Senate hears bill to place federal discharge-upgrade resources in Nevada veteran centers to aid LGBTQ and other veterans

Senate Bill 117 would require the director of the Nevada Department of Veterans Services to develop a program of training and informational materials about the process for applying for upgrades to the character of a veterans discharge or changes to the narrative reason for discharge, and to make that program available to agencies and veteran resource centers across the state.

Sponsor Shelley Cruz Crawford, presenting SB 117, said the proposal packages existing federal materials about discharge upgrades and posts them in approximately 20 veteran resource centers in Nevada so veterans and veteran-service staff can access information and assistance. "This bill is, I was told never to say this, a pretty simple bill that takes already federally created, dont ask, dont tell material ... and posting it in all of our veteran resource centers in the state of Nevada," she said.

The nut graf: supporters said the bill would expand access to federal avenues of redress for veterans discharged under policies such as "dont ask, dont tell," who may be eligible to seek upgrades to restore benefits tied to discharge status.

Madeline Kreger, who presented the bill framework, told the committee the materials include steps, email addresses and web links to federal resources and that the state program would not itself change federal discharge records. Senator Cruz Crawford clarified: "This is not the state changing the status; this is a connection to federal resources. So, state VA centers ... would post the federal resources to connect them to changing their status."

Former State Senator and veteran Pat Spearman gave emotional testimony describing service and how DADT-era discharges harmed service members and families; she urged the committee to "look favorably on this bill and pass it." Several veterans and veteran organizations voiced support: Jessica Munger of Silver State Equality, Wesley Harper of the City of North Las Vegas, Andrew Lee Pilbitt of the United Veterans Legislative Council, Matthew DiFalco for the Nevada Veterans Caucus, and callers including Levi Schultz and Evelyn Pacheco urged passage and noted gaps in outreach that the bill seeks to close. Pilbitt told senators the state TAP (Transition Assistance Program) statute was created to help returning service members and that added, statewide resources help veterans who were discharged in other states and did not receive information about discharge upgrade procedures.

One caller identified as Cyrus Hojjatty said he remained opposed and voiced general objections; the committee recorded no additional opposition testimony in person. Committee members asked practical questions about implementation: senators asked where veterans would go for help, whether the materials are federal, and whether state personnel would be changing records; presenters repeatedly emphasized the program is intended to connect veterans with federal procedures and with attorneys and advocates who have assisted veterans seeking upgrades.

Committee members did not vote on SB 117 at the hearing. The chair closed the public record after testimony and the bill remained at the committee hearing stage.