asked the agency to explore contracting with community providers and Medicaid-eligible contractors. Senator Wynne moved to defer any recommendation on those 17 positions and to ask the agency to work with staff on alternatives; the subcommittee approved the deferral.
The subcommittee also considered provider rate funding. Fiscal staff summarized budget amendments and the updated caseload projections and presented adjusted costs. The committee approved an alternative motion to align service costs with February 2025 actual caseloads and to continue existing rates paid to providers for jobs, day training and residential supported living arrangements. That motion was approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: The decisions allocate significant resources across the state's developmental-services system while pausing a hiring plan tied to implementing a statewide assessment protocol. Maintaining existing provider rates and approving a subset of new positions seek to balance workforce pressures, federal compliance deadlines and the state's budget constraints.
The subcommittee authorized fiscal staff to make technical adjustments and directed the agency to evaluate alternatives for completing the standardized assessments without immediately creating 17 new state positions.
