NRS: CHAPTER 417 - VETERANS’ SERVICES AND HONORARY RECOGNITION RELATED TO MILITARY SERVICE

[Rev. 6/29/2024 4:02:04 PM--2023]

TITLE 37 - VETERANS; PRIVILEGES, BENEFITS AND RECOGNITION RELATED TO MILITARY SERVICE

CHAPTER 417 - VETERANS’ SERVICES AND HONORARY RECOGNITION RELATED TO MILITARY SERVICE

GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR TITLE 37 OF NRS

NRS 417.005 “Veteran” defined.

GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR CHAPTER 417 OF NRS

NRS 417.009 Definitions.

NRS 417.010 “Administrator” defined.

NRS 417.012 “Department” defined.

NRS 417.013 “Deputy director” defined.

NRS 417.014 “Director” defined.

NRS 417.017 “Veterans service officer” defined.

NRS 417.018 Regulations.

ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFIT, PROGRAM, SERVICE, ASSISTANCE, ACTIVITY OR FACILITY OF STATE OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION

NRS 417.0185 Denial based solely on status as discharged veteran who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender prohibited; policies and procedures.

NRS 417.0187 Determination and certification by Federal Government deemed proof of status as veteran with a service-connected disability.

INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

NRS 417.0191 Creation; members; alternates. [Effective through June 30, 2024.]

NRS 417.0191 Creation; members; alternates. [Effective July 1, 2024.]

NRS 417.0193 Election of Chair and Vice Chair; meetings; compensation of members; members employed by State or political subdivision; quorum.

NRS 417.0194 Submission of information relating to veterans and service members by certain state agencies and regulatory bodies; requirements for form used to collect data from veterans; compilation and submission with biennial report of Council.

NRS 417.0195 Duties; biennial report.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES

Generally

NRS 417.020 Creation; powers and duties.

NRS 417.030 Creation of office of Director; appointment and qualifications of Director and deputy directors.

NRS 417.060 Director and deputy directors: Classification; restrictions on other employment.

NRS 417.090 Director: General powers and duties.

NRS 417.095 Establishment of program to assist in transition to civilian life; requirements for program.

Digital Copy of Laws; Reports; Accounts

NRS 417.103 Digital copy of state laws and newly enacted legislation relating to veterans: Biennial preparation and transmittal to veterans; addendum after special session of Legislature; posting of digital copy on Internet website.

NRS 417.105 Biennial review of report of preferences for local businesses owned and operated by veterans with service-connected disabilities; recommendations.

NRS 417.109 Annual report on funding of programs and services for veterans: Preparation; contents; transmittal of digital copy to veterans; posting of digital copy on Internet website.

NRS 417.115 Gift Account for Veterans: Creation; administration; use; interest and income; claims; nonreversion; annual report of expenditures.

NRS 417.119 Account to Assist Veterans Who Have Suffered Sexual Trauma: Creation; administration; gifts, grants and donations; use; interest and income; claims; nonreversion; annual report of expenditures.

Outreach and Assistance to Veterans and Members of Military who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender

NRS 417.121 Duties of Director.

Collection of Information and Conduct of Outreach Programs Regarding Certain Issues Relating to Veterans

NRS 417.123 Definitions.

NRS 417.124 “Provider of health care” defined.

NRS 417.125 “Veteran” defined.

NRS 417.126 Questionnaire: Development and posting on Internet website; Director to submit information obtained annually to Division of Public and Behavioral Health of Department of Health and Human Services.

NRS 417.127 Conduct of public outreach programs; collaboration with nonprofit organizations to identify and refer certain persons to services.

NRS 417.128 Collaboration with United States Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out duties; annual report.

ADVERTISEMENT OR PROMOTION OF EVENTS OR SERVICES FOR VETERANS’ BENEFITS OR ENTITLEMENTS

NRS 417.133 Disclosure of information concerning certain events or services relating to benefits or entitlements for veterans; exceptions.

NRS 417.135 Disclosure of information by provider of services to obtain veterans’ benefits in exchange for compensation; exception.

NRS 417.137 Civil penalty; action for consumer fraud.

VETERANS HOMES

NRS 417.145 Veterans Home Account; Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Southern Nevada; Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Northern Nevada; annual report of expenditures made from those Gift Accounts.

NRS 417.147 Appointment of administrators; management, maintenance and operation; application for federal grants and other available money; schedule of rates; adult day health care programs.

NRS 417.148 Revolving accounts: Creation; purpose; transfer of money from Veterans Home Account.

NRS 417.149 Trust fund for deposit of money belonging to residents of veterans’ home; maintenance of separate accounts for residents with money in fund; written account of money in fund; disposition of residents’ accounts; maintenance of reserve cash fund.

NEVADA VETERANS SERVICES COMMISSION

NRS 417.150 Creation; membership; removal of member; terms; filling of certain vacancies.

NRS 417.160 Chair; Vice Chair; Director to provide for minutes and audio recordings or transcripts of meeting; compensation and expenses of members.

NRS 417.170 Meetings: Frequency; notice to members.

NRS 417.190 Duties.

VETERANS CEMETERIES

NRS 417.200 Employment and duties of cemetery superintendent; landscaping.

NRS 417.210 Eligibility for interment; application; number of and assignment of plots; fee for interment of family member.

NRS 417.215 Program to provide financial assistance to family of veteran for the disinterment of veteran and relocation to veterans’ cemetery: Establishment; gifts, grants and donations; regulations.

NRS 417.220 Account for Veterans Affairs; Gift Account for Veterans Cemeteries.

NRS 417.230 Advisory Committees for Veterans Cemeteries: Creation; members; terms; officers; meetings; compensation of members; consultation with Director.

WOMEN VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

NRS 417.310 “Committee” defined.

NRS 417.320 Creation; appointment of members; Chair; terms; vacancies; meetings; quorum; compensation; administrative support.

NRS 417.330 Duties; biennial report.

NAMING OF CERTAIN STATE PROPERTY AFTER CERTAIN DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES

NRS 417.400 Recommendation by Nevada Veterans Services Commission of deceased to be honored.

NRS 417.410 Nevada Will Always Remember Veterans Gift Account: Creation; donations, gifts and grants; use; interest and income; nonreversion.

_________

GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR TITLE 37 OF NRS

NRS 417.005 “Veteran” defined. As used in this title, unless the context otherwise requires, “veteran” means a resident of this State who:

1. Was regularly enlisted, drafted, inducted or commissioned in the:

(a) Armed Forces of the United States and was accepted for and assigned to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States;

(b) National Guard or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States and was accepted for and assigned to duty for a minimum of 6 continuous years; or

(c) Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States and served in the capacity of a commissioned officer while on active duty in defense of the United States; and

2. Was separated from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 749)

GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR CHAPTER 417 OF NRS

NRS 417.009 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 417.010 to 417.017, inclusive, have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2497; A 2019, 123)

NRS 417.010 “Administrator” defined. “Administrator” means the administrator of a veterans’ home in this State.

(NRS A 1963, 13; A 1997, 2583; 1999, 2477; 2003, 2812; 2013, 2498)

NRS 417.012 “Department” defined. “Department” means the Department of Veterans Services created by NRS 417.020.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2497)

NRS 417.013 “Deputy director” defined. “Deputy director” means a deputy director of the Department appointed pursuant to NRS 417.030.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2497; A 2017, 379)

NRS 417.014 “Director” defined. “Director” means the Director of the Department.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2497)

NRS 417.017 “Veterans service officer” defined. “Veterans service officer” means a person who is certified by the Director and accredited or otherwise officially recognized by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans with filing claims for benefits and related matters.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 123)

NRS 417.018 Regulations. The Director may adopt such regulations as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2497)

ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFIT, PROGRAM, SERVICE, ASSISTANCE, ACTIVITY OR FACILITY OF STATE OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION

NRS 417.0185 Denial based solely on status as discharged veteran who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender prohibited; policies and procedures.

1. No veteran may be denied eligibility for any program, service, benefit, activity or facility of a department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of this State or any political subdivision of this State which provides a program, service, benefit, activity or facility to veterans for which the veteran would otherwise be eligible solely on the basis of the veteran’s status as a discharged veteran who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

2. The Director may adopt such policies and procedures as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

3. As used in this section, “veteran” means a resident of this State who meets the qualifications of subsection 1 of NRS 417.005.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 217; A 2019, 54)

NRS 417.0187 Determination and certification by Federal Government deemed proof of status as veteran with a service-connected disability. Notwithstanding any provision of state law to the contrary, for the purpose of determining the eligibility for any benefit, program or assistance provided by the State or a local government to a veteran, or a business owned or operated by a veteran, with a service-connected disability:

1. The veteran shall be deemed to be a veteran with a service-connected disability to the extent determined by the Federal Government; and

2. A certificate from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Department of Defense which indicates that the veteran has incurred a service-connected disability and which indicates the total percentage or compensation of that disability is sufficient evidence:

(a) That the veteran has incurred a service-connected disability; and

(b) Of the total percentage or compensation of the service-connected disability.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 1132)

INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

NRS 417.0191 Creation; members; alternates. [Effective through June 30, 2024.]

1. The Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs is hereby created. The Council consists of:

(a) The Director of the Department of Business and Industry;

(b) The Director of the Department of Corrections;

(d) The Director of the Department of Health and Human Services;

(e) The Director of the Department of Public Safety;

(f) The Director of the Department of Veterans Services;

(g) The Adjutant General;

(h) The Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education;

(i) The Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development;

(j) The Executive Director of the Nevada Indian Commission;

(k) The Administrator of the Division of Human Resource Management of the Department of Administration;

(l) The Attorney General;

(m) The Superintendent of Public Instruction;

(n) The Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation; and

(o) Any other persons appointed by the Governor, including, without limitation, representatives of federal and local governmental agencies and private entities that provide services to veterans. Members appointed pursuant to this paragraph serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

2. A member of the Council may designate a person to represent him or her at any meeting of the Council. The person designated may exercise all the duties, rights and privileges of the member that he or she represents.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2497; A 2017, 7; 2023, 134)

NRS 417.0191 Creation; members; alternates. [Effective July 1, 2024.]

1. The Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs is hereby created. The Council consists of:

(a) The Director of the Department of Business and Industry;

(b) The Director of the Department of Corrections;

(d) The Director of the Department of Health and Human Services;

(e) The Director of the Department of Public Safety;

(f) The Director of the Department of Veterans Services;

(g) The Adjutant General;

(h) The Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education;

(i) The Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development;

(j) The Executive Director of the Department of Native American Affairs;

(k) The Administrator of the Division of Human Resource Management of the Department of Administration;

(l) The Attorney General;

(m) The Superintendent of Public Instruction;

(n) The Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation; and

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2497; A 2017, 7; 2023, 134, 2772, effective July 1, 2024)

NRS 417.0193 Election of Chair and Vice Chair; meetings; compensation of members; members employed by State or political subdivision; quorum.

1. The members of the Council shall elect a Chair and a Vice Chair. The Vice Chair presides in the absence of the Chair.

2. The Council shall meet at least once each quarter but may meet more often at the call of the Chair or a majority of the members of the Council.

3. Members of the Council serve without compensation, except that each member of the Council is entitled, while engaged in the business of the Council, to receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses provided for state officers and employees generally. The per diem allowance and travel expenses provided to a member of the Council who is an officer or employee of the State of Nevada or a political subdivision of this State must be paid by the state agency or political subdivision which employs him or her.

4. Each member of the Council who is an officer or employee of the State of Nevada or a political subdivision of this State must be relieved from his or her duties without loss of regular compensation so that the member may prepare for and attend meetings of the Council and perform any work necessary to carry out the duties of the Council in the most timely manner practicable. A state agency or political subdivision of this State shall not require an officer or employee who is a member of the Council to make up the time that he or she is absent from work to carry out his or her duties as a member of the Council or to use annual vacation or compensatory time for the absence.

5. A majority of the members of the Council constitutes a quorum, and a quorum may exercise all the powers conferred on the Council.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2497)

1. Each state agency and regulatory body identified in subsections 2 to 16, inclusive, shall report, subject to any limitations or restrictions contained in any state or federal law governing the privacy or confidentiality of records, the data identified in subsections 2 to 17, inclusive, as applicable, to the Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs. Each state agency and regulatory body shall submit such information for the immediately preceding fiscal year to the Council not later than November 30 of each year and shall provide the information in aggregate and in digital form, and in a manner such that the data is capable of integration by the Council.

2. The Department of Veterans Services shall provide annual statistics regarding:

(a) The distribution of expenditures in this State by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;

(b) The number of veterans who receive care at a veterans’ home operated by the State;

(d) The total number of veterans service officers who are employed by this State and located in this State, by zip code;

(e) The number of claims filed on behalf of veterans and the family members of veterans by veterans service officers in this State;

(f) The amount of annual payments in the form of disability compensation and pension benefits made to veterans and the family members of veterans in this State as a result of claims filed by any veterans service officers employed or managed by the Department of Veterans Services;

(g) The number of persons who participate as advocates for veterans in this State in a volunteer program sponsored by the Department of Veterans Services, by zip code;

(h) The number of employers in this State who participate in a program sponsored by the Department of Veterans Services that facilitates the employment of veterans; and

(i) The number of events sponsored or supported by the Department of Veterans Services held in this State to provide outreach to veterans regarding benefits, claims and services, segregated by the geographical location of each event.

3. The Department of Administration shall provide:

(a) Descriptions of and the total amount of the grant dollars received for veteran-specific programs;

(b) The total combined number of veterans and, to the extent the information is available, widows and widowers of persons killed in the line of duty while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, who are employed by each agency in the State; and

(c) The total number of veterans with service-connected disabilities who are seeking preferences through the Purchasing Division and the State Public Works Division of the Department of Administration pursuant to NRS 333.3366 and 338.13844.

4. The State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall provide the total number of veterans receiving:

(a) Expedited certification for the grade I certification examination for wastewater treatment plant operators based on their military experience; and

(b) Any discounted fees for access to or the use of state parks.

5. The Department of Corrections shall provide:

(a) An annual overview of the monthly population of inmates in this State who are veterans; and

(b) The success rates for any efforts developed by the Incarcerated Veterans Reintegration Council.

6. The Office of Economic Development shall provide an overview of the workforce that is available statewide of veterans, organized by O*NET-SOC code from the United States Department of Labor or the trade, job title, employment status, zip code, county, highest education level and driver’s license class.

7. The Department of Education shall provide the distribution of dependents of service members enrolled in Nevada’s public schools.

8. The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation shall provide a summary of:

(a) The average number of veterans served by a veteran employment specialist of the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation per week;

(b) The average number of initial and continuing claims for benefits filed per week by veterans pursuant to NRS 612.455 to 612.530, inclusive;

(d) The average duration of a claim by claimants who are veterans receiving benefits pursuant to chapter 612 of NRS.

9. The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide:

(a) The total number of veterans who have applied for and received certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-B, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic through the State Emergency Medical Systems program; and

(b) A report from the State Registrar of Vital Statistics setting forth the suicide mortality rate of veterans in this State.

10. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall provide:

(a) The total number of veterans who have declared themselves as a veteran and who applied for and received a commercial driver’s license;

(b) The average monthly total of veteran license plates issued; and

11. The Adjutant General shall provide the total number of:

(a) Members of the Nevada National Guard using waivers for each semester and identifying which schools accepted the waivers; and

(b) Members of the Nevada National Guard employed under a grant from Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.

12. The Department of Public Safety shall provide the percentage of veterans in each graduating class of its academy for training peace officers.

13. The Department of Taxation shall provide the total number of veterans receiving tax exemptions pursuant to NRS 361.090, 361.091, 361.155, 371.103 and 371.104.

14. The Department of Wildlife shall provide the total number of:

(a) Veterans holding hunting or fishing licenses based on disability; and

(b) Service members holding hunting or fishing licenses who are residents of this State but are stationed outside this State.

15. The Commission on Postsecondary Education shall provide, by industry, the total number of schools in this State approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that are serving veterans.

16. Each regulatory body shall provide the total number of veterans and service members who have:

(a) Applied for a license from the regulatory body.

(b) Been issued a license by the regulatory body.

17. Each state agency and regulatory body identified in subsections 2 to 16, inclusive, shall ensure that the form used to collect data from a veteran, including, without limitation, a digital form posted on an Internet website, includes the following questions:

(a) “Have you ever served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and separated from such service under conditions other than dishonorable?”

(b) “Have you ever been assigned to duty for a minimum of 6 continuous years in the National Guard or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States and separated from such service under conditions other than dishonorable?”

(c) “Have you ever served the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States in the capacity of a commissioned officer while on active duty in defense of the United States and separated from such service under conditions other than dishonorable?”

18. The Council shall, upon receiving the information submitted pursuant to this section and NRS 612.237, synthesize and compile the information, including any recommendations of the Council, and submit the information with the report submitted pursuant to subsection 7 of NRS 417.0195.

19. As used in this section:

(a) “License” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 622.030.

(b) “Regulatory body” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 622.060.

(Added to NRS by 2015, 563; A 2017, 33, 2198, 3431; 2019, 54, 123; 2023, 134)

NRS 417.0195 Duties; biennial report. The Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs shall:

1. Identify and prioritize the needs of veterans and servicemen and servicewomen and their families in this State.

2. Study the coordination of the efforts of the Federal Government, State Government, local governments and private entities to meet the needs of veterans and servicemen and servicewomen and their families in this State.

3. Develop and disseminate best practices for improving outcomes for veterans and servicemen and servicewomen and their families through policy recommendations at the state and local governmental levels.

4. Foster the development and dissemination of research and policy for improving outcomes for veterans and servicemen and servicewomen and their families.

5. Cultivate leadership opportunities for veterans.

6. Develop models for outreach to and engagement of veterans.

7. On or before February 15 of each even-numbered year, submit a report concerning the activities of the Council during the preceding 2 fiscal years, including the information synthesized and compiled pursuant to NRS 417.0194, and any recommendations of the Council to the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislative Commission.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2498; A 2015, 3933; 2017, 35; 2023, 137)

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES

Generally

NRS 417.020 Creation; powers and duties.

1. The Department of Veterans Services is hereby created.

2. The Department is vested with the powers and authority provided in this chapter and shall carry out the purposes of this chapter.

[1:189:1943; A 1947, 779; 1943 NCL § 6879]—(NRS A 1963, 13; 1993, 1615; 1997, 2583; 1999, 2477; 2013, 2498)

NRS 417.030 Creation of office of Director; appointment and qualifications of Director and deputy directors.

1. The office of Director of the Department of Veterans Services is hereby created.

2. The Director must be appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

3. The Director shall appoint such deputy directors as are necessary to assist the Director in performing the duties prescribed in this chapter, including, without limitation, a Deputy Director of Benefits and a Deputy Director of Healthcare Services.

4. Any person to be eligible for appointment as the Director or the Deputy Director of Benefits must:

(a) Be an actual and bona fide resident of the State of Nevada;

(b) Possess an honorable discharge from some branch of the Armed Forces of the United States; and

5. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, any person to be eligible for appointment as the Deputy Director of Healthcare Services must:

(a) Be an actual and bona fide resident of the State of Nevada;

(b) Possess an honorable discharge from some branch of the Armed Forces of the United States; and

Ê If no person is available for appointment who possesses all the qualifications required by this subsection, the Director may waive the qualification set forth in paragraph (b) for a person who is otherwise qualified for appointment pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (c).

[Part 2:189:1943; A 1947, 779; 1943 NCL § 6879.01]—(NRS A 1991, 64; 1997, 2583; 2013, 2499; 2017, 379; 2019, 57, 126; 2023, 702)

NRS 417.060 Director and deputy directors: Classification; restrictions on other employment. The Director and each deputy director are in the unclassified service of the State. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 284.143, the Director and each deputy director shall devote his or her entire time and attention to the business of his or her office and shall not pursue any other business or occupation or hold any other office of profit.

[21:295:1953; A 1955, 525]—(NRS A 1957, 549; 1960, 395; 1961, 657; 1963, 1332; 1965, 705; 1967, 1498; 1971, 1437; 1981, 1281; 1995, 2314; 1997, 2584; 2013, 2499; 2017, 380)

NRS 417.090 Director: General powers and duties.

1. The Director shall:

(a) Assist veterans, and those presently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States who are residents of the State of Nevada, their spouses, domestic partners, widows, widowers, children, dependents, administrators, executors and personal representatives, in preparing, submitting and presenting any claim against the United States, or any state, for insurance, pension, disability compensation, vocational training, education, rehabilitation or any other benefit to which they may be entitled under the laws of the United States or of any of the states, and assist them in obtaining any aid or benefit to which they may be entitled under the laws of the United States or of any of the states.

(b) Aid, assist, encourage and cooperate with every service organization recognized nationally or in this State insofar as the activities of such organizations are for the benefit of veterans, servicemen and servicewomen and the spouses, domestic partners, widows, widowers, children, dependents, administrators, executors or personal representatives of such veterans, servicemen and servicewomen.

(c) Give aid, assistance and counsel to each and every problem, question and situation, individual as well as collective, affecting any veteran, serviceman or servicewoman, or their dependents, or any group of veterans, servicemen and servicewomen, when in their opinion such comes within the scope of this chapter.

(d) Coordinate activities of veterans’ organizations.

(e) Serve as a clearinghouse and disseminate information relating to veterans’ benefits.

(f) Conduct any studies which will assist veterans to obtain compensation, insurance, pension, disability compensation, vocational training, education, rehabilitation or any other benefit to which veterans may be entitled under the laws of the United States or of any state.

(g) Aid, assist and cooperate with the office of coordinator of services for veterans created in a county pursuant to NRS 244.401.

(h) Take possession of any abandoned or unclaimed artifacts or other property that has military or historical value for safekeeping. The Director may:

(1) Transfer such an artifact or other property to:

(I) The Nevada State Museum or the Nevada Historical Society, upon its written request, if the artifact or other property has, in the opinion of the requesting institution, historical value and is worthy of preservation; or

(II) Any other governmental agency or nonprofit entity, including, without limitation, a veterans’ organization and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, upon its written request, if the artifact or other property was not requested by the Nevada State Museum or the Nevada Historical Society; or

(2) Destroy or otherwise dispose of the artifact or other property.

Ê An action may not be maintained by any person against the holder or former holder of an artifact or other property because of the transfer, destruction or other disposal of the artifact or other property pursuant to this paragraph.

(i) Develop plans and programs to assist veterans who have suffered sexual trauma while on active duty or during military training.

(j) Create and maintain a statewide database of information relating to veterans to assist the Department in identifying and communicating with veterans and connecting veterans with benefits and opportunities for which they are eligible.

(k) Create and maintain a registry of governmental agencies and private entities that provide services and resources to veterans, service members and their families and publish a digital copy of the registry on the Internet website maintained by the Department.

(l) Ensure that each generation of veterans is recognized annually through a ceremony, information campaign or other form of public acknowledgment.

(m) Establish, operate and maintain veterans’ cemeteries in this State, and may, within the limits of legislative authorization, employ personnel and purchase equipment and supplies necessary for the operation and maintenance of the cemeteries.

(n) Establish, manage, maintain and operate veterans’ homes in this State, and may, within the limits of legislative authorization, employ personnel and purchase equipment and supplies necessary for the operation and maintenance of veterans’ homes.

(o) If the board of county commissioners of any county makes the request required pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 244.401, provide to the coordinator of services for veterans in the county training and certification as a veterans service officer.

(p) If training and certification is requested pursuant to paragraph (o), submit an application, on behalf of the coordinator of services for veterans, to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for accreditation or official recognition as a veterans service officer.

(q) Serve as the primary public advocate for Nevada veterans.

(r) Ensure that each person who participates as an advocate for veterans in this State in a volunteer program sponsored by the Department is:

(1) Offered the opportunity to participate in annual training; and

(2) If requested by the volunteer, provided mentorship.

(s) Provide quarterly training to each veterans service officer employed by the Department regarding the benefits, services, programs and assistance available to veterans.

(t) Additionally offer the quarterly training described in paragraph (s) to representatives of veterans service organizations who are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

(u) Connect veterans experiencing homelessness to housing and organizations that provide support in housing and other related areas to decrease homelessness among veterans.

(v) Create, coordinate and support programs and resources for the prevention of suicide among veterans, including, without limitation, programs and resources to increase knowledge of how to recognize the signs of a potentially suicidal veteran and resources to which veterans who are potentially suicidal may be referred.

2. The Director shall:

(a) Establish an internal policy for guidance to employees of the Department regarding the transfer, destruction or other disposal of artifacts and other property pursuant to paragraph (h) of subsection 1; and

(b) Post the policy on the Internet website maintained by the Department.

[3:189:1943; A 1947, 779; 1943 NCL § 6879.02]—(NRS A 1977, 1216; 1979, 326; 1997, 1319, 2585; 2009, 385; 2013, 2500; 2015, 1167; 2017, 4, 7, 380, 789, 2201; 2019, 127; 2021, 432; 2023, 703)

NRS 417.095 Establishment of program to assist in transition to civilian life; requirements for program.

1. The Director shall establish and maintain a program to assist veterans and servicemen and servicewomen in transitioning to life as civilians. The program must be designed to complement any similar programs of the Federal Government, including, without limitation, the program established pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 1144.

2. The program established pursuant to this section must provide information and resources specific to this State concerning:

(a) Programs of higher education and benefits for higher education;

(b) Employment and vocational training;

(d) Programs and services related to health care;

(e) Mental health;

(f) Sexual trauma, including, without limitation, information and resources specific to sexual trauma experienced while on active duty or during military training;

(g) Housing; and

(h) Any other benefits available to veterans and servicemen and servicewomen to assist them in transitioning to life as civilians.

3. As used in this section, “serviceman” or “servicewoman” means a person who is an active member of the:

(a) Armed Forces of the United States;

(b) National Guard or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States; or

(c) Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States and is serving in the capacity of a commissioned officer in defense of the United States.

(Added to NRS by 2021, 429)

Digital Copy of Laws; Reports; Accounts

1. The Director shall, not later than September 1 following each regular session of the Legislature, prepare a digital copy of the provisions of NRS relating to veterans and transmit a digital copy to each veteran in this State for whom the Department has an electronic mail address of record.

2. The Director shall, to the extent practicable, include with the digital copy provided pursuant to subsection 1, a memorandum that includes:

(a) A description of each statute newly enacted by the Legislature which affects veterans in this State. The memorandum may compile each statute into one document.

(b) A description of each bill, or portion of a bill, newly enacted by the Legislature that appropriates or authorizes money for veterans, or otherwise affects the amount of money that is available for veterans’ services, including, without limitation, each line item in a budget for such an appropriation or authorization. The memorandum may compile each bill, or portion of a bill, as applicable, into one document.

(c) If a statute or bill described in the memorandum requires the Director or the Department to take action to carry out the statute or bill, a brief plan for carrying out such duties.

(d) The date on which each statute and bill described in the memorandum becomes effective and the date by which each statute and bill must be carried into effect.

3. If a statute or bill described in subsection 2 is enacted during a special session of the Legislature that concludes after July 1, the Director shall, to the extent practicable, prepare an addendum to the memorandum that includes the information required by this section for each such statute or bill. The addendum must be provided electronically to each veteran who received the memorandum not later than 30 days after the conclusion of the special session.

4. The Director shall publish a digital copy of the information prepared pursuant to this section on the Internet website maintained by the Department.

(Added to NRS by 2015, 565)

NRS 417.105 Biennial review of report of preferences for local businesses owned and operated by veterans with service-connected disabilities; recommendations.

1. On or before October 1 of each even-numbered year, the Department shall review the reports submitted pursuant to NRS 333.3368 and 338.13846.

2. In carrying out the provisions of subsection 1, the Department shall seek input from:

(a) The Purchasing Division of the Department of Administration.

(b) The State Public Works Board of the State Public Works Division of the Department of Administration.

(d) Groups representing the interests of veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(e) The business community.

(f) Local businesses owned and operated by veterans with service-connected disabilities.

3. After performing the duties described in subsections 1 and 2, the Department shall make recommendations to the Legislative Commission regarding the continuation, modification, promotion or expansion of the preferences for local businesses owned and operated by veterans with service-connected disabilities which are described in NRS 333.3366 and 338.13844.

4. As used in this section:

(a) “Business owned and operated by a veteran with a service-connected disability” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 338.13841.

(b) “Local business” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 333.3363.

(Added to NRS by 2009, 2674; A 2011, 3471; 2013, 2501; 2015, 566, 2773)

NRS 417.109 Annual report on funding of programs and services for veterans: Preparation; contents; transmittal of digital copy to veterans; posting of digital copy on Internet website.

1. The Director shall, not later than August 1 of each year, prepare a report that provides an analysis of the funding of programs and services for veterans in this State. The report must include, without limitation:

(a) The amount and sources of money received by the Department for the provision of programs and services for veterans in this State;

(b) A comprehensive overview of the budget of the Department; and

(c) The expenditures made from the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Southern Nevada and the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Northern Nevada created by NRS 417.145 and the Gift Account for Veterans created by NRS 417.115.

2. The Director shall:

(a) Transmit a digital copy of the report to each veteran in this State for whom the Department has an electronic mail address of record; and

(b) Publish a digital copy of the report on the Internet website maintained by the Department.

(Added to NRS by 2015, 3933)

NRS 417.115 Gift Account for Veterans: Creation; administration; use; interest and income; claims; nonreversion; annual report of expenditures.

1. The Gift Account for Veterans is hereby created in the State General Fund. The Director shall administer the Gift Account for Veterans.

2. The money deposited in the Gift Account for Veterans pursuant to NRS 482.3764 may only be used for the support of outreach programs or services for veterans and their families, or both, as determined by the Director.

3. The interest and income earned on the money in the Gift Account for Veterans, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the Gift Account for Veterans.

4. All money in the Gift Account for Veterans must be paid out on claims approved by the Director as other claims against the State are paid.

5. Any money remaining in the Gift Account for Veterans at the end of each fiscal year does not lapse to the State General Fund, but must be carried forward into the next fiscal year.

6. The Director shall, on or before August 1 of each year, prepare and submit to the Interim Finance Committee a report detailing the expenditures made from the Gift Account for Veterans.

(Added to NRS by 1993, 2599; A 1997, 2587; 1999, 1956; 2003, 2812, 3210; 2005, 530; 2007, 668; 2011, 467; 2013, 2501)

1. The Account to Assist Veterans Who Have Suffered Sexual Trauma is hereby created in the State General Fund. The Director shall administer the Account.

2. The Director may apply for any available grants and accept gifts, grants, donations and any other source of money for deposit in the Account.

3. Money deposited in the Account and any interest and income earned on such money must be used only to assist veterans who have suffered sexual trauma while on active duty or during military training. The interest and income earned on money in the Account, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the Account. All money in the Account must be paid out on claims approved by the Director as other claims against the State are paid. Any money remaining in the Account at the end of a fiscal year does not revert to the State General Fund, but must be carried forward to the next fiscal year.

4. The Director shall, on or before August 1 of each year, prepare and submit to the Interim Finance Committee a report detailing the expenditures made from the Account for the immediately preceding fiscal year.

(Added to NRS by 2015, 1166; A 2017, 2201; 2019, 474)

Outreach and Assistance to Veterans and Members of Military who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender

NRS 417.121 Duties of Director.

1. The Director shall conduct outreach to, and provide assistance designed for the unique needs of, veterans and members of the military who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and their spouses and dependents, including, without limitation, providing assistance in applying for an upgrade to the character of the veteran’s discharge from service or a change in the narrative reason for the veteran’s discharge from service.

2. As used in this section, “veteran” means a resident of this State who meets the qualifications of subsection 1 of NRS 417.005.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 216; A 2019, 58)

Collection of Information and Conduct of Outreach Programs Regarding Certain Issues Relating to Veterans

NRS 417.123 Definitions. As used in NRS 417.123 to 417.128, inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 417.124 and 417.125 have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 2690)

NRS 417.124 “Provider of health care” defined. “Provider of health care” means a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, osteopathic physician, naprapath, chiropractic physician, psychologist, marriage and family therapist, clinical professional counselor, clinical social worker, alcohol and drug abuse counselor, clinical alcohol and drug abuse counselor or problem gambling counselor.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 2690; A 2023, 1703)

NRS 417.125 “Veteran” defined. “Veteran” means a person who:

1. Was regularly enlisted, drafted, inducted or commissioned in the:

(a) Armed Forces of the United States;

(b) National Guard or a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States; or

(c) Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service or the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States; and

2. Was separated from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 2690)

1. The Director shall develop and post on an Internet website maintained by the Department a questionnaire to be given to veterans who contact the Department using information provided by providers of health care pursuant to NRS 630.2675, 632.2385, 633.472, 634.1305, 634B.270, 641.229, 641A.295, 641B.350 and 641C.600. The questionnaire must be designed to obtain information concerning:

(a) The veteran’s experience in the military, including, without limitation, the branch of the military in which the veteran served, the veteran’s job while in the military, any battle, conflict or war in which the veteran served and the locations where the veteran was stationed;

(b) Any service-connected disabilities and diseases, including, without limitation, diseases presumed to be service-connected pursuant to 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303 to 3.344, inclusive, from which the veteran may suffer; and

2. On or before January 31 of each year, the Director shall submit the information obtained pursuant to this section to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 2690; A 2023, 1703)

NRS 417.127 Conduct of public outreach programs; collaboration with nonprofit organizations to identify and refer certain persons to services.

1. The Director shall conduct public outreach programs which must include, without limitation, posting information concerning the topics described in this subsection on an Internet website maintained by the Director. The programs may also include, without limitation, public service announcements and the distribution of brochures and other media for display in the offices of persons who provide services to veterans and the families of veterans. The programs must be designed to provide information and raise public awareness concerning:

(a) Service-connected disabilities and diseases, including, without limitation, diseases presumed to be service-connected pursuant to 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303 to 3.344, inclusive; and

(b) Survivor benefits available to family members of veterans.

2. The Director shall collaborate with nonprofit organizations that provide services to veterans and their families, including, without limitation, the American Heart Association or its successor organization, the American Lung Association or its successor organization and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or its successor organization, to:

(a) Identify veterans and the children and grandchildren of veterans who have service-connected disabilities and diseases, including, without limitation, diseases presumed to be service-connected pursuant to 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303 to 3.344, inclusive; and

(b) Refer any such persons to appropriate services offered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 2690)

NRS 417.128 Collaboration with United States Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out duties; annual report. The Director shall:

1. Collaborate with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out the duties prescribed by NRS 417.126 and 417.127.

2. On or before January 31 of each year, submit to the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislature a report that includes, without limitation:

(a) A description of the actions taken during the immediately preceding year pursuant to NRS 417.127 and an evaluation of the effectiveness of those actions; and

(b) A summary of any referrals made pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 417.127 during the immediately preceding year.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 2691)

ADVERTISEMENT OR PROMOTION OF EVENTS OR SERVICES FOR VETERANS’ BENEFITS OR ENTITLEMENTS

NRS 417.133 Disclosure of information concerning certain events or services relating to benefits or entitlements for veterans; exceptions.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, any person who advertises or promotes any event or other public gathering relating to benefits or entitlements for veterans shall, at the beginning of the event or other public gathering, make an oral announcement and provide to each attendee a written disclosure. The oral announcement and written disclosure must be in the following form:

This event is not sponsored by, or affiliated with, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Nevada Department of Veterans Services. You may qualify for benefits other than or in addition to the benefits discussed at this event.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, any person who advertises or promotes services to represent or assist veterans in matters relating to benefits or entitlements for veterans, shall provide a disclosure on all materials used to advertise or promote those services in the following form:

No compensation may be received by any person advising or assisting another person with a matter relating to veterans’ benefits except as authorized under Title 38 of the United States Code. Veterans’ benefit services are offered at no cost by federally chartered veteran service organizations and accredited veterans service officers.

3. Any written disclosure made pursuant to this section must be conspicuous, appear in 10-point font or larger and appear in the same type face as the largest use of the term “veteran” or any similar term that appears in the advertising or promotional material containing the written disclosure.

4. The requirements of this section do not apply to:

(a) Any congressionally chartered or recognized organization of honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces of the United States or any affiliate of such an organization;

(b) Any person who has obtained written permission from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Veterans Services or any other organization described in paragraph (a) to use the name, symbol or insignia of the agency or organization to promote any event or other public gathering relating to benefits or entitlements for veterans;

(d) The owner or personnel of any medium in which an advertisement appears or through which an advertisement is disseminated;

(e) An entity that is recognized as exempt under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) or 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(19); or

(f) An attorney or agent who is accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans with filing claims for benefits and related matters.

5. As used in this section, “advertise” means to use any written or printed communication, directory listing or a radio, television, computer network or similar airwave or electronic transmission to solicit or promote services relating to benefits or entitlements for veterans. The term does not include any printing or writing used on a building, uniform or badge for identification purposes or used in a memorandum or other communication in the ordinary course of business that does not solicit or promote services relating to benefits or entitlements for veterans.

(Added to NRS by 2021, 953)

NRS 417.135 Disclosure of information by provider of services to obtain veterans’ benefits in exchange for compensation; exception.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, any person who provides services to obtain veterans’ benefits in exchange for compensation shall provide written disclosure in the form prescribed pursuant to subsection 2 and obtain the signature from a client or prospective client before entering into an agreement for such services.

2. The Department shall prescribe the form for such written disclosure. The form must include, without limitation:

(a) A signature line;

(b) An attestation that the client has read and understands the written disclosure;

(d) A statement that services for veterans’ benefits are offered at no cost by service organizations that are federally chartered and veterans service officers.

3. The requirements of this section do not apply to an attorney or agent who is accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans with filing claims for benefits and related matters.

4. As used in this section, “services to obtain veterans’ benefits” means services that a veteran or an agent of a veteran uses to obtain federal, state or other benefits or entitlements for veterans.

(Added to NRS by 2021, 955)

NRS 417.137 Civil penalty; action for consumer fraud.

1. The Attorney General may recover a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation of NRS 417.133 or 417.135. The Attorney General shall deposit any civil penalty recovered pursuant to this section in the Gift Account for Veterans created by NRS 417.115.

2. A person aggrieved by a violation of NRS 417.133 or 417.135 may bring an action for consumer fraud pursuant to NRS 41.600.

(Added to NRS by 2021, 955)

VETERANS HOMES

1. The Veterans Home Account is hereby established in the State General Fund.

2. Money received from:

(a) Payments made by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans who receive care in a veterans’ home;

(b) Other payments for medical care and services;

(d) Federal grants and other money received pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 1 of NRS 417.147;

(e) Money collected pursuant to the schedule of rates established pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 417.147 for occupancy of rooms at veterans’ homes; and

(f) Except as otherwise provided in subsections 7 and 8, gifts of money and proceeds derived from the sale of gifts of personal property for the use of veterans’ homes, if the use of those gifts has not been restricted by the donor,

Ê must be deposited with the State Treasurer for credit to the Veterans Home Account.

3. Interest and income must not be computed on the money in the Veterans Home Account.

4. The Veterans Home Account must be administered by the Director, with the advice of the administrators, and except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of subsection 1 of NRS 417.147, the money deposited in the Veterans Home Account may only be expended for:

(a) The establishment, management, maintenance and operation of veterans’ homes as required by paragraph (n) of subsection 1 of NRS 417.090;

(b) A program or service related to a veterans’ home;

(d) The purpose of informing the public about issues concerning the establishment and uses of a veterans’ home.

5. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 7 and 8, gifts of personal property for the use of veterans’ homes:

(a) May be sold or exchanged if the sale or exchange is approved by the State Board of Examiners; or

(b) May be used in kind if the gifts are not appropriate for conversion to money.

6. All money in the Veterans Home Account must be paid out on claims approved by the Director as other claims against the State are paid.

7. The Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Southern Nevada is hereby established in the State General Fund. Gifts of money or personal property which the donor has restricted to one or more uses at the veterans’ home in southern Nevada must be used only in the manner designated by the donor. Gifts of money which the donor has restricted to one or more uses at this veterans’ home must be deposited with the State Treasurer for credit to the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Southern Nevada. The interest and income earned on the money in the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Southern Nevada, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Southern Nevada. Any money remaining in the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Southern Nevada at the end of each fiscal year does not lapse to the State General Fund, but must be carried forward into the next fiscal year.

8. The Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Northern Nevada is hereby established in the State General Fund. Gifts of money or personal property which the donor has restricted to one or more uses at the veterans’ home in northern Nevada must be used only in the manner designated by the donor. Gifts of money which the donor has restricted to one or more uses at this veterans’ home must be deposited with the State Treasurer for credit to the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Northern Nevada. The interest and income earned on the money in the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Northern Nevada, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Northern Nevada. Any money remaining in the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Northern Nevada at the end of each fiscal year does not lapse to the State General Fund, but must be carried forward into the next fiscal year.

9. The Director shall, on or before August 1 of each year, prepare and submit to the Interim Finance Committee a report detailing the expenditures made from the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Southern Nevada and the Gift Account for the Veterans Home in Northern Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1993, 2599; A 1997, 2587; 1999, 1956; 2003, 2812, 3210; 2005, 530; 2007, 668; 2011, 467; 2013, 2501; 2019, 129)

NRS 417.147 Appointment of administrators; management, maintenance and operation; application for federal grants and other available money; schedule of rates; adult day health care programs.

1. Subject to the limits provided in paragraph (n) of subsection 1 of NRS 417.090, the Director shall:

(a) Appoint an administrator for each veterans’ home in this State. Each administrator must be licensed as a nursing facility administrator or health services executive pursuant to NRS 654.170;

(b) Take such other actions as are necessary for the establishment, management, maintenance and operation of veterans’ homes in this State, including, without limitation, establishing and implementing rules, policies and procedures for such management, maintenance and operation; and

(c) Apply for federal grants and other sources of money available for establishing veterans’ homes. A federal grant must be used only as permitted by the terms of the grant.

2. With the advice of the Nevada Veterans Services Commission, the Director shall, on or before April 1 of each calendar year, recommend to the State Board of Examiners a schedule of rates to be charged for occupancy of rooms at each veterans’ home in this State during the following fiscal year. The State Board of Examiners shall establish the schedule of rates. In setting the rates, the State Board of Examiners shall consider the recommendations of the Director, but is not bound to follow the recommendations of the Director.

3. To the extent that federal funding is available, the Director may establish and operate programs to provide adult day health care, as defined in 38 C.F.R. § 51.2, to veterans.

(Added to NRS by 1997, 2582; A 1999, 1957; 2001, 1121; 2005, 531; 2013, 2503; 2017, 602; 2019, 130; 2021, 430)

NRS 417.148 Revolving accounts: Creation; purpose; transfer of money from Veterans Home Account.

1. A revolving account up to the amount of $2,000 is hereby created for each veterans’ home, and may be used for the payment of bills of the veterans’ home requiring immediate payment and for no other purpose. The administrator of a veterans’ home shall deposit the money for the revolving account for the veterans’ home in a bank, credit union, savings and loan association or savings bank qualified to receive deposits of public money. The revolving account must be under the control of the administrator of the veterans’ home for which the account was created.

2. The Director may transfer such amounts of money from the Veterans Home Account to a revolving account as the Director determines necessary provided that the balance in the revolving account does not exceed $2,000.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 390; A 2013, 2503)

1. An administrator for a veterans’ home may accept money belonging to the residents of the veterans’ home and, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall deposit that money in a trust fund which is established in a bank, credit union, savings and loan association or savings bank qualified to receive deposits of public money. The administrator shall account for all such money of the residents separately. Interest and income earned on the money in the trust fund, after deducting any applicable charges, must be accounted for separately and credited to the appropriate accounts in the trust fund.

2. The administrator shall:

(a) Keep a separate account for each resident who entrusts his or her money with the administrator for deposit into the trust fund.

(b) Keep, or cause to be kept, a full and accurate written account of the money of each resident of the veterans’ home accepted pursuant to this section.

(c) Pay any remaining balance in the account of a resident, including an amount equal to that portion of money in the reserve cash fund maintained pursuant to subsection 3 that is attributable to the resident:

(1) If the resident leaves the veterans’ home, to the resident or his or her legal guardian; or

(2) Upon the death of the resident, to the person administering the estate of the resident.

3. From the money in the trust fund, the administrator shall maintain a sum not to exceed $3,000 in a reserve cash fund at the veterans’ home for immediate use by the residents of the veterans’ home who have an account in the trust fund. The administrator shall not keep an amount in the reserve cash fund attributable to a specific resident that is in excess of $50. If a resident withdraws money from the reserve cash fund, the administrator shall deduct the amount of the withdrawal from the resident’s account in the trust fund.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 389)

NEVADA VETERANS SERVICES COMMISSION

NRS 417.150 Creation; membership; removal of member; terms; filling of certain vacancies.

1. The Nevada Veterans Services Commission, consisting of 11 members, is hereby created.

2. The Governor shall appoint:

(a) Three members who are representatives of veterans’ organizations recognized nationally or in this State and who possess honorable discharges from some branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(b) One member who is a member of the Women Veterans Advisory Committee created by NRS 417.320.

(c) One member who is enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education in this State in a program for a baccalaureate or higher degree and who possesses an honorable discharge from some branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(d) Two members who are representatives of the general public.

3. The Chair of the Advisory Committee for a Veterans Cemetery in Northern Nevada and the Chair of the Advisory Committee for a Veterans Cemetery in Southern Nevada shall each appoint one member from their respective committees to serve as a member of the Commission. Each member so appointed must be a representative of a veterans’ organization recognized nationally or in this State and possess an honorable discharge from some branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.

4. The Majority Leader of the Senate shall appoint one member of the Senate to serve as a member of the Commission.

5. The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one member of the Assembly to serve as a member of the Commission.

6. The Governor may remove a member of the Commission at any time for failure to perform his or her duties, malfeasance or other good cause.

7. The term of office of each member is 3 years.

8. If a vacancy occurs in the membership of those members appointed pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 2, the Governor shall fill the vacancy from among the names of qualified nominees provided to the Governor in writing by the Director.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 1461; A 1977, 1216; 1983, 741; 1995, 432; 1997, 2588; 2005, 27; 2013, 2504; 2017, 8; 2019, 131; 2021, 434)

NRS 417.160 Chair; Vice Chair; Director to provide for minutes and audio recordings or transcripts of meeting; compensation and expenses of members.

1. The Nevada Veterans Services Commission shall annually choose one of its members to serve as Chair and one of its members to serve as Vice Chair.

2. The Director shall provide for the preparation and maintenance of written minutes for and audio recordings or transcripts of each meeting of the Commission.

3. Members of the Commission are entitled to receive:

(a) A salary of not more than $80 per day, as fixed by the Director, while engaged in the business of the Commission.

(b) A subsistence allowance of not more than $56 per day, as fixed by the Director, and actual expenses for transportation, while traveling on business of the Commission.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 1462; A 1977, 1217; 1981, 1982; 1995, 433; 1997, 2588; 2005, 1412; 2013, 2504)

NRS 417.170 Meetings: Frequency; notice to members.

1. The Nevada Veterans Services Commission shall meet at least four times and not more than eight times every fiscal year.

2. Meetings of the Veterans Services Commission may be held at the call of the Chair whenever the Chair determines that there is sufficient business to warrant action by the Veterans Services Commission or whenever five members of the Veterans Services Commission submit a written request for a meeting.

3. Notice of the time, place and purpose of all meetings must be given in writing to each member at least 5 days before the meeting.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 1462; A 1983, 741, 1442; 1995, 433; 1997, 2589; 1999, 2074; 2019, 58)

NRS 417.190 Duties. The Nevada Veterans Services Commission shall:

1. Advise the Director.

2. Prepare and submit a report, on or before February 15 of each even-numbered year, to the Governor, the Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislative Commission. The report must, without limitation:

(a) Summarize the activities of the Commission during the preceding 2 fiscal years.

(b) Make recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature and the Director regarding issues relating to veterans.

3. Make recommendations to the Governor pursuant to NRS 417.400.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 1462; A 1977, 1217; 1997, 2589; 2013, 2504; 2015, 566, 3934; 2017, 36, 381; 2023, 137)

VETERANS CEMETERIES

NRS 417.200 Employment and duties of cemetery superintendent; landscaping.

1. Subject to the limits provided in paragraph (m) of subsection 1 of NRS 417.090, the Director shall employ a cemetery superintendent to operate and maintain each veterans’ cemetery.

2. The cemetery superintendent shall, if a veteran does not indicate by testamentary instrument that the veteran desires to have the area immediately above and surrounding the interred remains of the veteran landscaped with xeriscaping, or if an application for interment submitted pursuant to NRS 417.210 does not indicate that the veteran desires to have the area immediately above and surrounding the interred remains of the veteran landscaped with xeriscaping, ensure that the area immediately above and surrounding the interred remains of the veteran in the veterans’ cemetery is landscaped with natural grass.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 991; A 1995, 2526; 1997, 2589; 2009, 1832; 2013, 2505; 2015, 566; 2019, 58, 131)

NRS 417.210 Eligibility for interment; application; number of and assignment of plots; fee for interment of family member.

1. A veteran who is eligible for interment in a national cemetery pursuant to the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 2402 is eligible for interment in a veterans’ cemetery in this State.

2. An eligible veteran, or a member of his or her immediate family, or a veterans’ organization recognized by the Director may apply for a plot in a cemetery for veterans in this State by submitting a request to the cemetery superintendent on a form to be supplied by the cemetery superintendent. The application for interment must provide for a selection to have the area immediately above and surrounding the interred remains of the applicant landscaped with natural grass or xeriscaping. The cemetery superintendent shall assign available plots in the order in which applications are received. A specific plot may not be reserved before it is needed for burial. No charge may be made for a plot or for the interment of a veteran.

3. One plot is allowed for the interment of each eligible veteran and for each member of his or her immediate family, except where the conditions of the soil or the number of the decedents of the family requires more than one plot.

4. The Director shall charge a fee for the interment of a family member, but the fee may not exceed the actual cost of interment.

5. As used in this section, “immediate family” means the spouse, minor child or, when the Director deems appropriate, the unmarried adult child of an eligible veteran.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 991; A 1995, 2526; 1997, 2589; 2003, 385; 2013, 2505; 2015, 567)

1. There is hereby established a program to provide financial assistance to the family of a veteran who is interred in a cemetery that is not a veterans’ cemetery for the disinterment of the veteran and relocation to a veterans’ cemetery.

2. The Director may apply for and accept gifts, grants and donations or other sources of money for the purpose of carrying out the program established pursuant to subsection 1, which must be deposited in the Account for Veterans Affairs, created by NRS 417.220. The money deposited pursuant to this section must be accounted for separately. The Director shall administer the Account and all claims against the Account must be paid out on claims as other claims against the State are paid upon approval by the Director before they are paid. Money deposited in the Account for Veterans Affairs pursuant to this section must be used only for the purposes authorized by this section and must not be reverted to any other fund, account or use.

3. The Director shall adopt regulations prescribing the process for submission of an application by a member of a veteran’s family and the criteria for the award of financial assistance pursuant to the program established by subsection 1.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 2907)

NRS 417.220 Account for Veterans Affairs; Gift Account for Veterans Cemeteries.

1. The Account for Veterans Affairs is hereby created in the State General Fund.

2. Money received by the Director from:

(a) Fees charged pursuant to NRS 417.210;

(b) Allowances for burial from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other money provided by the Federal Government for the support of veterans’ cemeteries;

(d) Grants obtained by the Director for the support of veterans’ cemeteries; and

(e) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6 and NRS 417.115, 417.145, 417.147 and 417.410, gifts of money and proceeds derived from the sale of gifts of personal property that he or she is authorized to accept, if the use of such gifts has not been restricted by the donor,

Ê must be deposited with the State Treasurer for credit to the Account for Veterans Affairs and must be accounted for separately for a veterans’ cemetery in northern Nevada or a veterans’ cemetery in southern Nevada, whichever is appropriate.

3. The interest and income earned on the money deposited pursuant to subsection 2, after deducting any applicable charges, must be accounted for separately. Interest and income must not be computed on money appropriated from the State General Fund to the Account for Veterans Affairs.

4. The money deposited pursuant to subsection 2 may only be used for the operation and maintenance of the cemetery for which the money was collected. In addition to personnel he or she is required to employ pursuant to paragraph (m) of subsection 1 of NRS 417.090 and subsection 1 of NRS 417.200, the Director may use money deposited pursuant to subsection 2 to employ such additional employees as are necessary for the operation and maintenance of the cemeteries, except that the number of such additional full-time employees that the Director may employ at each cemetery must not exceed 60 percent of the number of full-time employees for national veterans’ cemeteries that is established by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, gifts of personal property which the Director is authorized to receive but which are not appropriate for conversion to money may be used in kind.

6. The Gift Account for Veterans Cemeteries is hereby created in the State General Fund. Gifts of money that the Director is authorized to accept and which the donor has restricted to one or more uses at a veterans’ cemetery must be accounted for separately in the Gift Account for Veterans Cemeteries. The interest and income earned on the money deposited pursuant to this subsection must, after deducting any applicable charges, be accounted for separately for a veterans’ cemetery in northern Nevada or a veterans’ cemetery in southern Nevada, as applicable. Any money remaining in the Gift Account for Veterans Cemeteries at the end of each fiscal year does not revert to the State General Fund, but must be carried over into the next fiscal year.

7. The Director shall use gifts of money or personal property that he or she is authorized to accept and for which the donor has restricted to one or more uses at a veterans’ cemetery in the manner designated by the donor, except that if the original purpose of the gift has been fulfilled or the original purpose cannot be fulfilled for good cause, any money or personal property remaining in the gift may be used for other purposes at the veterans’ cemetery in northern Nevada or the veterans’ cemetery in southern Nevada, as appropriate.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 992; A 1995, 1091; 1997, 2590, 3082; 1999, 638, 1958; 2003, 867, 1828; 2011, 2193; 2013, 2505; 2015, 567; 2017, 381; 2019, 59, 132)

NRS 417.230 Advisory Committees for Veterans Cemeteries: Creation; members; terms; officers; meetings; compensation of members; consultation with Director.

1. There are hereby created the Advisory Committee for a Veterans Cemetery in Northern Nevada and the Advisory Committee for a Veterans Cemetery in Southern Nevada, each consisting of seven members as follows:

(a) One member of the Senate, appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate.

(b) One member of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

2. The members of the Committees shall serve terms of 3 years.

3. Each Committee shall annually elect a Chair and a Vice Chair from among its members.

4. Each Committee shall meet at least 4 times a year.

5. Any legislative member of a Committee who is not a candidate for reelection or who is defeated for reelection continues to serve after the general election until the next regular or special session of the Legislature convenes.

6. While engaged in the work of the Committee, each member of each Committee is entitled to receive the per diem allowances and travel expenses provided for state officers and employees generally.

7. The Director shall consult with each Committee regarding the establishment, maintenance and operation of the veterans’ cemetery for which the Committee was created.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 992; A 1995, 2527; 1997, 2591; 2005, 28; 2009, 1567; 2013, 2506; 2017, 8; 2021, 435)

WOMEN VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

NRS 417.310 “Committee” defined. As used in this section and NRS 417.320 and 417.330, unless the context otherwise requires, “Committee” means the Women Veterans Advisory Committee created by NRS 417.320.

(Added to NRS by 2015, 3856; A 2019, 60)

NRS 417.320 Creation; appointment of members; Chair; terms; vacancies; meetings; quorum; compensation; administrative support.

1. The Women Veterans Advisory Committee is hereby created consisting of five members appointed by the Governor, at least three of whom must be women, and all of whom must be former members of the Armed Forces of the United States, including, without limitation, the Nevada Army National Guard and the Nevada Air National Guard, who received, upon severance from service, an honorable discharge. Each member serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

2. In making appointments pursuant to subsection 1, the Governor shall consider:

(a) The recommendations of the Director;

(b) Whether the appointments provide a geographical balance between the urban and rural areas of this State and represent the cultural diversity of this State; and

3. The Committee shall elect a Chair from among its members.

4. After the initial terms, each member of the Committee appointed pursuant to subsection 1 serves a term of 3 years.

5. A vacancy on the Committee must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

6. The Committee shall meet at least four times per year at the call of the Chair.

7. A majority of the members of the Committee appointed pursuant to subsection 1 constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

8. Each member of the Committee:

(a) Serves without compensation, except that a member of the Committee who is a state officer or employee may receive his or her regular compensation while engaging in the business of the Committee; and

(b) While engaged in the business of the Committee, is entitled to receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses provided for state officers and employees generally.

9. The Department shall provide the personnel, facilities, equipment and supplies required by the Committee.

(Added to NRS by 2015, 3856, 3858; A 2021, 436)

NRS 417.330 Duties; biennial report. The Committee shall:

1. Support and assist the Department in:

(a) Locating, educating and advocating for all women veterans in this State;

(b) Determining the unique needs of women veterans;

(c) Conducting outreach and education through various means, including, without limitation, the organization of statewide women veterans events, the promotion of benefits and superior health care for women veterans and the development of programs that inform the community about the important role women play in the Armed Forces of the United States;

(d) Educating women veterans as to benefits and programs that are available to them; and

(e) Advocating on behalf of women veterans to ensure that the programs and policies of this State and of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs remain open to women and mindful of the elements of the experience of a veteran that are unique to women.

2. Work cooperatively with the Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs and make recommendations concerning the needs of, and resources available to, women veterans.

3. On or before February 15 of each even-numbered year, submit a report concerning the activities of the Committee during the preceding 2 fiscal years and any recommendations of the Committee to the Governor, the Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs, the Director of the Department of Veterans Services, any other offices of this State as may be appropriate and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislative Commission. The report must include, without limitation, information pertaining to:

(a) The demographics of women veterans.

(b) The contributions that women veterans have made on behalf of the United States and this State.

(d) Steps taken to reduce misinformation and improve support for programs for women veterans.

(Added to NRS by 2015, 3857; A 2017, 36; 2023, 138)

NAMING OF CERTAIN STATE PROPERTY AFTER CERTAIN DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES

NRS 417.400 Recommendation by Nevada Veterans Services Commission of deceased to be honored.

1. The Nevada Veterans Services Commission shall recommend to the Governor:

(a) The names of deceased members of the Armed Forces of the United States to be honored pursuant to the provisions of NRS 331.125, 407.066 or 408.119. Each deceased member must have been:

(1) A resident of this State; and

(2) Killed in action.

(b) The building, ground, property, park, monument, recreational area, highway, road, bridge or transportation facility of this State constructed, acquired, leased or opened on or after July 1, 2015, which may be named after each deceased member recommended to the Governor pursuant to paragraph (a).

2. The Commission shall develop criteria to be used in determining the names to be recommended to the Governor pursuant to subsection 1.

(Added to NRS by 2015, 563)

NRS 417.410 Nevada Will Always Remember Veterans Gift Account: Creation; donations, gifts and grants; use; interest and income; nonreversion.

1. The Nevada Will Always Remember Veterans Gift Account is hereby created in the State General Fund.

2. The Director may accept donations, gifts and grants of money from any source for deposit in the Account.

3. The money deposited in the Account pursuant to subsection 2 must only be used to pay for the design, procurement and installation of markers, plaques, statues or signs bearing the names of deceased members of the Armed Forces of the United States pursuant to the provisions of NRS 331.125, 407.066 and 408.119.

4. The interest and income earned on the money in the Account, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the Account.

5. Any money remaining in the Account at the end of each fiscal year does not revert to the State General Fund, but must be carried forward to the next fiscal year.

(Added to NRS by 2015, 563; A 2017, 382)