AB 44 — Revises provisions relating to services for veterans. (BDR 37-243)

(ReprintedAssembly withBill amendmentsNo. adopted on April 11, 2023) FIRST REPRINT A.B.

4444–Committee ASSEMBLYon BILLGovernment NOAffairs .CHAPTER..........

44–COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT A FFAIRS (ON B EHALF OF THE D EPARTMENT OF V ETERANS SERVICES ) PREFILED N OVEMBER 16, 2022 ____________ Referred to Committee on Government Affairs SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to services for veterans.

(BDR 37-243) FISCAL NOTE:

Effect on Local Government:

No.

Effect on the State:

No.

~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

and (2) a Deputy Directortitles forof Healththe anddeputy Wellness.directors appointed by the Director to:

(NRS 417.030) Section 1 of this bill changes the titles of the deputy directors appointed by the Director to:

Existing law requires the Director to assist veterans, certain members presently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States and certain persons related tontlyto veterans in preparing, submitting and presenting claims against the United States and any state for adjusted compensation and other benefits to which the person is entitled.

(NRS 417.090) Section 2 of this bill removes the obligation of the Director to assist such persons in preparing, submitting and presenting claims for adjusted compensation, while leaving in place the requirement that the Director assist such persons with other types of claims.

Existing law requires the Director to ensure that each person who participates as an advocate for veterans in a volunteer program sponsored by the Department is assigned a veterans service officer employed by the Department that will offer assistance to the volunteer.

(NRS 417.090) Section 2 removes that requirement and insteadopportunity requires the Director to provideparticipate eachin suchannual volunteertraining; with:

(1) the opportunity to participate in annual training;

Existing law requires the Director to provide semiannual training to each increasesveterans theservice frequencyofficer ofemployed suchby trainingthe toDepartment. quarterly;

and(NRS (2)417.090) additionallySection requires2: - *AB44_R1* – 2 – the Director to offer such training to representatives of veterans service organizations who are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

(1) increases the frequency of such training to quarterly;

and (2) additionally requires the Director to offer such training to representatives of veterans service organizations who are accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

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 [for - 82nd Session (2023) – 2 – Programs and Services] of Benefits and a Deputy Director [for Health and Wellness.] of Healthcare Services.

(a)(b) BePossess an actualhonorable anddischarge bonafrom fidesome residentbranch of thethevada; State of Nevada;

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

(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 [adjusted compensation,] insurance, pension, - *AB44_R1* – 3 – 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.

- 82nd Session (2023) – 3 – (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 opinionopi(d) suchCoordinate comesactivities within the scope of thisveterans’ chapter.organizations.

(d) Coordinate activities of veterans’ organizations.

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(2) MuseumDestroy or otherwise dispose of the Nevadaartifact Historicalor Society;other property.

 An action may not be maintained by any person against the holder or (2)former Destroyholder of an artifact or otherwiseother disposeproperty because of the transfer, destruction or other disposal of the artifact or other property.property pursuant to this paragraph.

 An action may not be maintained by any person against the holder or former holder of an artifact or other property because of - *AB44_R1* – 4 – the transfer, destruction or other disposal of the artifact or other property pursuant to this paragraph.

(k) Create and maintain a registry of governmental agencies and private entities that provide services and resources to veterans, service- members82nd andSession their(2023) families– and4 publish– a digital copy of the registry on the Internet website maintained by the Department.Department.of the (l) Ensure that each generation of veterans is recognized annually through a ceremony, information campaign or other form of public acknowledgment.

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

(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.

- *AB44_R1* – 5 – (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.

[(u)] (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- the82nd signsSession of(2023) a– potentially5 suicidal– veteran and resources to which veterans who are potentially suicidal may be referred.referred.sources to 2.

2.

H~~~~~ 23 - *AB44_R1*82nd Session (2023)