Existing law provides for the permitting and regulation of food establishments by the health authority, which may be the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services or the local board of health. (NRS 446.050, 446.870-446.940) Section 1 of this bill requires a food establishment to ensure that any person employed in, operating or otherwise working for the food establishment does not use latex gloves or utensils or other latex implements at the food establishment. A health authority would be authorized to suspend the permit of a food establishment for violating section 1, and repeated violations may result in permanent revocation of such a permit. (NRS 446.880) A violation of section 1 would also be a misdemeanor. (NRS 446.945) Section 2 of this bill requires a medical facility, facility for the dependent and certain other health facilities to ensure that employees, contractors and volunteers do not use latex gloves or other latex implements at the facility. Section 8 of this bill: (1) prohibits a provider of health care from using latex gloves or other latex implements at any facility or other location where he or she provides health care services; and (2) requires a provider of health care who owns or operates a health facility to ensure that employees, contractors and volunteers do not use latex gloves or other latex implements. Section 3 of this bill makes the definition of “medical facility” in existing law, which includes, without limitation, programs of hospital care, applicable to section 2. Section 4 of this bill exempts from the requirements of section 2 certain religious facilities, foster homes and facilities operated by the United States Government. Sections 5-7 and 9 of this bill provide for the administrative and civil enforcement of the prohibitions against the use of latex gloves or other latex implements at medical facilities.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 446.846, 449.029, 449.0301, 449.160, 449.163, 449.240, 654.190
BDR: 446.846, 449.029, 449.0301, 449.160, 449.163, 449.240, 654.190