S.B. 127
- *SB127*
SENATE BILL NO. 127–SENATOR BUCK
PREFILED JANUARY 29, 2025
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Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to certain training for
first responders. (BDR 40-30)
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 emergency response; requiring certain first
responders to receive human trafficking awareness
training; revising provisions relating to the training of
certain law enforcement dispatchers; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law provides for the licensure of ambulance attendants and firefighters 1
and the certification of emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency 2
medical technicians and paramedics. (NRS 450B.160, 450B.180) Sections 1 and 2 3
of this bill require each of those persons to receive 1 hour of human trafficking 4
awareness training before initial licensure or certification, as applicable, and each 5
year thereafter. Sections 1 and 2 also prescribe certain requirements relating to 6
such training. 7
Existing law requires the Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission 8
to: (1) establish by regulation standards for a voluntary program of training for law 9
enforcement dispatchers; and (2) issue certificates to dispatchers who complete 10
such training. (NRS 289.650) Section 3 of this bill requires the standards adopted 11
by the Commission to include the human trafficking awareness training described 12
in sections 1 and 2. 13
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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. NRS 450B.160 is hereby amended to read as 1
follows: 2
450B.160 1. The health authority may issue licenses to 3
attendants and to firefighters employed by or serving as volunteers 4
with a fire-fighting agency. 5
2. Each license must be evidenced by a card issued to the 6
holder of the license, is valid for a period not to exceed 2 years and 7
is renewable. 8
3. An applicant for a license must file with the health authority: 9
(a) A current, valid certificate evidencing the applicant’s 10
successful completion of a program of training as an emergency 11
medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or 12
paramedic, if the applicant is applying for a license as an attendant, 13
or, if a volunteer attendant, at a level of skill determined by the 14
board. 15
(b) A current valid certificate evidencing the applicant’s 16
successful completion of a program of training as an emergency 17
medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or 18
paramedic, if the applicant is applying for a license as a firefighter 19
with a fire-fighting agency. 20
(c) A signed statement showing: 21
(1) The name and address of the applicant; 22
(2) The name and address of the employer of the applicant; 23
and 24
(3) A description of the applicant’s duties. 25
(d) Proof that the applicant has completed the training required 26
by subsection 4. 27
(e) Such other certificates for training and such other items as 28
the board may specify. 29
4. In addition to the training required by subsection 3, each 30
applicant for [a] : 31
(a) A license must complete [training] : 32
(1) Training concerning identifying and interacting with 33
persons with developmental disabilities [.] ; and 34
(2) At least 1 hour of human trafficking awareness 35
training, which may be conducted in person or online, and must 36
include, without limitation: 37
(I) Training concerning identifying and interacting with 38
victims of human trafficking in a manner that ensures the safety 39
of the victim and licensee; and 40
(II) Protocols for reporting human trafficking. 41
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(b) The renewal of a license must complete the training 1
required by subparagraph (2) of paragraph (a) annually during 2
each renewal period after licensure. 3
5. The board shall adopt such regulations as it determines are 4
necessary for the issuance, suspension, revocation and renewal of 5
licenses. 6
6. Each operator of an ambulance or air ambulance and each 7
fire-fighting agency shall annually file with the health authority a 8
complete list of the licensed persons in its service. 9
7. Licensed physicians, registered nurses and licensed 10
physician assistants may serve as attendants without being licensed 11
under the provisions of this section. A registered nurse who 12
performs emergency care in an ambulance or air ambulance shall 13
perform the care in accordance with the regulations of the State 14
Board of Nursing. A licensed physician assistant who performs 15
emergency care in an ambulance or air ambulance shall perform the 16
care in accordance with the regulations of the Board of Medical 17
Examiners. 18
8. Each licensed physician, registered nurse and licensed 19
physician assistant who serves as an attendant must have current 20
certification of completion of training in: 21
(a) Advanced life-support procedures for patients who require 22
cardiac care; 23
(b) Life-support procedures for pediatric patients who require 24
cardiac care; and 25
(c) Life-support procedures for patients with trauma that are 26
administered before the arrival of those patients at a hospital. 27
The certification must be issued by the Board of Medical 28
Examiners for a physician or licensed physician assistant or by the 29
State Board of Nursing for a registered nurse. 30
9. The Board of Medical Examiners and the State Board of 31
Nursing shall issue a certificate pursuant to subsection 8 if the 32
licensed physician, licensed physician assistant or registered nurse 33
attends: 34
(a) A course offered by a national organization which is 35
nationally recognized for issuing such certification; 36
(b) Training conducted by the operator of an ambulance or air 37
ambulance; or 38
(c) Any other course or training, 39
approved by the Board of Medical Examiners or the State Board 40
of Nursing, whichever is issuing the certification. 41
10. As used in this section, “developmental disability” has the 42
meaning ascribed to it in NRS 435.007. 43
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Sec. 2. NRS 450B.180 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1
450B.180 1. Any person desiring certification as an 2
emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical 3
technician or paramedic must apply to the health authority using 4
forms prescribed by the health authority. 5
2. The health authority, pursuant to regulations and procedures 6
adopted by the board, shall make a determination of the applicant’s 7
qualifications to be certified as an emergency medical technician, 8
advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic and shall 9
issue the appropriate certificate to each qualified applicant. 10
3. A certificate is valid for a period not exceeding 2 years and 11
may be renewed if the holder of the certificate complies with the 12
provisions of this chapter and meets the qualifications set forth in 13
the regulations and standards established by the board pursuant to 14
this chapter. The regulations and standards established by the board 15
must provide for the completion of: 16
(a) A course of instruction, within 2 years after initial 17
certification, relating to the medical consequences of an act of 18
terrorism that involves the use of a weapon of mass destruction. The 19
course must provide at least 4 hours of instruction that includes 20
instruction in the following subjects: 21
(1) An overview of acts of terrorism and weapons of mass 22
destruction; 23
(2) Personal protective equipment required for acts of 24
terrorism; 25
(3) Common symptoms and methods of treatment associated 26
with exposure to, or injuries caused by, chemical, biological, 27
radioactive and nuclear agents; 28
(4) Syndromic surveillance and reporting procedures for acts 29
of terrorism that involve biological agents; and 30
(5) An overview of the information available on, and the use 31
of, the Health Alert Network. 32
The board may thereafter determine whether to establish 33
regulations and standards requiring additional courses of instruction 34
relating to the medical consequences of an act of terrorism that 35
involves the use of a weapon of mass destruction. 36
(b) Training before initial certification concerning identifying 37
and interacting with persons with developmental disabilities. 38
(c) At least 1 hour of human trafficking awareness training 39
before initial certification and each year thereafter, which may be 40
conducted in person or online, and must include, without 41
limitation: 42
(1) Training concerning identifying and interacting with 43
victims of human trafficking in a manner that ensures the safety 44
of the victim and the holder of a certificate; and 45
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(2) Protocols for reporting human trafficking. 1
4. Training completed pursuant to [this] paragraph (b) or (c) of 2
subsection 3 also satisfies the requirement for such training 3
prescribed by NRS 289.605 or 450B.160, if applicable. 4
[4.] 5. The health authority may suspend or revoke a certificate 5
if it finds that the holder of the certificate no longer meets the 6
prescribed qualifications. Unless the certificate is suspended by the 7
district court pursuant to NRS 425.540, the holder of the certificate 8
may appeal the suspension or revocation of his or her certificate 9
pursuant to regulations adopted by the board. 10
[5.] 6. The board shall determine the procedures and techniques 11
which may be performed by an emergency medical technician, 12
advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic. 13
[6.] 7. A certificate issued pursuant to this section is valid 14
throughout the State, whether issued by the Division or a district 15
board of health. 16
[7.] 8. The Division shall maintain a central registry of all 17
certificates issued pursuant to this section, whether issued by the 18
Division or a district board of health. 19
[8.] 9. The board shall adopt such regulations as are necessary 20
to carry out the provisions of this section. 21
[9.] 10. As used in this section: 22
(a) “Act of terrorism” has the meaning ascribed to it in 23
NRS 202.4415. 24
(b) “Biological agent” has the meaning ascribed to it in 25
NRS 202.442. 26
(c) “Chemical agent” has the meaning ascribed to it in 27
NRS 202.4425. 28
(d) “Developmental disability” has the meaning ascribed to it in 29
NRS 435.007. 30
(e) “Radioactive agent” has the meaning ascribed to it in 31
NRS 202.4437. 32
(f) “Weapon of mass destruction” has the meaning ascribed to it 33
in NRS 202.4445. 34
Sec. 3. NRS 289.650 is hereby amended to read as follows: 35
289.650 1. The Commission shall: 36
(a) Establish by regulation the minimum standards of a 37
voluntary program for the training of law enforcement dispatchers. 38
Such standards must include [training] : 39
(1) Training relating to behavioral health crisis intervention 40
as described in NRS 289.510 [.] ; and 41
(2) Human trafficking awareness training as described in 42
NRS 450B.160 and 450B.180. 43
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(b) Certify qualified instructors for approved courses of training 1
for law enforcement dispatchers and issue appropriate certificates to 2
instructors who become certified. 3
(c) Issue appropriate certificates to law enforcement dispatchers 4
who have satisfactorily completed the voluntary program. 5
2. As used in this section, “law enforcement dispatcher” means 6
a person who is employed by a law enforcement agency or regional 7
telecommunication center and who promotes public safety by: 8
(a) Receiving calls for service related to crimes, traffic incidents, 9
public safety and any other related calls for assistance; and 10
(b) Providing immediate and critical communication between 11
the public and law enforcement agencies. 12
Sec. 4. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2025. 13
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