Health facility prohibited from using certain persons as interpreters; exceptions.
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 449.145
in effect1. A health facility shall not:
(a) Require a person with limited English proficiency to provide his or her own interpreter or pay the cost of an interpreter;
(b) Utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 449.147 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2 or 3;
(c) Utilize a child who is less than 18 years of age to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2; or
(d) Utilize an employee, a contractor or a volunteer of the health facility who is not an interpreter or a translator qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency.
2. A health facility may utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 449.147 or a child who is less than 18 years of age to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency on a temporary, emergency basis if:
(a) There is an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of any person or the public;
(b) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147 is not immediately available;
(c) The health facility is attempting to find an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147 ; and
(d) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147 later confirms or supplements the initial communications with the interpreter utilized pursuant to this section.
3. A health facility may utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 449.147 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency if the person with limited English proficiency requests for the adult to interpret or facilitate communication for him or her. Such a request must be:
(a) Made without the adult present to an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 449.147 ;
(b) Agreed to by the adult;
(c) Documented in the record of the person with limited English proficiency; and
(d) Deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the person providing the program or service on behalf of the health facility.
Source: NV Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-449.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026