Assembly Bill No. 188

Assembly Bill No. 188-Assemblymen de Braga, Anderson, Neighbors, Lee, Segerblom, Amodei, Hickey, Lambert, Manendo, Bache, Perkins, Freeman, Evans, Chowning, Collins and Dini

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374

AN ACT relating to counties; authorizing each board of county commissioners to create by ordinance the office of coordinator of services for veterans; establishing the duties of the coordinator; authorizing the coordinator to seek support from certain county, state and federal funds; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

[Approved July 8, 1997]

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

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Section 1. Chapter 244 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 and 3 of this act.
Sec. 2. 1. The board of county commissioners of any county may create by ordinance the office of coordinator of services for veterans. If such an office is created, the board shall appoint a qualified veteran to hold the office and the board shall establish his compensation.
2. The coordinator of services for veterans shall:
(a) Assist a veteran or his spouse or dependent, if the person requesting assistance is a resident of the county, in preparing, submitting and pursuing any claim that the person has against the United States, or any state, to establish his right to any privilege, preference, care or compensation to which he believes that he is entitled;
(b) Aid, assist and cooperate with the Nevada commissioner for veteran affairs and the Nevada deputy commissioner for veteran affairs and with the Nevada veterans' advisory commission;
(c) Disseminate information relating to veterans' benefits in cooperation with the Nevada commissioner for veteran affairs and the Nevada deputy commissioner for veteran affairs; and
(d) Perform such other services related to assisting a veteran, his spouse or his dependent as requested by the board of county commissioners.
3. Two or more counties jointly may create one office of coordinator of services for veterans to serve those counties.
Sec. 3. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the office of coordinator of services for veterans must be supported from money in the county general fund and from any gifts or grants received by the county for the support of the office.
2. The board of county commissioners of a county that creates the office of coordinator of services for veterans is authorized to accept funds from the Nevada commissioner for veteran affairs pursuant to subsection 8 of NRS 417.090 for the support of the office.
3. The board of county commissioners of a county that creates the office of coordinator of services for veterans may enter into an agreement with the health division of the department of human resources for the purpose of obtaining federal matching funds to contribute to the salaries and expenses of the office of coordinator of services for veterans for its activities which are reasonably related to the programs of the health division of the department of human resources and which benefit or result in cost avoidance for the health division.
4. The board of county commissioners of a county that creates the office of coordinator of services for veterans shall, on or before February 1 of each odd-numbered year, submit a report to the director of the legislative counsel bureau for distribution to each regular session of the legislature describing the efficiency and effectiveness of the office. The report must include, without limitation, the number, total value and average value of the benefits received by the office on behalf of veterans, their spouses and their dependents.
Sec. 4. NRS 417.090 is hereby amended to read as follows:
417.090 The commissioner and the deputy commissioner shall:
1. Assist veterans, and those presently serving in the military and naval forces of the United States who are residents of the State of Nevada, their wives, widows, widowers, husbands, children, dependents, administrators, executors and personal representatives, in preparing, submitting and presenting any claim against the United States, or any state, for adjusted compensation, hospitalization, insurance, pension, disability compensation, vocational training, education, rehabilitation, and assist them in obtaining any aid or benefit to which they may, from time to time, be entitled under the laws of the United States or of any of the states.
2. Aid, assist, encourage and cooperate with every nationally recognized service organization insofar as the activities of such organizations are for the benefit of veterans and servicemen and women.
3. Give aid, assistance and counsel to each and every problem, question and situation, individual as well as collective, affecting any veteran or serviceman or woman, or their dependents, or any group of veterans or servicemen and women, when in their opinion such comes within the scope of this chapter.
4. Coordinate activities of veterans' organizations.
5. Serve as a clearinghouse and disseminate information relating to veterans' benefits.
6. Conduct any studies which will assist veterans to obtain compensation, hospitalization, 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.
7. Aid, assist and cooperate with the office of coordinator of services for veterans created in a county pursuant to section 2 of this act.
8. Pay to each county that creates the office of coordinator of services for veterans, from state money available to him, a portion of the cost of operating the office in an amount determined by the commissioner.
Sec. 5. The provisions of subsection 1 of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any additional expenses of a local government that are related to the provisions of this act.
Sec. 6. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1997.
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