AB93 - Revises provisions relating to public employees. (BDR 53-160)

- 83rd Session (2025) Assembly Bill No. 93–Assemblymembers Hibbetts, Yurek, D’Silva and Monroe-Moreno Joint Sponsor: Senator Doñate CHAPTER.......... AN ACT relating to public employees; revising the definition of “police officer” for the purposes of certain benefits and exemptions; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law defines “police officer” to include various law enforcement officers of this State for the purposes of certain provisions relating to eligibility for benefits under the Nevada Occupational Diseases Act. (NRS 617.135) Section 1 of this bill expands the definition of “police officer” to include: (1) a school police officer employed or appointed by the board of trustees of a school district; (2) a juvenile probation officer; (3) a bailiff or deputy marshal of a municipal court; (4) a marshal or deputy marshal of a city or town; and (5) all category I, II and III peace officers. Furthermore, because various other provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes reference “police officer” as that term is defined in the Act, this bill makes applicable to all category I, II and III peace officers, school police officers employed or appointed by the board of trustees of a school district, juvenile probation officers, bailiffs and deputy marshals of municipal courts and marshals and deputy marshals of cities or towns: (1) industrial insurance coverage for police officers; (2) exemption from service as grand or trial jurors; (3) compensation for police officers with temporary disabilities; and (4) eligibility for certain programs of group insurance or other medical or hospital service for the surviving spouse or any surviving child of a police officer or firefighter. (NRS 6.020, 281.153, 287.021, 287.0477; chapters 616A-616D of NRS) Section 1.5 of this bill makes an appropriation to the Department of Public Safety for the cost of annual physicals for the Chief Parole and Probation Officer of the Division of Parole and Probation of the Department and the police officers of the Capitol Police Division of the Department. EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. NRS 617.135 is hereby amended to read as follows: 617.135 “Police officer” includes: 1. A sheriff, deputy sheriff, officer of a metropolitan police department or city police officer; 2. A chief, inspector, supervisor, commercial officer or trooper of the Nevada Highway Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety; – 2 – - 83rd Session (2025) 3. A chief, investigator or agent of the Investigation Division of the Department of Public Safety; 4. A chief, supervisor, investigator or training officer of the Training Division of the Department of Public Safety; 5. A chief or investigator of an office of the Department of Public Safety that conducts internal investigations of employees of the Department of Public Safety or investigates other issues relating to the professional responsibility of those employees; 6. A chief or investigator of the Department of Public Safety whose duties include, without limitation: (a) The execution, administration or enforcement of the provisions of chapter 179A of NRS; and (b) The provision of technology support services to the Director and the divisions of the Department of Public Safety; 7. An officer or investigator of the Section for the Control of Emissions From Vehicles and the Enforcement of Matters Related to the Use of Special Fuel of the Department of Motor Vehicles; 8. An investigator of the Division of Compliance Enforcement of the Department of Motor Vehicles; 9. A school police officer employed or appointed by the board of trustees of a school district pursuant to NRS 391.281; 10. A member of the police department of the Nevada System of Higher Education; [10.] 11. A: (a) Uniformed employee of; or (b) Forensic specialist employed by,  the Department of Corrections whose position requires regular and frequent contact with the offenders imprisoned and subjects the employee to recall in emergencies; [11.] 12. A juvenile probation officer; 13. A parole and probation officer of the Division of Parole and Probation of the Department of Public Safety; [12.] 14. A forensic specialist or correctional officer employed by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services at facilities for mentally disordered offenders; [13.] 15. The State Fire Marshal and his or her assistant and deputies; [14.] 16. A game warden of the Department of Wildlife who has the powers of a peace officer pursuant to NRS 289.280; [15.] 17. A ranger or employee of the Division of State Parks of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources who has the powers of a peace officer pursuant to NRS 289.260; – 3 – - 83rd Session (2025) [16.] 18. A bailiff or a deputy marshal of the district court , municipal court or justice court whose duties require him or her to carry a weapon and to make arrests; [and 17.] 19. An agricultural police officer appointed by the Director of the State Department of Agriculture pursuant to NRS 561.225 who has the powers of a peace officer pursuant to NRS 289.290 [.] ; 20. A marshal or deputy marshal of a city or town; and 21. Any category I peace officer as defined in NRS 289.460, category II peace officer as defined in NRS 289.470 and category III peace officer as defined in NRS 289.480 who is not otherwise included in subsections 1 to 20, inclusive. Sec. 1.5. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the State General Fund to the Department of Public Safety for the cost of annual physicals for the Chief Parole and Probation Officer of the Division of Parole and Probation of the Department of Public Safety and the police officers of the Capitol Police Division of the Department of Public Safety the following sums: For the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 ...................................... $3,235 For the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 ...................................... $8,129 2. Any balance of the sums appropriated by subsection 1 remaining at the end of the respective fiscal years must not be committed for expenditure after June 30 of the respective fiscal years by the entity to which the appropriation is made or any entity to which money from the appropriation is granted or otherwise transferred in any manner, and any portion of the appropriated money remaining must not be spent for any purpose after September 18, 2026, and September 17, 2027, respectively, by either the entity to which the money was appropriated or the entity to which the money was subsequently granted or transferred, and must be reverted to the State General Fund on or before September 18, 2026, and September 17, 2027, respectively. Sec. 2. The provisions 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. 3. 1. This section and section 1.5 of this act become effective on July 1, 2025. 2. Sections 1 and 2 of this act become effective on July 1, 2026. 20 ~~~~~ 25