(Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 21, 2025)
FIRST REPRINT A.B. 321
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ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 321–ASSEMBLYMEMBERS JACKSON, D’SILVA,
GONZÁLEZ, O’NEILL; DALIA, NADEEM, ORENTLICHER AND ROTH
FEBRUARY 27, 2025
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Referred to Committee on Judiciary
SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to offenders.
(BDR 16-1015)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact.
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.
AN ACT relating to offenders; authorizing the Director of the
Department of Corrections to establish a transitional
housing program for certain offenders to develop skills
and training relating to forestry management and
conservation; requiring the State Forester Firewarden to
establish a hiring program to appoint certain former
offenders to firefighting positions; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Under existing law, the Director of the Department of Corrections is authorized 1
to enter into one or more contracts with one or more public or private entities to 2
provide certain services to offenders, including transitional housing. (NRS 3
209.4889) Section 4.5 of this bill authorizes the Director to establish, in 4
coordination with the Division of Forestry of the State Department of Conservation 5
and Natural Resources, a transitional housing program for certain offenders who 6
are not more than 18 months from eligibility for parole to receive training in 7
forestry management and conservation. 8
Under existing law, the State Forester Firewarden, in cooperation with the 9
Department of Corrections, is required to establish and carry out a program for 10
operating conservation camps in this State which may use offenders who meet 11
certain requirements to perform certain work, including firefighting. (NRS 12
209.457) Section 5 of this bill requires the State Forester Firewarden to establish a 13
hiring program to appoint former offenders who performed firefighting work in 14
such conservation camps to firefighting positions in the Division of Forestry of the 15
State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 16
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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. (Deleted by amendment.) 1
Sec. 2. (Deleted by amendment.) 2
Sec. 3. (Deleted by amendment.) 3
Sec. 4. (Deleted by amendment.) 4
Sec. 4.5. Chapter 209 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 5
thereto a new section to read as follows: 6
The Director may establish, in coordination with the Division 7
of Forestry of the State Department of Conservation and Natural 8
Resources, a transitional housing program for offenders who are: 9
1. Not more than 18 months from eligibility for parole to 10
receive training in forestry management and conservation; and 11
2. Committed to the custody of the Department and eligible 12
for assignment to an institution or facility of minimum security 13
pursuant to the provisions of NRS 209.481. 14
Sec. 5. Chapter 472 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 15
thereto a new section to read as follows: 16
1. The State Forester Firewarden shall establish a hiring 17
program to provide a pathway to hire for firefighting positions 18
within this State. Under the hiring program, the State Forester 19
Firewarden may appoint a person to fill a position in the classified 20
service as a firefighter with the Division of Forestry of the State 21
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources if the person: 22
(a) Was a former offender assigned to work in a program for 23
operating conservation camps established pursuant to NRS 24
209.457 and performed work relating to firefighting; 25
(b) Successfully completed the training necessary to prepare 26
the offenders assigned to the conservation camp to assist in 27
firefighting pursuant to NRS 209.457; 28
(c) Has obtained any certifications required for employment as 29
a firefighter with the Division of Forestry; and 30
(d) Meets any other qualifications established by the State 31
Forester Firewarden. 32
2. The State Forester Firewarden may adopt regulations to 33
carry out the provisions of this section. 34
Sec. 6. (Deleted by amendment.) 35
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