LAS VEGAS, NV – June 09, 2021
Today, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed legislation from the 81st Legislative Session, including bills in support of public health, home care workers, and higher education.
At the public health bill signing, the Governor was joined by sponsors of the legislation including Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, Senator Dina Neal, Senator Fabian Donate, Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno, legislators and community health care advocates.
In the subsequent bill signing, he was once joined by bill sponsor Senator Dina Neal, Senator Fabian, Executive Director of SEIU Grace Vergara, members of the SEIU, and community advocates.
At the higher education bill signing, Governor Sisolak was accompanied by bill sponsors Assemblyman Tom Roberts, Senator Melanie Scheible, Assemblywoman Selena Torres and Senator Dina Neal, along with higher education leadership, which included Chancellor Melody Rose, UNLV Medical School Dean Marc J. Kahn, members of the Board of Regents and college and university presidents.
The following is a list of bills the Governor held signing ceremonies for today:
In support of public health
“The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that health is wealth and I am committed to finding ways we can increase access to health care – as well as taking steps to strengthen our public health systems across the State.”, said Governor Sisolak. “We will be able to identify and make recommendations concerning the State’s unmet needs, find opportunities to obtain federal or private funding to support public health services, and look at ways in which the State can improve coordination between providers of public health services and the delivery of those services to patients.”
- Senate Bill 209 - Sponsored by Senator Fabian Donate, this legislation requires certain employers to provide paid leave so employees can take time off to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Senate Bill 420 - This public option bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, expands health care opportunities for Nevadans by leveraging the state’s existing health care infrastructure and reducing costs. This legislation also includes the expansion of coverage for doulas and midwives for pregnant women in order to reduce maternal mortality rates in Nevada, a cause that has been championed by Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno.
- Senate Bill 424 – Sponsored by Governor Sisolak, creates the Public Health Resource Office to analyze the existing infrastructure for meeting Nevada’s public health needs.
Photos of the bill signing can be found here: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/jA0qii1uUf.
In support of home care workers
“Home care workers provide crucial lifelines to their elderly and disability clients that are housebound. They assist their clients with important activities of daily living such as bathing, eating, cooking, and grocery shopping. I am grateful for their service today and every day”, said Governor Sisolak. ”This bill is vital to providing our home care workers and their clients with additional rights while improving quality of care and conditions. This strengthens our commitment to our home care workforce, a group of individuals who do so much to take care of those most in need.”
- Senate Bill 340 - Sponsored by Senator Dina Neal and Senator Fabian Donate, designates programs that provide services to elderly persons or persons with disabilities as home care programs and establishes a board to develop recommendations regarding the wages and working conditions of home care employees. This legislation also authorizes the Director of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services to adopt any necessary regulations to establish a minimum wage for home care employees at the recommendation of the board.
Photos of the bill signing can be found here: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/MYwimsBH2S.
In support of higher education
“These four different bills l help make our institutions more vibrant places for students to live and learn,” said Governor Sisolak. “As a former Regent and now Governor of our great State, I know that our institutions are a powerful force for change and growth in our State. I look forward to continuing to work with each and every one of you to build a better Nevada for us all.”
- Senate Bill 434 - Sponsored by Governor Sisolak and announced during his 2021 State of the State Address, this legislation appropriates $25 million to help complete the UNLV Medical School construction which has the potential to generate as many as 16,000 jobs over the next ten years and help address the State’s doctor shortage.
- Assembly Bill 319 – Sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Roberts, will require the College of Southern Nevada to establish a two-year pilot program to offer enhanced dual credit opportunities for students who are at-risk or are in underserved communities.
- Senate Bill 347 - Sponsored by Senator Scheible and Assemblywoman Selena Torres, this legislation creates the Task Force on Sexual Misconduct at Institutions of Higher Education. Additionally, this legislation removes the barriers to accessing the Millennium Scholarship, the Silver State Opportunity Grant or the Nevada Promise Scholarship by adjusting and removing the citizen or legal immigrant status requirements.
- Senate Bill 310 - Sponsored by Senator Dina Neal, this bill appropriates $400,000 to CSN to continue funding the NV Grow Program. As part of this program, Nevada small businesses are receiving the resources from CSN to expand their market research and increase productivity and sales.
Photos of the bill signing can be found here: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/fOSLgfafnW.
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