Revises provisions relating to public assistance. (BDR 38-20)

Existing law requires the Division of Social Services of the Department of Human Services to administer various programs of public assistance. (Chapter 422A of NRS) Sections 2-9 of this bill establish the Silver State General Assistance Program within the Division to provide temporary financial or in-kind assistance to eligible persons and households who are experiencing an extraordinary circumstance. Section 3 defines “extraordinary circumstance” as an event, condition or situation that creates an unusual or significant need for State intervention to protect the health, safety or general welfare of the residents of this State, including a disruption in the provision of, suspension of or any related reduction in benefits provided under a program of public assistance. Section 6 requires the Administrator of the Division to administer the Program within the limitations of available money. Section 7 prescribes requirements relating to eligibility for assistance under the Program and requires the adoption of regulations for the administration of the Program. Under existing law, the adoption of such regulations is exempt from the Nevada Administrative Procedure Act. (NRS 233B.039) However, the Administrator is required to comply with a procedure set forth in existing law for adopting regulations for programs administered by the Division, which includes 30 days' notice of the intended adoption. (NRS 422A.190) Sections 7 and 13 of this bill exempt the Administrator from this procedure when adopting regulations for the administration of the Program under certain circumstances, but require such advance notice of such regulations as is practicable and the posting of the notice and regulations on the Internet website of the Division. Section 8 sets forth certain powers of the Administrator relating to the Program. Section 9 makes certain information obtained by the Division in the administration of the Program confidential. Section 9 also requires the Administrator to submit an annual report regarding the Program. Section 12 of this bill makes a conforming change relating to the confidentiality of certain information obtained during the administration of the Program. Section 10 of this bill creates the Account for the Silver State General Assistance Program in the State General Fund for the deposit of money received for the Program. Section 11 of this bill provides a procedure for the transfer of money from the unrestricted balance of the State General Fund to the Account for the provision of assistance under the Program for an extraordinary circumstance if there is a specified minimum balance remaining in the State General Fund after the transfer and the Governor has declared the existence of the extraordinary circumstance.