A.B. 332 - *AB332* ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 332–ASSEMBLYMEMBER O’NEILL MARCH 3, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to industrial insurance. (BDR 53-325) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: Yes. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to industrial insurance; revising provisions relating to certain administrators employed by an association of self-insured employers; eliminating assessments relating to a subsequent injury account; prohibiting certain claims against a subsequent injury account; repealing certain provisions relating to the calculation of premium costs and certain audits; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law governs industrial insurers in this State that provide benefits to 1 employees who are injured in the course of employment. (Chapter 616B of NRS) 2 Existing law authorizes certain groups of public or private employers to act as an 3 association of self-insured employers if the group and each employer within the 4 group meet certain requirements. (NRS 616B.350-616B.446) Existing law requires 5 a board of trustees to operate any such association and to employ: (1) an 6 administrator of the association to carry out the policies of the board and perform 7 such duties as the board delegates; and (2) a third-party administrator to administer 8 the plan of insurance of the association. Existing law prohibits the administrator of 9 an association from performing any of the duties assigned to the third-party 10 administrator. (NRS 616B.365) Section 3 of this bill specifies that the administrator 11 of an association is prohibited from directly administering claims. Existing law also 12 prohibits the administrator of the association and the third-party administrator from 13 having a direct or indirect financial interest in each other. (NRS 616B.371) Section 14 4 of this bill removes the prohibition on the administrator of the association and the 15 third-party administrator having a financial interest in each other. Section 1 of this 16 bill revises a definition of the term “association’s administrator” to specify that the 17 responsibilities of the administrator of the association to carry out the daily 18 operations of the association are at the direction of the board of trustees. 19 – 2 – - *AB332* Existing law requires a third-party administrator for an association of self-20 insured employers to obtain a certificate as an administrator from the 21 Commissioner of Insurance and to file with the Commissioner a surety bond for 22 the benefit of any person damaged by any fraudulent act or conduct of the 23 administrator. (NRS 616B.503, 683A.08524, 683A.0857) Existing law also 24 requires the third-party administrator to file with the Commissioner an additional 25 surety bond conditioned upon the faithful performance of its duties relative to a 26 particular association of self-insured employers. Existing law requires the 27 administrator of the association to file a similar surety bond relative to the 28 association. (NRS 616B.353) Section 2 of this bill eliminates the requirement for 29 the third-party administrator to file an additional surety bond relative to its duties to 30 a particular association. Section 5 of this bill makes a conforming change to 31 remove the procedure for terminating liability on the bond eliminated by section 2. 32 Existing law establishes the Fund for Workers’ Compensation and Safety 33 within the State Treasury. (NRS 616A.425) Within the Fund, existing law creates a 34 Subsequent Injury Account for each of the following insurers: (1) self-insured 35 employers; (2) associations of self-insured public or private employers; and (3) 36 private carriers. (NRS 616B.554, 616B.575, 616B.584) Existing law requires that 37 money in the Accounts be used to provide compensation or reimbursement in 38 situations where an employee who has a preexisting permanent physical 39 impairment incurs a subsequent disability by injury arising out of and in the course 40 of employment which entitles the employee to compensation for the combined 41 disability that is substantially greater than that which would have resulted from the 42 subsequent injury alone. (NRS 616B.545-616B.590) Existing law requires a board 43 for administration or the Administrator of the Division of Industrial Relations of the 44 Department of Business and Industry to administer each Account. (NRS 616B.548, 45 616B.554, 616B.569, 616B.575, 616B.584) Existing law and regulations require 46 self-insured employers, associations of self-insured public or private employers and 47 private carriers to pay an annual assessment which funds the Accounts. (NRS 48 616B.554, 616B.575, 616B.584; chapter 616B of NAC) 49 Sections 6, 9 and 12 of this bill remove the authority to adopt regulations 50 which impose such assessments from each board for administration and the 51 Administrator of the Division, and section 16 of this bill voids the provisions of 52 existing regulations relating to such assessments, thus eliminating the requirement 53 for assessments to be paid for each Account. Sections 7, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 14 of 54 this bill require an employee to have incurred a subsequent injury and disability on 55 or before September 30, 2025, in order for the compensation or reimbursement 56 provisions to apply, thus prohibiting any claims against the Accounts due to a 57 subsequent injury and disability which is incurred on or after October 1, 2025. 58 For purposes of calculating the amount of a premium which is due pursuant to 59 the terms of a policy of industrial insurance, existing law provides that the 60 maximum amount paid to any one employee for services performed during the 12-61 month period during which a policy is effective shall be deemed to be $36,000. 62 (NRS 616B.222) Existing law also deems as $36,000 to be the maximum amount 63 paid in a policy year to an officer or manager of a quasi-public or private 64 corporation or limited-liability company who receives pay for services performed 65 as an officer, manager or employee of the corporation or company. (NRS 66 616B.624) Sections 15 and 18 of this bill eliminate the $36,000 maximum amount 67 of pay for employees for purposes of calculating the amount of a premium which is 68 due pursuant to the terms of a policy of industrial insurance. 69 Existing law requires the Administrator of the Division, at least every 5 years, 70 to audit all insurers who provide benefits to injured employees, including 71 associations of self-insured employers. (NRS 616A.270, 616B.003) Existing law 72 also requires the Commissioner of Insurance, at least annually, to audit each 73 association of self-insured employers to verify certain information. 74 – 3 – - *AB332* (NRS 616B.410) Section 18 repeals the requirement that the Commissioner 75 examine each association of self-insured employers annually. 76 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. NRS 616A.060 is hereby amended to read as 1 follows: 2 616A.060 “Association’s administrator” means a person who is 3 [employed] : 4 1. Employed by or has contracted with the board of trustees of 5 an association of self-insured public or private employers to carry 6 out the policies of the board of trustees ; and [to be] 7 2. At the direction of the board of trustees, responsible [for] to 8 carry out the daily [operation] operations of the association [.] , 9 including, without limitation, to meet the obligations of the 10 association pursuant to NRS 616B.362. 11 Sec. 2. NRS 616B.353 is hereby amended to read as follows: 12 616B.353 1. An association of self-insured public or private 13 employers shall: 14 (a) Execute an indemnity agreement jointly and severally 15 binding the association and each member of the association to 16 secure the payment of all compensation due pursuant to chapters 17 616A to 617, inclusive, of NRS. The indemnity agreement must be 18 in a form prescribed by the Commissioner. An association may add 19 provisions to the indemnity agreement if they are first approved by 20 the Commissioner. 21 (b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, maintain a 22 policy of specific and aggregate excess insurance in a form and 23 amount required by the Commissioner. The excess insurance must 24 be written by an insurer approved by the Commissioner. To 25 determine the amount of excess insurance required, the 26 Commissioner shall consider: 27 (1) The number of members in the association; 28 (2) If the association is an association of self-insured public 29 employers, the types of governmental services provided by the 30 members of the association; 31 (3) If the association is an association of self-insured private 32 employers, the classifications of employment of the members of the 33 association; 34 (4) The number of years the association has been in 35 existence; and 36 (5) Such other information as the Commissioner deems 37 necessary. 38 – 4 – - *AB332* Nothing in this paragraph prohibits an association from 1 purchasing secondary excess insurance in addition to the excess 2 insurance required by this paragraph. 3 (c) Collect an annual assessment from each member of the 4 association in an aggregate amount of at least $250,000 or in an 5 aggregate amount which the Commissioner determines is 6 satisfactory based on an annual review conducted by the 7 Commissioner of the actuarial solvency of the association. 8 (d) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (e), deposit as 9 security with the Commissioner a bond executed by the association 10 as principal, and by a licensed surety, payable to the State of 11 Nevada, and conditioned upon the payment of compensation for 12 injuries and occupational diseases to their employees. The bond 13 must be in an amount determined by the Commissioner to be 14 reasonably sufficient to ensure payment of such compensation, but 15 in no event may it be less than $100,000. 16 (e) In lieu of a bond, deposit with the Commissioner a like 17 amount of lawful money of the United States or any other form of 18 security authorized by NRS 100.065. If security is provided in the 19 form of a savings certificate, certificate of deposit or investment 20 certificate, the certificate must state that the amount is unavailable 21 for withdrawal except upon order of the Commissioner. 22 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, in addition to 23 complying with the requirements of subsection 1, an association of 24 self-insured private employers shall: 25 (a) At the time of initial qualification and until the association 26 has operated successfully as a qualified association of self-insured 27 private employers for 3 years, as determined by the Commissioner, 28 have a combined tangible net worth of all members in the 29 association of at least $2,500,000, as evidenced by a statement of 30 tangible net worth provided to the Division of Insurance of the 31 Department of Business and Industry by an independent certified 32 public accountant; or 33 (b) After 3 years of successful operation as a qualified 34 association of self-insured private employers, as determined by the 35 Commissioner, have combined net cash flows from operating 36 activities plus net cash flows from financing activities of all 37 members in the association of five times the average of claims paid 38 for each of the last 3 years or $7,500,000, whichever is less. 39 3. In lieu of complying with the requirements of subsection 2, 40 the association’s administrator shall ensure that a solvency bond, in 41 a form prescribed by the Commissioner and in an aggregate amount 42 of at least $2,500,000, is deposited with the Commissioner by the 43 association or members of the association on behalf of the 44 association. 45 – 5 – - *AB332* 4. The association’s administrator shall deposit with the 1 Commissioner a bond executed by the association’s administrator as 2 principal, and by a licensed surety, payable to the State of Nevada, 3 and conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or her duties. 4 The bond must be in an amount determined by the Commissioner. 5 5. [Any third-party administrator providing claims services for 6 the association shall deposit with the Commissioner a bond executed 7 by the third-party administrator as principal, and by a licensed 8 surety, payable to the State of Nevada, and conditioned upon the 9 faithful performance of its duties. The bond must be in an amount 10 determined by the Commissioner. 11 6.] The Commissioner may increase or decrease the amount of 12 any bond or money required to be deposited by this section in 13 accordance with chapter 681B of NRS and the Commissioner’s 14 regulations for loss reserves in casualty insurance. If the 15 Commissioner requires an association [,] or association’s 16 administrator [or third-party administrator] to increase its deposit, 17 the Commissioner may specify the form of the additional security. 18 The association [,] or association’s administrator [or third-party 19 administrator] shall comply with such a requirement within 60 days 20 after receiving notice from the Commissioner. 21 [7.] 6. The Account for Associations of Self-Insured Public and 22 Private Employers is hereby created in the State Agency Fund for 23 Bonds. All money received by the Commissioner pursuant to this 24 section must be deposited with the State Treasurer to the credit of 25 the Account. All claims against this Account must be paid as other 26 claims against the State are paid. 27 Sec. 3. NRS 616B.365 is hereby amended to read as follows: 28 616B.365 1. An association of self-insured public or private 29 employers must be operated by a board of trustees consisting of at 30 least five members whom the members of the association elect for 31 terms set forth in the bylaws of the association. If the association is 32 an association of self-insured: 33 (a) Public employers, the members of the board of trustees must 34 be officers or employees of the public employers who are members 35 of the association. 36 (b) Private employers, at least two-thirds of the members of the 37 board of trustees must be employees, officers or directors of the 38 members of the association. No association’s administrator or third-39 party administrator employed by the association, or any owner, 40 officer, employee or other person affiliated with the association’s 41 administrator or third-party administrator, may serve as a member of 42 the board of trustees. Each member of the board of trustees must be 43 a resident of this State or an officer of a corporation authorized to do 44 business in this State. 45 – 6 – - *AB332* 2. The board of trustees of an association shall: 1 (a) Ensure the prompt payment of any compensation due 2 pursuant to chapters 616A to 616D, inclusive, or chapter 617 of 3 NRS. 4 (b) Take such actions as are necessary to protect the assets of the 5 association. 6 (c) Employ full-time an association’s administrator to carry out 7 the policies of the board of trustees and perform such duties as the 8 board delegates to him or her. An association’s administrator shall 9 not directly administer claims or perform any of the other duties 10 assigned to a third-party administrator. 11 (d) Employ a third-party administrator to carry out the duties set 12 forth in NRS 616B.503. 13 (e) Employ an independent certified public accountant to 14 prepare the statement of financial condition required by 15 NRS 616B.404. 16 (f) Maintain minutes of its meetings and make the minutes 17 available for inspection by the Commissioner. 18 3. The board of trustees of an association shall not: 19 (a) Extend credit to any member of the association for the 20 payment of that member’s annual assessment, except pursuant to a 21 payment plan approved by the Commissioner. 22 (b) Borrow any money from the association or in the name of 23 the association, except in the ordinary course of its business, without 24 the prior approval of the Commissioner. 25 Sec. 4. NRS 616B.371 is hereby amended to read as follows: 26 616B.371 1. An association’s administrator [employed by an 27 association of self-insured public or private employers, or an 28 employee, officer or director of an association’s administrator, may 29 not be an employee, officer or director of a third-party administrator 30 employed by the association or] may have a direct or indirect 31 financial interest in the third-party administrator [of the] employed 32 by the board of trustees of an association [.] of self-insured public 33 or private employers. 34 2. [The third-party administrator of an association of self-35 insured public or private employers, or an employee, officer or 36 director of the third-party administrator, may not be an employee, 37 officer or director of an association’s administrator employed by the 38 association or have a direct or indirect financial interest in that 39 association’s administrator. 40 3.] Any contract entered into by an association of self-insured 41 public or private employers and a third-party administrator must 42 include a provision which states that, unless the Commissioner 43 otherwise provides, the third-party administrator shall administer 44 – 7 – - *AB332* any claim or other obligation of the association to its conclusion 1 during the period of the contract. 2 Sec. 5. NRS 616B.440 is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 616B.440 1. For the purposes of NRS 616B.350 to 4 616B.446, inclusive, an association of self-insured public or private 5 employers is insolvent if it is unable to pay its outstanding 6 obligations as they mature in the regular course of its business. 7 2. If an association of self-insured public or private employers 8 becomes insolvent, institutes any voluntary proceeding pursuant to 9 the Bankruptcy Act or is named in any voluntary proceeding 10 thereunder, makes a general or special assignment for the benefit of 11 creditors or fails to pay compensation pursuant to chapters 616A to 12 616D, inclusive, or chapter 617 of NRS after an order for the 13 payment of any claim becomes final, the Commissioner may, after 14 giving at least 10 days’ notice to the association and any insurer or 15 guarantor, use money or interest on securities, sell securities or 16 institute legal proceedings on surety bonds deposited with the 17 Commissioner pursuant to NRS 679B.175 to the extent necessary to 18 make those payments. 19 3. A licensed surety providing a surety bond pursuant to NRS 20 616B.353 may terminate liability on its surety bond by giving the 21 Commissioner and the association [,] or association’s administrator 22 [or third-party administrator] 90 days’ written notice. The 23 termination does not limit liability that was incurred under the 24 surety bond before the termination. 25 Sec. 6. NRS 616B.554 is hereby amended to read as follows: 26 616B.554 1. There is hereby created in the Fund for 27 Workers’ Compensation and Safety in the State Treasury the 28 Subsequent Injury Account for Self-Insured Employers, which may 29 be used only to make payments in accordance with the provisions of 30 NRS 616B.557 and 616B.560. The Board shall administer the 31 Account based upon recommendations made by the Administrator 32 pursuant to subsection [8.] 7. 33 2. All [assessments,] penalties, bonds, securities and all other 34 properties received, collected or acquired by the Board for the 35 Subsequent Injury Account for Self-Insured Employers must be 36 delivered to the custody of the State Treasurer. 37 3. All money and securities in the Account must be held by the 38 State Treasurer as custodian thereof to be used solely for workers’ 39 compensation for employees of self-insured employers. 40 4. The State Treasurer may disburse money from the Account 41 only upon written order of the Board. 42 5. The State Treasurer shall invest money of the Account in the 43 same manner and in the same securities in which the State Treasurer 44 is authorized to invest State General Funds which are in the custody 45 – 8 – - *AB332* of the State Treasurer. Income realized from the investment of the 1 assets of the Account must be credited to the Fund. 2 6. The Board shall adopt regulations for the establishment and 3 administration of [assessment rates,] payments and penalties. 4 [Assessment rates must result in an equitable distribution of costs 5 among the self-insured employers and must be based upon expected 6 annual expenditures for claims for payments from the Subsequent 7 Injury Account for Self-Insured Employers.] 8 7. [The Commissioner shall assign an actuary to review the 9 establishment of assessment rates. The rates must be filed with the 10 Commissioner 30 days before their effective date. Any self-insured 11 employer who wishes to appeal the rate so filed must do so pursuant 12 to NRS 679B.310. 13 8.] The Administrator shall: 14 (a) Evaluate any claim submitted to the Board for payment or 15 reimbursement from the Subsequent Injury Account for Self-Insured 16 Employers and recommend to the Board any appropriate action to 17 be taken concerning the claim; and 18 (b) Submit to the Board any other recommendations relating to 19 the Account. 20 Sec. 7. NRS 616B.557 is hereby amended to read as follows: 21 616B.557 Except as otherwise provided in NRS 616B.560: 22 1. If an employee of a self-insured employer has a permanent 23 physical impairment from any cause or origin and incurs , on or 24 before September 30, 2025, a subsequent disability by injury arising 25 out of and in the course of his or her employment which entitles the 26 employee to compensation for disability that is substantially greater 27 by reason of the combined effects of the preexisting impairment and 28 the subsequent injury than that which would have resulted from the 29 subsequent injury alone, the compensation due must be charged to 30 the Subsequent Injury Account for Self-Insured Employers in 31 accordance with regulations adopted by the Board. 32 2. If the subsequent injury of such an employee incurred on or 33 before September 30, 2025, results in his or her death and it is 34 determined that the death would not have occurred except for the 35 preexisting permanent physical impairment, the compensation due 36 must be charged to the Subsequent Injury Account for Self-Insured 37 Employers in accordance with regulations adopted by the Board. 38 3. As used in this section, “permanent physical impairment” 39 means any permanent condition, whether congenital or caused by 40 injury or disease, of such seriousness as to constitute a hindrance or 41 obstacle to obtaining employment or to obtaining reemployment if 42 the employee is unemployed. For the purposes of this section, a 43 condition is not a “permanent physical impairment” unless it would 44 support a rating of permanent impairment of 6 percent or more of 45 – 9 – - *AB332* the whole person if evaluated according to the American Medical 1 Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment as 2 adopted and supplemented by the Division pursuant to 3 NRS 616C.110. 4 4. To qualify under this section for reimbursement from the 5 Subsequent Injury Account for Self-Insured Employers, the self-6 insured employer must establish by written records that the self-7 insured employer had knowledge of the “permanent physical 8 impairment” at the time the employee was hired or that the 9 employee was retained in employment after the self-insured 10 employer acquired such knowledge. 11 5. A self-insured employer must submit to the Board a claim 12 for reimbursement from the Subsequent Injury Account for Self-13 Insured Employers. 14 6. The Board shall adopt regulations establishing procedures 15 for submitting claims against the Subsequent Injury Account for 16 Self-Insured Employers. The Board shall notify the self-insured 17 employer of its decision on such a claim within 120 days after the 18 claim is received. 19 7. An appeal of any decision made concerning a claim against 20 the Subsequent Injury Account for Self-Insured Employers must be 21 submitted directly to the district court. 22 Sec. 8. NRS 616B.560 is hereby amended to read as follows: 23 616B.560 1. A self-insured employer who pays 24 compensation due to an employee who has a permanent physical 25 impairment from any cause or origin and incurs , on or before 26 September 30, 2025, a subsequent disability by injury arising out of 27 and in the course of his or her employment which entitles the 28 employee to compensation for disability that is substantially greater 29 by reason of the combined effects of the preexisting impairment and 30 the subsequent injury than that which would have resulted from the 31 subsequent injury alone is entitled to be reimbursed from the 32 Subsequent Injury Account for Self-Insured Employers if: 33 (a) The employee knowingly made a false representation as to 34 his or her physical condition at the time the employee was hired by 35 the self-insured employer; 36 (b) The self-insured employer relied upon the false 37 representation and this reliance formed a substantial basis of the 38 employment; and 39 (c) A causal connection existed between the false representation 40 and the subsequent disability. 41 If the subsequent injury of the employee incurred on or before 42 September 30, 2025, results in his or her death and it is determined 43 that the death would not have occurred except for the preexisting 44 permanent physical impairment, any compensation paid is entitled 45 – 10 – - *AB332* to be reimbursed from the Subsequent Injury Account for Self-1 Insured Employers. 2 2. A self-insured employer shall notify the Board of any 3 possible claim against the Subsequent Injury Account for Self-4 Insured Employers pursuant to this section no later than 60 days 5 after the date of the subsequent injury or the date the self-insured 6 employer learns of the employee’s false representation, whichever is 7 later. 8 Sec. 9. NRS 616B.575 is hereby amended to read as follows: 9 616B.575 1. There is hereby created in the Fund for 10 Workers’ Compensation and Safety in the State Treasury the 11 Subsequent Injury Account for Associations of Self-Insured Public 12 or Private Employers, which may be used only to make payments in 13 accordance with the provisions of NRS 616B.578 and 616B.581. 14 The Board shall administer the Account based upon 15 recommendations made by the Administrator pursuant to subsection 16 [8.] 7. 17 2. All [assessments,] penalties, bonds, securities and all other 18 properties received, collected or acquired by the Board for the 19 Subsequent Injury Account for Associations of Self-Insured Public 20 or Private Employers must be delivered to the custody of the State 21 Treasurer. 22 3. All money and securities in the Account must be held by the 23 State Treasurer as custodian thereof to be used solely for workers’ 24 compensation for employees of members of Associations of Self-25 Insured Public or Private Employers. 26 4. The State Treasurer may disburse money from the Account 27 only upon written order of the Board. 28 5. The State Treasurer shall invest money of the Account in the 29 same manner and in the same securities in which the State Treasurer 30 is authorized to invest State General Funds which are in the custody 31 of the State Treasurer. Income realized from the investment of the 32 assets of the Account must be credited to the Account. 33 6. The Board shall adopt regulations for the establishment and 34 administration of [assessment rates,] payments and penalties. 35 [Assessment rates must result in an equitable distribution of costs 36 among the associations of self-insured public or private employers 37 and must be based upon expected annual expenditures for claims for 38 payments from the Subsequent Injury Account for Associations of 39 Self-Insured Public or Private Employers.] 40 7. [The Commissioner shall assign an actuary to review the 41 establishment of assessment rates. The rates must be filed with the 42 Commissioner 30 days before their effective date. Any association 43 of self-insured public or private employers that wishes to appeal the 44 rate so filed must do so pursuant to NRS 679B.310. 45 – 11 – - *AB332* 8.] The Administrator shall: 1 (a) Evaluate any claim submitted to the Board for payment or 2 reimbursement from the Subsequent Injury Account for 3 Associations of Self-Insured Public or Private Employers and 4 recommend to the Board any appropriate action to be taken 5 concerning the claim; and 6 (b) Submit to the Board any other recommendations relating to 7 the Account. 8 Sec. 10. NRS 616B.578 is hereby amended to read as follows: 9 616B.578 Except as otherwise provided in NRS 616B.581: 10 1. If an employee of a member of an association of self-insured 11 public or private employers has a permanent physical impairment 12 from any cause or origin and incurs , on or before September 30, 13 2025, a subsequent disability by injury arising out of and in the 14 course of his or her employment which entitles the employee to 15 compensation for disability that is substantially greater by reason of 16 the combined effects of the preexisting impairment and the 17 subsequent injury than that which would have resulted from the 18 subsequent injury alone, the compensation due must be charged to 19 the Subsequent Injury Account for Associations of Self-Insured 20 Public or Private Employers in accordance with regulations adopted 21 by the Board. 22 2. If the subsequent injury of such an employee incurred on or 23 before September 30, 2025, results in his or her death and it is 24 determined that the death would not have occurred except for the 25 preexisting permanent physical impairment, the compensation due 26 must be charged to the Subsequent Injury Account for Associations 27 of Self-Insured Public or Private Employers in accordance with 28 regulations adopted by the Board. 29 3. As used in this section, “permanent physical impairment” 30 means any permanent condition, whether congenital or caused by 31 injury or disease, of such seriousness as to constitute a hindrance or 32 obstacle to obtaining employment or to obtaining reemployment if 33 the employee is unemployed. For the purposes of this section, a 34 condition is not a “permanent physical impairment” unless it would 35 support a rating of permanent impairment of 6 percent or more of 36 the whole person if evaluated according to the American Medical 37 Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment as 38 adopted and supplemented by the Division pursuant to 39 NRS 616C.110. 40 4. To qualify under this section for reimbursement from the 41 Subsequent Injury Account for Associations of Self-Insured Public 42 or Private Employers, the association of self-insured public or 43 private employers must establish by written records that the 44 employer had knowledge of the “permanent physical impairment” at 45 – 12 – - *AB332* the time the employee was hired or that the employee was retained 1 in employment after the employer acquired such knowledge. 2 5. An association of self-insured public or private employers 3 must submit to the Board a claim for reimbursement from the 4 Subsequent Injury Account for Associations of Self-Insured Public 5 or Private Employers. 6 6. The Board shall adopt regulations establishing procedures 7 for submitting claims against the Subsequent Injury Account for 8 Associations of Self-Insured Public or Private Employers. The 9 Board shall notify the Association of Self-Insured Public or Private 10 Employers of its decision on such a claim within 120 days after the 11 claim is received. 12 7. An appeal of any decision made concerning a claim against 13 the Subsequent Injury Account for Associations of Self-Insured 14 Public or Private Employers must be submitted directly to the 15 district court. 16 Sec. 11. NRS 616B.581 is hereby amended to read as follows: 17 616B.581 1. An association of self-insured public or private 18 employers that pays compensation due to an employee who has a 19 permanent physical impairment from any cause or origin and incurs 20 , on or before September 30, 2025, a subsequent disability by injury 21 arising out of and in the course of his or her employment which 22 entitles the employee to compensation for disability that is 23 substantially greater by reason of the combined effects of the 24 preexisting impairment and the subsequent injury than that which 25 would have resulted from the subsequent injury alone is entitled to 26 be reimbursed from the Subsequent Injury Account for Associations 27 of Self-Insured Public or Private Employers if: 28 (a) The employee knowingly made a false representation as to 29 his or her physical condition at the time the employee was hired by 30 the member of the Association of Self-Insured Public or Private 31 Employers; 32 (b) The employer relied upon the false representation and this 33 reliance formed a substantial basis of the employment; and 34 (c) A causal connection existed between the false representation 35 and the subsequent disability. 36 If the subsequent injury of the employee incurred on or before 37 September 30, 2025, results in his or her death and it is determined 38 that the death would not have occurred except for the preexisting 39 permanent physical impairment, any compensation paid is entitled 40 to be reimbursed from the Subsequent Injury Account for 41 Associations of Self-Insured Public or Private Employers. 42 2. An association of self-insured public or private employers 43 shall notify the Board of any possible claim against the Subsequent 44 Injury Account for Associations of Self-Insured Public or Private 45 – 13 – - *AB332* Employers pursuant to this section no later than 60 days after the 1 date of the subsequent injury or the date the employer learns of the 2 employee’s false representation, whichever is later. 3 Sec. 12. NRS 616B.584 is hereby amended to read as follows: 4 616B.584 1. There is hereby created in the Fund for 5 Workers’ Compensation and Safety in the State Treasury the 6 Subsequent Injury Account for Private Carriers, which may be used 7 only to make payments in accordance with the provisions of NRS 8 616B.587 and 616B.590. The Administrator shall administer the 9 Account. 10 2. All [assessments,] penalties, bonds, securities and all other 11 properties received, collected or acquired by the Administrator for 12 the Subsequent Injury Account for Private Carriers must be 13 delivered to the custody of the State Treasurer. 14 3. All money and securities in the Account must be held by the 15 State Treasurer as custodian thereof to be used solely for workers’ 16 compensation for employees whose employers are insured by 17 private carriers. 18 4. The State Treasurer may disburse money from the Account 19 only upon written order of the State Controller. 20 5. The State Treasurer shall invest money of the Account in the 21 same manner and in the same securities in which the State Treasurer 22 is authorized to invest State General Funds which are in the custody 23 of the State Treasurer. Income realized from the investment of the 24 assets of the Account must be credited to the Account. 25 6. The Administrator shall adopt regulations for the 26 establishment and administration of [assessment rates,] payments 27 and penalties. [Assessment rates must reflect the relative hazard of 28 the employments covered by private carriers, must result in an 29 equitable distribution of costs among the private carriers and must 30 be based upon expected annual premiums to be received. 31 7. The Commissioner shall assign an actuary to review the 32 establishment of assessment rates. The rates must be filed with the 33 Commissioner 30 days before their effective date. Any private 34 carrier who wishes to appeal the rate so filed must do so pursuant to 35 NRS 679B.310.] 36 Sec. 13. NRS 616B.587 is hereby amended to read as follows: 37 616B.587 Except as otherwise provided in NRS 616B.590: 38 1. If an employee of an employer who is insured by a private 39 carrier has a permanent physical impairment from any cause or 40 origin and incurs , on or before September 30, 2025, a subsequent 41 disability by injury arising out of and in the course of his or her 42 employment which entitles the employee to compensation for 43 disability that is substantially greater by reason of the combined 44 effects of the preexisting impairment and the subsequent injury than 45 – 14 – - *AB332* that which would have resulted from the subsequent injury alone, 1 the compensation due must be charged to the Subsequent Injury 2 Account for Private Carriers in accordance with regulations adopted 3 by the Administrator. 4 2. If the subsequent injury of such an employee incurred on or 5 before September 30, 2025, results in his or her death and it is 6 determined that the death would not have occurred except for the 7 preexisting permanent physical impairment, the compensation due 8 must be charged to the Subsequent Injury Account for Private 9 Carriers in accordance with regulations adopted by the 10 Administrator. 11 3. As used in this section, “permanent physical impairment” 12 means any permanent condition, whether congenital or caused by 13 injury or disease, of such seriousness as to constitute a hindrance or 14 obstacle to obtaining employment or to obtaining reemployment if 15 the employee is unemployed. For the purposes of this section, a 16 condition is not a “permanent physical impairment” unless it would 17 support a rating of permanent impairment of 6 percent or more of 18 the whole person if evaluated according to the American Medical 19 Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment as 20 adopted and supplemented by the Division pursuant to 21 NRS 616C.110. 22 4. To qualify under this section for reimbursement from the 23 Subsequent Injury Account for Private Carriers, the private carrier 24 must establish by written records that the employer had knowledge 25 of the “permanent physical impairment” at the time the employee 26 was hired or that the employee was retained in employment after the 27 employer acquired such knowledge. 28 5. A private carrier must submit to the Administrator a claim 29 for reimbursement from the Subsequent Injury Account for Private 30 Carriers. 31 6. The Administrator shall adopt regulations establishing 32 procedures for submitting claims against the Subsequent Injury 33 Account for Private Carriers. The Administrator shall notify the 34 private carrier of his or her decision on such a claim within 120 days 35 after the claim is received. 36 7. An appeal of any decision made concerning a claim against 37 the Subsequent Injury Account for Private Carriers must be 38 submitted directly to the appeals officer. The appeals officer shall 39 hear such an appeal within 45 days after the appeal is submitted to 40 the appeals officer. 41 Sec. 14. NRS 616B.590 is hereby amended to read as follows: 42 616B.590 1. A private carrier who pays compensation due to 43 an employee who has a permanent physical impairment from any 44 cause or origin and incurs , on or before September 30, 2025, a 45 – 15 – - *AB332* subsequent disability by injury arising out of and in the course of his 1 or her employment which entitles the employee to compensation for 2 disability that is substantially greater by reason of the combined 3 effects of the preexisting impairment and the subsequent injury than 4 that which would have resulted from the subsequent injury alone is 5 entitled to be reimbursed from the Subsequent Injury Account for 6 Private Carriers if: 7 (a) The employee knowingly made a false representation as to 8 his or her physical condition at the time the employee was hired by 9 the employer insured by a private carrier; 10 (b) The employer relied upon the false representation and this 11 reliance formed a substantial basis of the employment; and 12 (c) A causal connection existed between the false representation 13 and the subsequent disability. 14 If the subsequent injury of the employee incurred on or before 15 September 30, 2025, results in his or her death and it is determined 16 that the death would not have occurred except for the preexisting 17 permanent physical impairment, any compensation paid is entitled 18 to be reimbursed from the Subsequent Injury Account for Private 19 Carriers. 20 2. A private carrier shall notify the Administrator of any 21 possible claim against the Subsequent Injury Account for Private 22 Carriers pursuant to this section no later than 60 days after the date 23 of the subsequent injury or the date the employer learns of the 24 employee’s false representation, whichever is later. 25 Sec. 15. NRS 616B.624 is hereby amended to read as follows: 26 616B.624 1. If a quasi-public or private corporation or a 27 limited-liability company is required to be insured pursuant to 28 chapters 616A to 616D, inclusive, of NRS, an officer of the 29 corporation or a manager of the company who: 30 (a) Receives pay for services performed as an officer [,] or 31 manager [or employee] of the corporation or company shall be 32 deemed for the purposes of those chapters to receive a minimum pay 33 of $6,000 per policy year and a maximum pay of $36,000 per policy 34 year. 35 (b) Does not receive pay for services performed as an officer, 36 manager or employee of the corporation or company shall be 37 deemed for the purposes of those chapters to receive a minimum pay 38 of $500 per month or $6,000 per policy year. 39 2. An officer or manager who does not receive pay for services 40 performed as an officer, manager or employee of the corporation or 41 company may elect to reject coverage for himself or herself by filing 42 written notice thereof with the corporation or company and the 43 insurer. The rejection is effective upon receipt of the notice by the 44 insurer. 45 – 16 – - *AB332* 3. An officer or manager of such a corporation or company 1 who: 2 (a) Owns the corporation or company; and 3 (b) Receives pay for the services performed, 4 may elect to reject coverage for himself or herself by filing 5 written notice thereof with the insurer. The rejection is effective 6 upon receipt of the notice by the insurer. 7 4. An officer or manager who has rejected coverage may 8 rescind that rejection by filing written notice thereof with the 9 corporation or company and the insurer. The rescission is effective 10 upon receipt of the notice by the insurer. Except as otherwise 11 provided in subsection 3, if an officer or manager who has rejected 12 coverage receives pay for services performed as an officer, manager 13 or employee of the corporation or company, the officer or manager 14 shall be deemed to have rescinded that rejection. 15 5. A nonprofit corporation whose officers do not receive pay 16 for services performed as officers or employees of the corporation 17 may elect to reject coverage for its current officers and all future 18 officers who do not receive such pay by filing written notice thereof 19 with the corporation and the insurer. The rejection is effective upon 20 receipt of the notice by the insurer. 21 6. A nonprofit corporation which has rejected coverage for its 22 officers who do not receive pay for services performed as officers or 23 employees of the corporation may rescind that rejection by filing 24 written notice thereof with the corporation and the insurer. The 25 rescission is effective upon receipt of the notice by the insurer. If an 26 officer of a nonprofit corporation which has rejected coverage 27 receives pay for services performed as an officer or employee of the 28 corporation, the corporation shall be deemed to have rescinded that 29 rejection. 30 Sec. 16. 1. The provisions of any administrative regulations 31 which conflict or are inconsistent with the provisions of this act are 32 void, including, without limitation, the provisions of any 33 administrative regulations which impose an assessment relating to a 34 subsequent injury account pursuant to NRS 616B.554, 616B.575 or 35 616B.584, as those sections existed before October 1, 2025. 36 2. As used in this section, “subsequent injury account” means: 37 (a) The Subsequent Injury Account for Self-Insured Employers 38 created by NRS 616B.554; 39 (b) The Subsequent Injury Account for Associations of Self-40 Insured Public or Private Employers created by NRS 616B.575; and 41 (c) The Subsequent Injury Account for Private Carriers created 42 by NRS 616B.584. 43 – 17 – - *AB332* Sec. 17. The amendatory provisions of sections 6 to 14, 1 inclusive, and 16 of this act do not affect a claim, action or 2 proceeding commenced or right accrued before October 1, 2025. 3 Sec. 18. NRS 616B.222 and 616B.410 are hereby repealed. 4 TEXT OF REPEALED SECTIONS 616B.222 Determination of total amount paid to employees for services performed during policy year. To determine the total amount paid to employees for services performed, the maximum amount paid to any one employee during a policy year shall be deemed to be $36,000. 616B.410 Annual audits; objection to assignment of standard industrial classification. 1. The Commissioner shall cause to be conducted at least annually an audit of each association of self-insured public or private employers in order to verify: (a) The standard industrial classification of each member of the association; (b) The individual experience of each member of the association; (c) The payroll of each member of the association; and (d) The assessment required to be paid by each member of the association. 2. The audit required by this section must be conducted by an auditor approved by the Commissioner. 3. A report of the audit must be filed with the Commissioner in a form required by the Commissioner. 4. The association or any member of the association may request a hearing before the Commissioner to object to any standard industrial classification assigned to a member of the association as a result of the audit. If the Commissioner determines that the assessment required to be paid by any member of the association is: (a) Insufficient because of the standard industrial classification assigned to the member, the Commissioner shall order the association to collect from that member any amount required to recover the deficiency. (b) Excessive because of the standard industrial classification assigned to the member, the Commissioner shall order the association to pay to the member the excess amount collected. – 18 – - *AB332* 5. The expenses of any audit conducted pursuant to this section must be paid by the association. H