AB 246 — Revises provisions relating to offenders. (BDR 16-686)

The Department may contract for the services of, or accept the volunteer services of, a registered dietitian who is not employed by the Department and is not affiliated with a food service vendor that has a contract with the Department.

The amendatoryDepartment provisionsmay ofadopt sectionregulations 1concerning ofthe thisroles actand doresponsibilities notof apply to a contractregistered entereddietitian intoauthorized beforeto Octoberprovide 1,services 2025,pursuant but do apply to anysubsection renewal1. or extension of such a contract.

HAny -such *AB246*regulations must be adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 233B of NRS.

3.

As used in this section, “registered dietitian” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 640E.080.

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1.5.

NRS 233B.039 is hereby amended to read as follows:

233B.039 1.

The following agencies are entirely exempted from the requirements of this chapter:

(a) The Governor.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7 and NRS 209.221 and 209.2473, and section 1.3 of this act, the Department of Corrections.

(c) The Nevada System of Higher Education.

(d) The Office of the Military.

(e) The Nevada Gaming Control Board.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 368A.140 and 463.765, the Nevada Gaming Commission.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 425.620, the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(h) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 422.390, the Division of Health Care Financing and Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(i) Except as otherwise provided in NRS 533.365, the Office of the State Engineer.

(j) The Division of Industrial Relations of the Department of Business and Industry acting to enforce the provisions of NRS 618.375.

(k) The Administrator of the Division of Industrial Relations of the Department of Business and Industry in establishing and adjusting the schedule of fees and charges for accident benefits pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 616C.260.

(l) The Board to Review Claims in adopting resolutions to carry out its duties pursuant to NRS 445C.310.

(m) The Silver State Health Insurance Exchange.

2.

Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5 and NRS 391.323, the Department of Education, the Board of the Public Employees’ Benefits Program and the Commission on Professional Standards in Education are subject to the provisions of this chapter for the purpose of adopting regulations but not with respect to any contested case.

3.

The special provisions of:

(a) Chapter 612 of NRS for the adoption of an emergency regulation or the distribution of regulations by and the judicial review of decisions of the Employment Security Division of the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation;

(b) Chapters 616A to 617, inclusive, of NRS for the determination of contested claims;

- *AB246_R1* – 4 – (c) Chapter 91 of NRS for the judicial review of decisions of the Administrator of the Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of State;

and (d) NRS 90.800 for the use of summary orders in contested cases,  prevail over the general provisions of this chapter.

4.

The provisions of NRS 233B.122, 233B.124, 233B.125 and 233B.126 do not apply to the Department of Health and Human Services in the adjudication of contested cases involving the issuance of letters of approval for health facilities and agencies.

5.

The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:

(a) Any order for immediate action, including, but not limited to, quarantine and the treatment or cleansing of infected or infested animals, objects or premises, made under the authority of the State Board of Agriculture, the State Board of Health, or any other agency of this State in the discharge of a responsibility for the preservation of human or animal health or for insect or pest control;

(b) An extraordinary regulation of the State Board of Pharmacy adopted pursuant to NRS 453.2184;

(c) A regulation adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to NRS 388.255 or 394.1694;

(d) The judicial review of decisions of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada;

(e) The adoption, amendment or repeal of policies by the Rehabilitation Division of the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation pursuant to NRS 426.561 or 615.178;

(f) The adoption or amendment of a rule or regulation to be included in the State Plan for Services for Victims of Crime by the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to NRS 217.130;

(g) The adoption, amendment or repeal of rules governing the conduct of contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat by the Nevada Athletic Commission pursuant to NRS 467.075;

(h) The adoption, amendment or repeal of standards of content and performance for courses of study in public schools by the Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools and the State Board of Education pursuant to NRS 389.520;

(i) The adoption, amendment or repeal of the statewide plan to allocate money from the Fund for a Resilient Nevada created by NRS 433.732 established by the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 433.734;

or (j) The adoption or amendment of a data request by the Commissioner of Insurance pursuant to NRS 687B.404.

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The State Board of Parole Commissioners is subject to the provisions of this chapter for the purpose of adopting regulations but not with respect to any contested case.

7.

The Department of Corrections is subject to the provisions of this chapter for the purpose of adopting regulations relating to fiscal policy, correspondence with inmates and visitation with inmates of the Department of Corrections.

Sec.

1.7.

1.

The Department of Corrections shall issue a request for information during the 2025-2026 interim to gather data on food service contracts that meet the annual needs of the Department, for use in future contracting decisions.

2.

A request for information issued pursuant to subsection 1 must:

(a) Be sent to at least two food service providers, at least one of which must be a nonprofit organization;

and (b) Require the submission of:

(1) A proposal detailing the cost of providing food at the current level of quality;

and (2) A proposal detailing the cost of providing food with improved quality.

Sec.

1.9.

1.

The Department of Corrections shall conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate the food services in institutions and facilities of the Department.

The study must:

(a) Provide actionable insights to inform future policy decisions on such food services;

and (b) Be completed within a 1-year period during the 2025-2026 interim.

2.

In conducting the study required by subsection 1, the Department shall:

(a) Use various data collection methods, including, without limitation, surveys, interviews and focus groups, involving Department staff and offenders;

and (b) Collect quantitative data to ensure any findings are supported by a robust evidence base.

3.

The study required by subsection 1 must include, without limitation:

(a) A comprehensive cost analysis of the:

(1) Actual food service expenditures during the period in which the study is conducted;

and (2) Projected costs for improving food quality, including any anticipated increases in expenditures;

(b) A comparison of the nutritional value of current food service offerings with a higher-quality alternative;

(c) An evaluation of food safety protocols and kitchen practices in institutions or facilities of the Department;

- *AB246_R1* – 6 – (d) Documentation of any deviations from the approved menu at each institution or facility of the Department, including both the originally planned menu items and the substitutions provided;

(e) An assessment of food waste across institutions and facilities of the Department during the period in which the study is conducted;

(f) A 90-day pilot program offering a “Pick Your Own Menu” option, measuring food waste levels before, during and after the test period;

(g) An evaluation of the impact of food services on the physical and mental health of offenders, including any correlations between die(h) An analysis of the role of commissaries in complementing or supplementing the Department’s meal offerings, including the extent to which offenders rely on commissary items to meet nutritional or caloric needs.

4.

The Department shall post the results of the study required by subsection 1 on the Internet website of the Department.

5.

If the Department renews a contract with a food service provider during the period of the study required by this section, the term of the renewal must not exceed 2 years.

Sec.

2.

The amendatory provisions of this act do not apply to a contract entered into before October 1, 2025, but do apply to any renewal or extension of such a contract.

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