S.B. 125
- *SB125*
SENATE BILL NO. 125–SENATOR STEINBECK
PREFILED JANUARY 28, 2025
____________
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to services provided to
victims of crime. (BDR 16-631)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: No.
~
EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to crime; authorizing a governmental entity to
disclose certain confidential information to the statewide
center for providing assistance to victims under certain
circumstances; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law declares it a policy of this State to provide assistance to victims of 1
violent crimes or the dependents of victims of violent crimes. (NRS 217.010) 2
Existing law requires the Division of Child and Family Services of the Department 3
of Health and Human Services, to the extent that money is available for this 4
purpose, to designate a statewide center to provide assistance to victims. If a center 5
to provide assistance to victims is designated, existing law requires the center to 6
provide certain support services to victims, including, without limitation, referrals, 7
advocacy services and counseling. (NRS 217.096) With limited exception, this bill 8
authorizes a governmental entity to disclose certain confidential information to the 9
center for the limited purpose of providing support services to victims of crimes. 10
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. NRS 217.096 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1
217.096 1. In collaboration with persons and entities that 2
advocate for the needs of victims, the Division shall, to the extent 3
that money is available for this purpose, designate a statewide center 4
to provide assistance to victims. 5
– 2 –
- *SB125*
2. If a center is designated pursuant to subsection 1, the center 1
must, to the extent money is available, provide support services to 2
victims, including, without limitation, by: 3
(a) Providing referral services and case management services to 4
connect victims with: 5
(1) Necessary medical and behavioral health care services, 6
including, without limitation, counseling services and treatment for 7
post-traumatic stress; 8
(2) Agencies which provide compensation to and support for 9
victims; 10
(3) Legal aid services; and 11
(4) Services provided by a federal, state or local law 12
enforcement agency; 13
(b) Providing advocacy services for victims, including, without 14
limitation, services designed to ensure victims are reimbursed for 15
out-of-pocket expenses that are eligible for reimbursement by an 16
agency which provides compensation and support for victims; 17
(c) Providing information concerning counseling services and 18
facilitating the provision of counseling services, including, without 19
limitation, through virtual and in-person support groups and 20
wellness events; 21
(d) Providing technical assistance with applying for online 22
services available to victims; 23
(e) Operating a call center for the purpose of providing 24
information relating to support services available to victims; and 25
(f) Responding to critical incidents in this State. 26
3. If a center is designated pursuant to subsection 1, the center 27
must: 28
(a) Be based in a county whose population is 700,000 or more 29
and provide direct services to victims in that county; 30
(b) To the extent money is available, assist the Division with 31
expanding the services available to victims in this State; and 32
(c) To the extent money is available, provide training and 33
technical assistance and take other preparatory steps to ensure that 34
communities throughout the State are adequately trained and 35
equipped to provide support services to victims relating to critical 36
incidents. 37
4. Unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, a governmental 38
entity may provide confidential information to a center designated 39
pursuant to subsection 1 for the limited purpose of providing 40
support services to victims. The center shall not disclose any 41
confidential information received pursuant to this subsection, and 42
receipt of the information does not alter, affect, abrogate or waive 43
the confidential status of the information. 44
– 3 –
- *SB125*
5. The Administrator may accept any gift, grant, donation, 1
bequest or other source of money for the purposes of carrying out 2
the provisions of this section. Any money so received must be 3
deposited in the Victim Support Gift Account, which is hereby 4
established in the State General Fund. The Administrator shall 5
administer the Account. The interest and income earned on money 6
in the Account from any gift, grant, donation or bequest, after 7
deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the Account. 8
Money from any gift, grant, donation or bequest that remains in the 9
Account at the end of the fiscal year does not revert to the State 10
General Fund, and the balance in the Account must be carried 11
forward to the next fiscal year. 12
[5.] 6. As used in this section: 13
(a) “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Division. 14
(b) “Critical incident” means an abnormal event that is sudden 15
and unexpected and has a stressful impact sufficient to overwhelm 16
the coping skills of a person. 17
(c) “Division” means the Division of Child and Family Services 18
of the Department. 19
(d) “Governmental entity” means: 20
(1) The government of this State; 21
(2) An agency of the government of this State; 22
(3) A political subdivision of this State; and 23
(4) An agency of a political subdivision of this State. 24
(e) “Victim” means a person who suffers direct harm as a result 25
of a violent crime or a person who suffers harm as an indirect 26
consequence of a violent crime, including, without limitation, by 27
witnessing the crime. 28
H