Senate Bill No. 135–Senators Care, Amodei, Wiener,
Titus, Carlton and Jacobsen

February 14, 2001

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Joint Sponsor: Assemblyman Neighbors

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Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

SUMMARY—Makes various changes concerning veterans’ homes. (BDR 37‑1032)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State: Yes.

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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).

AN ACT relating to veterans’ homes; making various changes concerning the veterans’ home account and the gift account for veterans’ homes; requiring the appointment of an administrator of veterans’ homes in this state and establishing his qualifications; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. NRS 417.010 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 417.010 As used in this chapter:

1-3 1. “Administrator” means the administrator of veterans’ homes in

1-4 this state.

1-5 2. “Deputy executive director” means the deputy executive director for

1-6 veterans’ services.

1-7 [2.] 3. “Executive director” means the executive director for veterans’

1-8 services.

1-9 Sec. 2. NRS 417.145 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-10 417.145 1. The veterans’ home account is hereby established in the

1-11 state general fund.

1-12 2. Money received [by the executive director or the deputy executive

1-13 director] from:

1-14 (a) Payments by the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans who

1-15 receive care in a veterans’ home;

1-16 (b) Other payments for medical care and services;

1-17 (c) Appropriations made by the legislature for veterans’ homes; and

2-1 (d) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, gifts of money and

2-2 proceeds derived from the sale of gifts of personal property [he is

2-3 authorized to accept] for the use of veterans’ homes, if the use of such gifts

2-4 has not been restricted by the donor,

2-5 must be deposited with the state treasurer for credit to the veterans’ home

2-6 account.

2-7 3. Interest and income must not be computed on the money in the

2-8 veterans’ home account.

2-9 4. The veterans’ home account must be administered by the [executive

2-10 director,] administrator, with the advice of the [deputy] executive director

2-11 , [and the Nevada veterans’ services commission,] and the money

2-12 deposited in the veterans’ home account may only be expended for:

2-13 (a) The operation of veterans’ homes;

2-14 (b) A program or service related to a veterans’ home;

2-15 (c) The solicitation of other sources of money to fund a veterans’ home;

2-16 and

2-17 (d) The purpose of informing the public about issues concerning the

2-18 establishment and uses of a veterans’ home.

2-19 5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, gifts of personal

2-20 property [which the executive director or the deputy executive director is

2-21 authorized to receive] for the use of veterans’ homes:

2-22 (a) May be sold or exchanged if the sale or exchange is approved by the

2-23 state board of examiners; or

2-24 (b) May be used in kind if the gifts are not appropriate for conversion to

2-25 money.

2-26 6. All money in the veterans’ home account must be paid out on claims

2-27 approved by the [executive director] administrator as other claims against

2-28 the state are paid.

2-29 7. The gift account for veterans’ homes is hereby established in the

2-30 state general fund. [The executive director or the deputy executive director

2-31 shall use gifts] Gifts of money or personal property [that he is authorized to

2-32 accept and] which the donor has restricted to one or more uses at a

2-33 veterans’ home [,] must be used only in the manner designated by the

2-34 donor. Gifts of money [that the executive director or deputy executive

2-35 director is authorized to accept and] which the donor has restricted to one

2-36 or more uses at a veterans’ home must be deposited with the state treasurer

2-37 for credit to the gift account for veterans’ homes. Money deposited with

2-38 the state treasurer for credit to the gift account for veterans’ homes

2-39 pursuant to NRS 482.3764 may be expended only in the manner specified

2-40 in subsection 4 for money in the veterans’ home account. The interest and

2-41 income earned on the money in the gift account for veterans’ homes, after

2-42 deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the gift account for

2-43 veterans’ homes. Any money remaining in the gift account for veterans’

2-44 homes at the end of each fiscal year does not lapse to the state general

2-45 fund, but must be carried forward into the next fiscal year.

2-46 Sec. 3. NRS 417.147 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-47 417.147 1. The executive director shall:

2-48 (a) Appoint an administrator of veterans’ homes in this state. The

2-49 administrator must be licensed as a nursing facility administrator

3-1 pursuant to NRS 654.170 or have an application for such licensure

3-2 pending with the Nevada state board of examiners for administrators of

3-3 facilities for long-term care pursuant to NRS 654.150.

3-4 (b) Take such other actions as are necessary for the maintenance and

3-5 operation of veterans’ homes in this state . [; and

3-6 (b)] (c) Apply for federal grants and other sources of money available

3-7 for establishing veterans’ homes. Federal grants and other money received

3-8 pursuant to this paragraph must be deposited with the state treasurer for

3-9 credit to the veterans’ home account. A federal grant must be used only as

3-10 permitted by the terms of the grant.

3-11 2. The first veterans’ home that is established in this state must be

3-12 established at a location in southern Nevada determined to be appropriate

3-13 by the interim finance committee. The interim finance committee shall give

3-14 preference to a site that is zoned appropriately for the establishment of a

3-15 veterans’ home, that affords minimum costs of maintenance and that is

3-16 located in an area where the members of the families of the veterans can

3-17 easily visit the veterans’ home. The site for the construction of the

3-18 veterans’ home in southern Nevada must be:

3-19 (a) Located in reasonable proximity to:

3-20 (1) A public transportation system;

3-21 (2) Shopping centers; and

3-22 (3) A major hospital that has a center for the treatment of trauma

3-23 which is designated as a level II center by the administrator of the health

3-24 division of the department of human resources.

3-25 (b) Not less than 5 acres in area.

3-26 3. If an additional veterans’ home is authorized, it must be established

3-27 in northern Nevada.

3-28 Sec. 4. NRS 482.3764 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-29 482.3764 1. Before the department issues to any person, pursuant to

3-30 NRS 482.3763:

3-31 (a) An initial set of special license plates, it shall:

3-32 (1) Collect a special fee for a veterans’ home in the amount of $25;

3-33 and

3-34 (2) Affix a decal to each plate if requested by an applicant who meets

3-35 the requirements set forth in NRS 482.37635.

3-36 (b) An annual renewal sticker, it shall:

3-37 (1) Collect a special fee for a veterans’ home in the amount of $20;

3-38 and

3-39 (2) Affix a decal to each plate if requested by an applicant who meets

3-40 the requirements set forth in NRS 482.37635.

3-41 2. The department shall deposit any money collected pursuant to this

3-42 section with the state treasurer for credit to the [veterans’ home account.]

3-43 gift account for veterans’ homes.

3-44 Sec. 5. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

3-45 H