EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Section 1. Chapter 422 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

1-2 a new section to read as follows:

1-3 1. There is hereby created in the state treasury the public assistance

1-4 fund, to be administered by the welfare division. All money received for

1-5 the use of the fund pursuant to NRS 120A.370 or from any other source

1-6 must be deposited in the fund. The welfare division may accept gifts and

1-7 grants for deposit in the fund.

1-8 2. The interest and income earned on the money in the fund, after

1-9 deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the fund. All

1-10 claims against the fund must be paid as other claims against this state

1-11 are paid.

1-12 3. The money in the fund may be used only to:

2-1 (a) Pay necessary administrative costs of the welfare division or a

2-2 charitable organization or agency that receives money from the fund

2-3 pursuant to subsection 5, but not more than 2 percent of the money in the

2-4 fund may be expended each year for such administrative costs; and

2-5 (b) Assist eligible persons in emergency situations to pay for the cost

2-6 of housing, temporary shelter, health care services, utilities, food and

2-7 clothing, and the cost of child care services incurred to allow eligible

2-8 person to work.

2-9 4. To be eligible for assistance from the fund, a person must have a

2-10 monthly household income that is at or below 150 percent of the

2-11 federally designated level signifying poverty.

2-12 5. The welfare division may transfer money from the fund to a

2-13 charitable organization or agency that provides assistance to persons in

2-14 need of assistance in this state. The welfare division shall specify the uses

2-15 for the money in accordance with subsection 3. An organization or

2-16 agency that receives money pursuant to this subsection shall use the

2-17 money only for the purposes specified by the welfare division.

2-18 6. The welfare division shall not disburse more than 30 percent of all

2-19 money in the fund during a calendar quarter. An eligible person may not

2-20 receive more than $200 each year from the fund, unless the welfare

2-21 division determines that extenuating circumstances exist.

2-22 7. The administrator shall adopt regulations to carry out the

2-23 provisions of this section.

2-24 8. As used in this section "emergency situation" means a substantial

2-25 loss or reduction of income, a substantial increase in necessary expenses,

2-26 an emergency related to health care, a household receiving no income or

2-27 any other situation determined to be an emergency by the welfare

2-28 division.

2-29 Sec. 2. NRS 422.222 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-30 422.222 1. The administrator may adopt such regulations as are

2-34 adoption or such other date as the administrator specifies in the regulation.

2-35 Sec. 3. NRS 422.240 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-36 422.240 Except as otherwise provided in section 1 of this act:

2-42 [.] ; and

3-1 2. Disbursements for the purposes of NRS 422.070 to 422.410,

3-2 inclusive, must be made upon claims duly filed, audited and allowed in the

3-3 same manner as other money in the state treasury is disbursed.

3-4 Sec. 4. NRS 422.29312 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-5 422.29312 1. [Any] Except as otherwise provided in section 1 of

3-13 paid.

3-14 Sec. 5. NRS 120A.370 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-15 120A.370 1. There is hereby created in the state treasury the

3-43 remaining balance in the abandoned property trust fund must be

4-1 deposited with the state treasurer for credit to the state general fund but

4-2 remains subject to the valid claims of holders pursuant to NRS 120A.340

4-3 or owners pursuant to NRS 120A.380.

4-4 6. If there is an insufficient amount of money in the abandoned

4-5 property trust fund to pay any cost or charge pursuant to subsection 4, the

4-6 state board of examiners may, upon the application of the administrator,

4-7 authorize a temporary transfer from the state general fund or the public

4-8 assistance fund established pursuant to section 1 of this act to the

4-9 abandoned property trust fund of an amount necessary to pay those costs or

4-10 charges. The administrator shall repay the amount of the transfer as soon as

4-11 sufficient money is available in the abandoned property trust fund.

4-12 Sec. 6. NRS 232.320 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-13 232.320 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the

4-43 department and the allocation of that funding;

5-1 (5) Set forth sufficient information to assist the department in

5-2 providing those services and in the planning and budgeting for the future

5-3 provision of those services; and

5-4 (6) Contain any other information necessary for the department to

5-5 communicate effectively with the Federal Government concerning

5-6 demographic trends, formulas for the distribution of federal money and

5-7 any need for the modification of programs administered by the department.

5-8 (d) May, by regulation, require nonprofit organizations and state and

5-9 local governmental agencies to provide information to him regarding the

5-10 programs of those organizations and agencies, excluding detailed

5-11 information relating to their budgets and payrolls, which he deems

5-12 necessary for his performance of the duties imposed upon him pursuant to

5-13 this section.

5-14 (e) Has such other powers and duties as are provided by law.

5-15 2. The governor shall appoint the administrator of the mental hygiene

5-16 and mental retardation division.

5-17 Sec. 7. 1. This section and sections 1 and 5 of this act become

5-18 effective on July 1, 1999.

5-19 2. Sections 2, 3, 4 and 6 of this act become effective at 12:01 a.m. on

5-20 July 1, 1999.