Makes an appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services for a medical debt relief grant program. (BDR S-74)

S.B. 134

- *SB134*

SENATE BILL NO. 134–SENATOR CANNIZZARO

PREFILED JANUARY 30, 2025
____________

Referred to Committee on Finance

SUMMARY—Makes an appropriation to the D epartment of Health
and Human Services for a medical debt relief grant
program. (BDR S-74)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation not included
in Executive Budget.

~

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

AN ACT making an appropriation to the Department of Health and
Human Services for allocation to a nonprofit organization
to make grants to local governments to provide medical
debt relief; and providing other matters properly relating
thereto.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the State 1
General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the 2
sum of $5,000,000 for the awarding of grants in accordance with 3
subsection 2. 4
2. The Department of Health and Human Services shall 5
allocate the money appropriated by subsection 1 to an eligible 6
nonprofit organization selected by the Department to award grants 7
to local governments in this State for the purpose o f p urchasing 8
bundles of medical debt on secondary markets or directly from 9
health care providers with the goal of abolishing m edical debt for a 10
group or groups of patients. 11
3. Upon acceptance of the money appropriated by subsection 1, 12
the nonprofit organization selected by the Department agrees to: 13
(a) Develop an application process for a local government to 14
apply for a grant. 15

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- *SB134*
(b) Establish eligibility guidelines for the award of grants that 1
prioritize medical debt relief for patients who are experiencing 2
financial hardship. 3
(c) Ensure that medical debt that is discharged using the money 4
appropriated by subsection 1 is discharged in a manner that does not 5
result in adverse tax implications for patients. 6
(d) Subject to the participation of local governments, ensure 7
grants are geographically distributed across the State. 8
(e) Prepare and transmit a report to the Interim Finance 9
Committee on or before December 18, 202 6, that describes each 10
expenditure made from the money appropriated by subsection 1 11
from the date on which the money was received by the nonprofit 12
organization through December 1, 2026. 13
(f) Prepare and transmit a final report to the Interim Finance 14
Committee on or before September 17, 2027, that describes each 15
expenditure made from the money appropriated by subsection 1 16
from the date on which the money was received by the nonprofit 17
organization through June 30, 2027; and 18
(g) Upon request of the Legislative Commission, make available 19
to the Legislative Auditor any of the books, accounts, claims, 20
reports, vouchers or other records of information, confidential or 21
otherwise, of the nonprofit organization, regardless of their form or 22
location, that the Legislative Auditor deems necessary to conduct an 23
audit of the use of the money appropriated by subsection 1. 24
4. The nonprofit organization shall not expend more than 5 25
percent of the money appropriated by subsection 1 f or the 26
administrative expenses of the nonprofit organization related to 27
awarding grants pursuant to this section. 28
5. The nonprofit organization may establish minimum and 29
maximum amounts that will be awarded and utilize other relevant 30
criteria in making grants in accordance with this section. 31
6. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by 32
subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 33
2027, by the entity to which the appropriation is made or any entity 34
to which money from the ap propriation is granted or otherwise 35
transferred in any manner, and any portion of the appropriated 36
money remaining must not be spent for any purpose after 37
September 17, 2027, by either the entity to which the money was 38
appropriated or the entity to which t he money was subsequently 39
granted or transferred, and must be reverted to the State General 40
Fund on or before September 17, 2027. 41
7. As used in this section, “eligible nonprofit organization” 42
means an organization which qualifies as tax exempt pursuant t o 43
section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is experienced 44
in locating, acquiring and relieving medical debt for natural persons. 45

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- *SB134*
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2025. 1

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