Existing law authorizes the board of county commissioners of a county whose population is 700,000 or more (currently Clark County) to establish by ordinance a department of juvenile justice services to administer certain provisions of existing law relating to juvenile delinquency and the abuse and neglect of children. (NRS 62G.200-62G.240) If the board of county commissioners of such a county has not established a department of juvenile justice services, the juvenile court is required to: (1) establish by court order a probation committee; and (2) appoint a director of the department of juvenile justice services to administer certain functions of the juvenile court. (NRS 62G.300-62G.370) Existing law authorizes a department of juvenile justice services to deny employment to an applicant or terminate the employment of an employee against whom certain criminal charges are pending. Existing law also: (1) requires a department of juvenile justice services to allow such an employee a reasonable amount of time of not more than 180 days to resolve the pending charges against the employee; and (2) authorizes a department of juvenile justice services to, upon request from the employee and good cause shown, allow the employee additional time to resolve the pending charges against the employee. Existing law further authorizes a department of juvenile justice services to place such an employee on leave without pay during the period in which the employee seeks to resolve the pending charges against the employee. (NRS 62G.225, 62G.355) Sections 1 and 2 of this bill require a department of juvenile justice services to award back pay to an employee of the department of juvenile justice services who is a peace officer for the duration of the unpaid leave if: (1) the charges against the employee are dismissed or the employee is found not guilty at trial; and (2) the employee is not subjected to punitive action in connection with the alleged misconduct. Sections 1 and 2 also: (1) specify that the amount of time which existing law requires a department of juvenile justice services to allow such an employee to resolve the pending charges against the employee, which is a reasonable amount of time of not more than 180 calendar days and begins after arrest; and (2) authorize a department of juvenile justice services to offset any other income earned by the employee during the duration of the unpaid leave against any back pay awarded to the employee. Section 3 of this bill makes the amendatory provisions of this bill applicable to an employee of a department of juvenile justice services who, on or after July 1, 2021, has a pending charge against the employee for an offense alleged to have been committed on or after July 1, 2021.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 62G.225, 62G.355
Reprint 1: 62G.225, 62G.355
Reprint 2: 62G.225, 62G.355
Reprint 3: 62G.225, 62G.355
As Enrolled: 62G.225, 62G.355