Existing law authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada to administer: (1) a program to provide loans for fees, books and living expenses to students in the nursing programs of the Nevada System of Higher Education; and (2) the Nevada Health Service Corps, which repays the loans of practitioners of certain health professions who practice in areas of this State for which a shortage of that type of practitioner exists. (NRS 396.890, 396.900, 396.903) Section 6 of this bill similarly authorizes the Board to establish the Behavioral Health Workforce Development Center of Nevada at one or more institutions within the System for purposes related to strengthening the workforce of providers of behavioral health care in this State. Section 6 requires the Center to consist of: (1) a main hub located at an institution within the System; and (2) regional hubs in each of the five behavioral health regions into which this State is divided. (NRS 433.428) To the extent that money is available, section 6 authorizes each institution at which the Center is established to provide resources to support the Center in accomplishing its duties. Sections 3-5 of this bill define terms related to the Center and its activities.
If the Center is established, section 7 of this bill requires the Center to establish a behavioral health workforce development consortium consisting of various persons and entities involved in education, behavioral health and workforce development. Section 7 also requires the Center to develop and implement a strategic plan for the recruitment, education and retention of a qualified, diverse and evolving behavioral health workforce in this State. Section 7 requires: (1) the strategic plan to include plans for convening and organizing the members of the consortium and other relevant persons and entities to create and implement strategies to develop the behavioral health workforce of this State; and (2) the Center, under the direction of the consortium, to carry out the duties prescribed by the strategic plan. Section 8 of this bill requires the Center, if established, to perform various other duties related to strengthening the behavioral health workforce of this State, and section 7 requires the strategic plan to include plans for performing those duties. Section 9 of this bill authorizes the Board to: (1) accept gifts, grants and donations for the purposes of supporting the Center and its duties; and (2) receive, invest, disburse and account for all money received for that purpose. Section 10 of this bill requires the Center, if established, to annually report to the Legislature, the Board, the Chancellor of the System and certain other entities concerning the activities of the Center. Section 10.5 of this bill makes an appropriation to the System for certain personnel and operating expenses related to the creation of the Center.