Committee hears bill to create separate regulatory chapter for in-home personal care agencies

Assembly Bill 519, which would create a separate chapter of the Nevada Revised Statutes to govern nonmedical in-home personal care services, was presented to the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services on May 1, 2025.

Chair Tracy Brown May called forward students and presenters and then turned presentation time over to presenters working with the bill. Isabella Anderson, a legislative intern, summarized the bill's intent: to move personal care agencies (PCAs), intermediary service organizations (ISOs) and employment agencies out of chapter 449 of the NRS (medical facilities and facilities for the dependent) into a new statutory chapter tailored to nonmedical, in-home personal care providers. Anderson said the bill does not change substantive licensing requirements but would rehouse statutory language and create a chapter-specific Nevada Administrative Code to replace regulatory cross-references.

Connie McMullen, representing the Personal Care Association of Nevada (PCAN), told the committee PCAN supports a separate chapter because PCAs supply nonmedical assistance in homes rather than facility-based skilled care. "Personal care attendants provide nonmedical activities of daily living services, not skilled care," McMullen said, and she asked the committee to retain current substantive regulations while moving them into a new chapter better matched to home-based service delivery.

Dylan Shaver, representing Maxim Healthcare, described private duty nursing and raised the related policy idea of authorized paid family caregivers: "In some cases it makes sense for the caretaker to be a member of the family," he said, and requested that sponsors consider language to permit and regulate paid family caregivers in appropriate cases. Shaver asked for an amendment to add limited language late in the bill to allow for planning on paid family care while preserving professional standards.

On remote testimony, Margarita Chavez Sanchez, Southwest Regional Director for Consumer Direct Care Network, supported AB 519 and said 13 states have dedicated statutes for consumer-directed services. "This mismatch leads to unnecessary burdens and expensive compliance, taking resources away from direct client care," she said.

Committee chair and staff clarified that AB 519 would not change existing license validity, prior disciplinary actions, or training records; the bill includes provisions to carry forward training and licensing, require Social Security numbers for certain applicants, and provide alternate procedures for applicants without Social Security numbers. The bill also requires surety bonds and criminal-background checks for ISOs and carries forward related regulatory language while directing the Division to adopt new NAC provisions in alignment with the new chapter.

Provenance (selected evidence from the transcript): "My name is Isabella Anderson. I'm here to talk about Assembly Bill 519, which creates a separate chapter of the Nevada Revised Statutes governing certain agencies and organizations that provide nonmedical services." (presentation) "PCAN favors the creation of a new chapter but with retention of the very exact regulations that exist in chapter 449." (Connie McMullen) "Sometimes it just makes sense that that caregiver be a member of the family ... keep that family whole." (Dylan Shaver, Maxim Healthcare)

Ending: The committee took no formal vote during the presentation; public comment on AB 519 was limited and included support from Consumer Direct Care Network. Sponsors indicated they would consider requested language changes and potential amendments and proceed to the formal work session or subsequent hearing as appropriate.