S.B. 188 - *SB188* SENATE BILL NO. 188–SENATOR DOÑATE PREFILED FEBRUARY 3, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services SUMMARY—Establishes procedures to assist certain persons with limited English proficiency in accessing health care in certain circumstances. (BDR 40-41) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact. Effect on the State: Yes. CONTAINS UNFUNDED MANDATE (§§ 2-8, 15-20) (NOT REQUESTED BY AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT) ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to health care; requiring certain health facilities and providers of health care to take reasonable steps to provide a person with limited English proficiency with language assistance under certain circumstances; prescribing requirements governing the use of interpreters and translators to comply with that requirement; authorizing the discipline of certain health facilities and providers of health care for certain violations; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing federal regulations require certain health care entities to take 1 reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to persons with limited English 2 proficiency who are eligible to be served or likely to be directly affected by a health 3 program or activity of the entity. (45 C.F.R. § 92.201(a)) The Director of the Office 4 for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Health and Human Services has 5 provided additional guidance by defining meaningful access to mean ensuring that 6 language barriers do not prevent a person from obtaining necessary health services 7 and care. (Melanie Fontes Rainer, Director, Office for Civil Rights U.S. Dep’t. of 8 Health and Human Services (Dec. 5, 2024), Dear Colleague Letter Regarding 9 Language Access Provisions of the Final Rule Implementing Section 1557 of the 10 Affordable Care Act, retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr-dcl-11 section-1557-language-access.pdf) Existing federal regulations prescribe various 12 requirements and procedures governing the use of interpreters and translators to 13 comply with those requirements. (45 C.F.R. § 92.201) 14 – 2 – - *SB188* Sections 5-8 and 16-20 of this bill codify similar provisions into state law, 15 thereby requiring health facilities and providers of health care to take reasonable 16 steps to ensure that language barriers do not prevent a person with limited English 17 proficiency from obtaining necessary access to health care. Sections 5, 16 and 20 18 prescribe certain factors for determining whether an action is necessary for a health 19 facility or provider of health care to be in compliance with that requirement. 20 Sections 5 and 16 require that a service to provide language assistance be available 21 free of charge, be accurate in translation or interpretation be provided in a timely 22 manner and protect the ability of the person with limited English proficiency to 23 make independent decisions. Sections 5 and 16 require that a qualified translator 24 review a machine-translated document under certain circumstances. 25 Sections 5 and 16 require a health facility or provider of health care to use a 26 qualified interpreter or translator to provide interpreting or translating services, and 27 sections 8 and 19 establish the qualifications to serve as an interpreter or translator. 28 Sections 6 and 17 prohibit the use of an unqualified interpreter, except in certain 29 circumstances. Sections 6 and 17 also prohibit a health facility or provider of 30 health care from requiring a person with limited English proficiency to provide his 31 or her own interpreter or pay the cost of an interpreter. Sections 7 and 18 prescribe 32 requirements governing the use of a remote interpreter. Sections 3, 4 and 15 of this 33 bill define certain terms, and section 2 of this bill establishes the applicability of the 34 definitions set forth in sections 3 and 4. Sections 9 and 10 of this bill make 35 conforming changes to establish the applicability of certain provisions. Sections 36 11-13, 20 and 21 of this bill prescribe various mechanisms for the enforcement of 37 sections 5-8 and 16-19, including the imposition of administrative sanctions 38 against a health facility that fails to comply with those provisions and professional 39 discipline against a provider of health care who fails to comply with those 40 provisions. 41 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 449 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1 thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 8, inclusive, of this 2 act. 3 Sec. 2. As used in sections 2 to 8, inclusive, of this act, unless 4 the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in 5 sections 3 and 4 of this act have the definitions ascribed to them in 6 those sections. 7 Sec. 3. “Health facility” means a medical facility, a facility 8 for the dependent or a facility which is required by the regulations 9 adopted by the Board pursuant to NRS 449.0303 to be licensed. 10 Sec. 4. “Person with limited English proficiency” means a 11 person who speaks a language other than English and who cannot 12 readily understand or communicate in the English language. 13 Sec. 5. 1. A health facility shall take reasonable steps to 14 ensure that language barriers do not prevent a person with limited 15 English proficiency from obtaining necessary health care. 16 2. In determining whether a particular action is necessary to 17 comply with subsection 1, a health facility shall, and in 18 – 3 – - *SB188* determining whether a health facility is in compliance with 1 subsection 1, the Division shall: 2 (a) Evaluate, and give substantial weight to, the nature and 3 importance of the services or programs provided by the health 4 facility and the relevant communications to the person with 5 limited English proficiency; and 6 (b) Consider any other relevant factors, including, without 7 limitation, the effectiveness of any procedure for providing 8 language access through written documents. 9 3. A service to provide language assistance to ensure 10 compliance with subsection 1 must: 11 (a) Be provided free of charge to the person with limited 12 English proficiency; 13 (b) Be accurate in translation or interpretation and provided 14 within a timely manner; and 15 (c) Protect the privacy and ability of the person with limited 16 English proficiency to make independent decisions. 17 4. Except as otherwise provided in section 6 of this act, if a 18 health facility determines pursuant to subsection 2 that 19 interpretation services or translation services are necessary to 20 ensure compliance with subsection 1, the health facility shall 21 utilize an interpreter or translator who is qualified pursuant to 22 section 8 of this act to provide those services. 23 5. A health facility shall ensure that a translator who is 24 qualified pursuant to section 8 of this act reviews a machine-25 translated document if the document: 26 (a) Relates to the rights of a person with limited English 27 proficiency, the goods or services provided by the health facility or 28 the ability of a person with limited English proficiency to obtain 29 necessary health care; 30 (b) Must be accurately translated to ensure compliance with 31 subsection 1 or protect the health and wellbeing of a person with 32 limited English proficiency; or 33 (c) Is complex, nonliteral or technical. 34 Sec. 6. 1. A health facility shall not: 35 (a) Require a person with limited English proficiency to 36 provide his or her own interpreter or pay the cost of an interpreter; 37 (b) Utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter 38 pursuant to section 8 of this act to interpret or facilitate 39 communication for a person with limited English proficiency 40 except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2 or 3; 41 (c) Utilize a child less than 18 years of age to interpret or 42 facilitate communication for a person with limited English 43 proficiency except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2; or 44 – 4 – - *SB188* (d) Utilize an employee, a contractor or a volunteer of the 1 health facility who is not an interpreter or a translator qualified 2 pursuant to section 8 of this act to interpret or facilitate 3 communication for a person with limited English proficiency. 4 2. A health facility may utilize an adult who is not qualified 5 as an interpreter pursuant to section 8 of this act or a person 6 under 18 years of age to interpret or facilitate communication for 7 a person with limited English proficiency on a temporary, 8 emergency basis if: 9 (a) There is an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of any 10 person or the public; 11 (b) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to section 8 of this 12 act is not immediately available; 13 (c) The health facility is attempting to find an interpreter who 14 is qualified pursuant to section 8 of this act; and 15 (d) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to section 8 of this 16 act later confirms or supplements the initial communications with 17 the interpreter utilized pursuant to this section. 18 3. A health facility may utilize an adult who is not qualified 19 as an interpreter pursuant to section 8 of this act to interpret or 20 facilitate communication for a person with limited English 21 proficiency if the person with limited English proficiency requests 22 for the adult to interpret or facilitate communication for him or 23 her. Such a request must be: 24 (a) Made to an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to section 25 8 of this act without the adult present; 26 (b) Agreed to by the adult; 27 (c) Documented in the record of the person with limited 28 English proficiency; and 29 (d) Deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the person 30 providing the program or service on behalf of the health facility. 31 Sec. 7. 1. A health facility may use a remote interpreter to 32 provide interpreting services necessary to comply with section 5 of 33 this act if the health facility utilizes audio-visual communication 34 technology or audio communication technology that includes, 35 without limitation, synchronous interaction with audio and, if 36 applicable, video over a high-speed, wide-bandwidth connection or 37 wireless connection that: 38 (a) Does not produce lag or irregular pauses in 39 communication or, if applicable, images; 40 (b) Provides transmission of voice that is clear and audible; 41 and 42 (c) If applicable, produces a high-quality video image that is 43 not blurry or grainy and is large enough to display the face of the 44 – 5 – - *SB188* interpreter and person with limited English proficiency, regardless 1 of body position. 2 2. A health facility shall provide training to an employee, a 3 contractor or a volunteer who is involved in using audio-visual 4 communication technology or audio communication technology to 5 facilitate the use of a remote interpreter. Such training must be 6 adequate to ensure that the employee, contractor or volunteer 7 operates the technology efficiently and effectively. 8 Sec. 8. An interpreter or translator is qualified to provide 9 interpretation or translation services pursuant to sections 2 to 8, 10 inclusive, of this act if the interpreter or translator: 11 1. Has demonstrated proficiency in and understanding of 12 spoken or written, as applicable: 13 (a) English and at least one other language; or 14 (b) At least two languages that are not English if he or she is a 15 relay interpreter or translator; 16 2. Has demonstrated proficiency in interpreting or 17 translating, as applicable, effectively, accurately and impartially, 18 including, without limitation: 19 (a) Using specialized vocabulary or terms without change, 20 omission or addition; and 21 (b) Preserving tone, sentiment and emotion of the original 22 statement; and 23 3. Adheres to generally accepted ethics for interpreters or 24 translators, as applicable, including, without limitation, 25 confidentiality of client communications. 26 Sec. 9. NRS 449.029 is hereby amended to read as follows: 27 449.029 As used in NRS 449.029 to 449.240, inclusive, and 28 sections 2 to 8, inclusive, of this act, unless the context otherwise 29 requires, “medical facility” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 30 449.0151 and includes a program of hospice care described in 31 NRS 449.196. 32 Sec. 10. NRS 449.0301 is hereby amended to read as follows: 33 449.0301 The provisions of NRS 449.029 to 449.2428, 34 inclusive, and sections 2 to 8, inclusive, of this act do not apply to: 35 1. Any facility conducted by and for the adherents of any 36 church or religious denomination for the purpose of providing 37 facilities for the care and treatment of the sick who depend solely 38 upon spiritual means through prayer for healing in the practice of 39 the religion of the church or denomination, except that such a 40 facility shall comply with all regulations relative to sanitation and 41 safety applicable to other facilities of a similar category. 42 2. Foster homes as defined in NRS 424.014. 43 3. Any medical facility, facility for the dependent or facility 44 which is otherwise required by the regulations adopted by the Board 45 – 6 – - *SB188* pursuant to NRS 449.0303 to be licensed that is operated and 1 maintained by the United States Government or an agency thereof. 2 Sec. 11. NRS 449.160 is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 449.160 1. The Division may deny an application for a 4 license or may suspend or revoke any license issued under the 5 provisions of NRS 449.029 to 449.2428, inclusive, and sections 2 to 6 8, inclusive, of this act upon any of the following grounds: 7 (a) Violation by the applicant or the licensee of any of the 8 provisions of NRS 439B.410, 449.029 to 449.245, inclusive, and 9 sections 2 to 8, inclusive, of this act, or 449A.100 to 449A.124, 10 inclusive, and 449A.270 to 449A.286, inclusive, or of any other law 11 of this State or of the standards, rules and regulations adopted 12 thereunder. 13 (b) Aiding, abetting or permitting the commission of any illegal 14 act. 15 (c) Conduct inimical to the public health, morals, welfare and 16 safety of the people of the State of Nevada in the maintenance and 17 operation of the premises for which a license is issued. 18 (d) Conduct or practice detrimental to the health or safety of the 19 occupants or employees of the facility. 20 (e) Failure of the applicant to obtain written approval from the 21 Director of the Department of Health and Human Services as 22 required by NRS 439A.100 or 439A.102 or as provided in any 23 regulation adopted pursuant to NRS 449.001 to 449.430, inclusive, 24 and sections 2 to 8, inclusive, of this act and 449.435 to 449.531, 25 inclusive, and chapter 449A of NRS if such approval is required, 26 including, without limitation, the closure or conversion of any 27 hospital in a county whose population is 100,000 or more that is 28 owned by the licensee without approval pursuant to NRS 439A.102. 29 (f) Failure to comply with the provisions of NRS 441A.315 and 30 any regulations adopted pursuant thereto or NRS 449.2486. 31 (g) Violation of the provisions of NRS 458.112. 32 (h) Failure to comply with the provisions of NRS 449A.170 to 33 449A.192, inclusive, and any regulation adopted pursuant thereto. 34 (i) Violation of the provisions of NRS 629.260. 35 2. In addition to the provisions of subsection 1, the Division 36 may revoke a license to operate a facility for the dependent if, with 37 respect to that facility, the licensee that operates the facility, or an 38 agent or employee of the licensee: 39 (a) Is convicted of violating any of the provisions of 40 NRS 202.470; 41 (b) Is ordered to but fails to abate a nuisance pursuant to NRS 42 244.360, 244.3603 or 268.4124; or 43 – 7 – - *SB188* (c) Is ordered by the appropriate governmental agency to correct 1 a violation of a building, safety or health code or regulation but fails 2 to correct the violation. 3 3. The Division shall maintain a log of any complaints that it 4 receives relating to activities for which the Division may revoke the 5 license to operate a facility for the dependent pursuant to subsection 6 2. The Division shall provide to a facility for the care of adults 7 during the day: 8 (a) A summary of a complaint against the facility if the 9 investigation of the complaint by the Division either substantiates 10 the complaint or is inconclusive; 11 (b) A report of any investigation conducted with respect to the 12 complaint; and 13 (c) A report of any disciplinary action taken against the facility. 14 The facility shall make the information available to the public 15 pursuant to NRS 449.2486. 16 4. On or before February 1 of each odd-numbered year, the 17 Division shall submit to the Director of the Legislative Counsel 18 Bureau a written report setting forth, for the previous biennium: 19 (a) Any complaints included in the log maintained by the 20 Division pursuant to subsection 3; and 21 (b) Any disciplinary actions taken by the Division pursuant to 22 subsection 2. 23 Sec. 12. NRS 449.163 is hereby amended to read as follows: 24 449.163 1. In addition to the payment of the amount required 25 by NRS 449.0308, if a medical facility, facility for the dependent or 26 facility which is required by the regulations adopted by the Board 27 pursuant to NRS 449.0303 to be licensed violates any provision 28 related to its licensure, including any provision of NRS 439B.410 or 29 449.029 to 449.2428, inclusive, and sections 2 to 8, inclusive, of 30 this act or any condition, standard or regulation adopted by the 31 Board, the Division, in accordance with the regulations adopted 32 pursuant to NRS 449.165, may: 33 (a) Prohibit the facility from admitting any patient until it 34 determines that the facility has corrected the violation; 35 (b) Limit the occupancy of the facility to the number of beds 36 occupied when the violation occurred, until it determines that the 37 facility has corrected the violation; 38 (c) If the license of the facility limits the occupancy of the 39 facility and the facility has exceeded the approved occupancy, 40 require the facility, at its own expense, to move patients to another 41 facility that is licensed; 42 (d) Except where a greater penalty is authorized by subsection 2, 43 impose an administrative penalty of not more than $5,000 per day 44 – 8 – - *SB188* for each violation, together with interest thereon at a rate not to 1 exceed 10 percent per annum; and 2 (e) Appoint temporary management to oversee the operation of 3 the facility and to ensure the health and safety of the patients of the 4 facility, until: 5 (1) It determines that the facility has corrected the violation 6 and has management which is capable of ensuring continued 7 compliance with the applicable statutes, conditions, standards and 8 regulations; or 9 (2) Improvements are made to correct the violation. 10 2. If an off-campus location of a hospital fails to obtain a 11 national provider identifier that is distinct from the national provider 12 identifier used by the main campus and any other off-campus 13 location of the hospital in violation of NRS 449.1818, the Division 14 may impose against the hospital an administrative penalty of not 15 more than $10,000 for each day of such failure, together with 16 interest thereon at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum, in 17 addition to any other action authorized by this chapter. 18 3. If the facility fails to pay any administrative penalty imposed 19 pursuant to paragraph (d) of subsection 1 or subsection 2, the 20 Division may: 21 (a) Suspend the license of the facility until the administrative 22 penalty is paid; and 23 (b) Collect court costs, reasonable attorney’s fees and other 24 costs incurred to collect the administrative penalty. 25 4. The Division may require any facility that violates any 26 provision of NRS 439B.410 or 449.029 to 449.2428, inclusive, and 27 sections 2 to 8, inclusive, of this act or any condition, standard or 28 regulation adopted by the Board to make any improvements 29 necessary to correct the violation. 30 5. Any money collected as administrative penalties pursuant to 31 paragraph (d) of subsection 1 or subsection 2 must be accounted for 32 separately and used to administer and carry out the provisions of 33 NRS 449.001 to 449.430, inclusive, and sections 2 to 8, inclusive, 34 of this act, 449.435 to 449.531, inclusive, and chapter 449A of NRS 35 to protect the health, safety, well-being and property of the patients 36 and residents of facilities in accordance with applicable state and 37 federal standards or for any other purpose authorized by the 38 Legislature. 39 Sec. 13. NRS 449.240 is hereby amended to read as follows: 40 449.240 The district attorney of the county in which the facility 41 is located shall, upon application by the Division, institute and 42 conduct the prosecution of any action for violation of any provisions 43 of NRS 449.029 to 449.245, inclusive [.] , and sections 2 to 8, 44 inclusive, of this act. 45 – 9 – - *SB188* Sec. 14. Chapter 629 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1 thereto the provisions set forth as sections 15 to 20, inclusive, of this 2 act. 3 Sec. 15. As used in sections 15 to 20, inclusive, of this act, 4 unless the context otherwise requires, “person with limited 5 English proficiency” has the meaning ascribed to it in section 4 of 6 this act. 7 Sec. 16. 1. A provider of health care shall take reasonable 8 steps to ensure that language barriers do not prevent a person with 9 limited English proficiency from obtaining necessary health care. 10 2. In determining whether a particular action is necessary to 11 comply with subsection 1, a provider of health care shall: 12 (a) Evaluate, and give substantial weight to, the nature and 13 importance of the services or programs provided by the provider of 14 health care and the relevant communications to the person with 15 limited English proficiency; and 16 (b) Consider any other relevant factors, including, without 17 limitation, the effectiveness of any procedure for providing 18 language access through written documents. 19 3. A service to provide language assistance to ensure 20 compliance with subsection 1 must: 21 (a) Be provided free of charge to the person with limited 22 English proficiency; 23 (b) Be accurate in translation or interpretation and provided 24 within a timely manner; and 25 (c) Protect the privacy and ability of the person with limited 26 English proficiency to make independent decisions. 27 4. Except as otherwise provided in section 17 of this act, a 28 provider of health care determines pursuant to subsection 2 that 29 interpretation services or translation services are necessary to 30 ensure compliance with subsection 1, the provider of health care 31 shall use an interpreter or translator who is qualified pursuant to 32 section 19 of this act. 33 5. A provider of health care shall ensure that a machine-34 translated document is reviewed by a translator who is qualified 35 pursuant to section 19 of this act if the document: 36 (a) Relates to the rights of a person with limited English 37 proficiency, the goods or services provided by the provider of 38 health care or the ability of a person with limited English 39 proficiency to obtain necessary health care; 40 (b) Must be accurately translated to ensure compliance with 41 subsection 1 or protect the health and wellbeing of a person with 42 limited English proficiency; or 43 (c) Is complex, nonliteral or technical. 44 Sec. 17. 1. A provider of health care shall not: 45 – 10 – - *SB188* (a) Require a person with limited English proficiency to 1 provide his or her own interpreter or pay the cost of an interpreter; 2 (b) Utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter 3 pursuant to section 19 of this act to interpret or facilitate 4 communication for a person with limited English proficiency 5 except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2 or 3; 6 (c) Utilize a child less than 18 years of age to interpret or 7 facilitate communication for a person with limited English 8 proficiency except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2; or 9 (d) Utilize a person under the supervision of the provider of 10 health care who is not an interpreter or a translator qualified 11 pursuant to section 19 of this act to interpret or facilitate 12 communication for a person with limited English proficiency. 13 2. A provider of health care may utilize an adult who is not 14 qualified as an interpreter pursuant to section 19 of this act or a 15 person under 18 years of age to interpret or facilitate 16 communication for a person with limited English proficiency on a 17 temporary, emergency basis if: 18 (a) There is an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of any 19 person or the public; 20 (b) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to section 19 of 21 this act is not immediately available; 22 (c) The provider of health care is attempting to find an 23 interpreter who is qualified pursuant to section 19 of this act; and 24 (d) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to section 19 of 25 this act later confirms or supplements the initial communications 26 with the interpreter utilized pursuant to this section. 27 3. A provider of health care may utilize an adult who is not 28 qualified as an interpreter pursuant to section 19 of this act to 29 interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited 30 English proficiency if the person with limited English proficiency 31 requests for the adult to interpret or facilitate communication for 32 him or her. Such a request must be: 33 (a) Made to an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to section 34 19 of this act without the adult present; 35 (b) Agreed to by the adult; 36 (c) Documented in the record of the person with limited 37 English proficiency; and 38 (d) Deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the 39 provider of health care. 40 Sec. 18. 1. A provider of health care may use a remote 41 interpreter to provide interpreting services necessary to comply 42 with section 16 of this act if the provider of health care utilizes 43 audio-visual communication technology or audio communication 44 technology that includes, without limitation, synchronous 45 – 11 – - *SB188* interaction with audio and, if applicable, video over a high-speed, 1 wide-bandwidth connection or wireless connection that: 2 (a) Does not produce lag or irregular pauses in 3 communication or, if applicable, images; 4 (b) Provides transmission of voice that is clear and audible; 5 and 6 (c) If applicable, produces a high-quality video image that is 7 not blurry or grainy and is large enough to display the face of the 8 interpreter and person with limited English proficiency, regardless 9 of body position. 10 2. A provider of health care shall provide training to a person 11 he or she supervises who is involved in using audio-visual 12 communication technology or audio communication technology to 13 facilitate the use of a remote interpreter. Such training must be 14 adequate to ensure that the person operates the technology 15 efficiently and effectively. 16 Sec. 19. An interpreter or translator is qualified to provide 17 interpretation or translation services pursuant to sections 15 to 20, 18 inclusive, of this act if the interpreter or translator: 19 1. Has demonstrated proficiency in and understanding of 20 spoken or written, as applicable: 21 (a) English and at least one other language; or 22 (b) At least two languages that are not English if he or she is a 23 relay interpreter or translator; 24 2. Has demonstrated proficiency in interpreting or 25 translating, as applicable, effectively, accurately and impartially, 26 including, without limitation: 27 (a) Using specialized vocabulary or terms without change, 28 omission or addition; and 29 (b) Preserving tone, sentiment and emotion of the original 30 statement; and 31 3. Adheres to generally accepted ethics for interpreters or 32 translators, as applicable, including, without limitation, 33 confidentiality of client communications. 34 Sec. 20. 1. A provider of health care who violates any 35 provision of sections 15 to 20, inclusive, of this act is guilty of 36 unprofessional conduct and is subject to disciplinary action by the 37 board, agency or other entity in this State by which he or she is 38 licensed, certified or regulated. 39 2. The board, agency or other entity in this State by which a 40 provider of health care is licensed, certified or regulated shall 41 determine if the provider of health care is in compliance with 42 sections 15 to 20, inclusive, of this act using the factors listed in 43 subsection 2 of section 16 of this act. 44 – 12 – - *SB188* Sec. 21. NRS 654.190 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 654.190 1. The Board may, after notice and an opportunity 2 for a hearing as required by law, impose an administrative fine of 3 not more than $10,000 for each violation on, recover reasonable 4 investigative fees and costs incurred from, suspend, revoke, deny 5 the issuance or renewal of or place conditions on the license of, and 6 place on probation or impose any combination of the foregoing on 7 any licensee who: 8 (a) Is convicted of a felony relating to the practice of 9 administering a facility for skilled nursing or facility for 10 intermediate care or residential facility for groups or of any offense 11 involving moral turpitude. 12 (b) Has obtained his or her license by the use of fraud or deceit. 13 (c) Violates any of the provisions of this chapter. 14 (d) Aids or abets any person in the violation of any of the 15 provisions of NRS 449.029 to 449.2428, inclusive, and sections 2 to 16 8, inclusive, of this act or 449A.100 to 449A.124, inclusive, and 17 449A.270 to 449A.286, inclusive, as those provisions pertain to a 18 facility for skilled nursing, facility for intermediate care or 19 residential facility for groups. 20 (e) Violates any regulation of the Board prescribing additional 21 standards of conduct for licensees, including, without limitation, a 22 code of ethics. 23 (f) Engages in conduct that violates the trust of a patient or 24 resident or exploits the relationship between the licensee and the 25 patient or resident for the financial or other gain of the licensee. 26 2. If a licensee requests a hearing pursuant to subsection 1, the 27 Board shall give the licensee written notice of a hearing pursuant to 28 NRS 233B.121 and 241.0333. A licensee may waive, in writing, his 29 or her right to attend the hearing. 30 3. The Board may compel the attendance of witnesses or the 31 production of documents or objects by subpoena. The Board may 32 adopt regulations that set forth a procedure pursuant to which the 33 Chair of the Board may issue subpoenas on behalf of the Board. 34 Any person who is subpoenaed pursuant to this subsection may 35 request the Board to modify the terms of the subpoena or grant 36 additional time for compliance. 37 4. An order that imposes discipline and the findings of fact and 38 conclusions of law supporting that order are public records. 39 5. The expiration of a license by operation of law or by order 40 or decision of the Board or a court, or the voluntary surrender of a 41 license, does not deprive the Board of jurisdiction to proceed with 42 any investigation of, or action or disciplinary proceeding against, the 43 licensee or to render a decision suspending or revoking the license. 44 – 13 – - *SB188* Sec. 22. The provisions of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any 1 additional expenses of a local government that are related to the 2 provisions of this act. 3 H