Signed by Governor Steve Sisolak

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes liability protections for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the health department to enforce regulations concerning public health in establishments holding gaming licenses (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the health department to create regulations requiring public accommodation facilities to adopt cleaning standards to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (Sec. 11). 

• Requires all workers returning to work for the first time since March 13, 2020, to take a COVID-19 test (Sec. 13). 

• Specifies that any public school, district, or charter school is excluded from “governmental entity” as defined in this bill (Sec. 27).

• Specifies that a business is immune from liability unless the plaintiff proves that (Sec. 29):

• The entity violated health standards with gross negligence; or

• The gross negligence was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury or death.

• Specifies that hospices, intermediate care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and hospitals are excluded from “business” as defined in this bill (Sec. 29).

• Establishes that the plaintiff has the burden of establishing that the defending entity was not in compliance with COVID-19 health standards (Sec. 29).

• Authorizes the Secretary of State to revoke a business license for any business that fails to comply with COVID-19 health standards (Sec. 30).

• Establishes that this bill takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 39).

• Establishes that section 30 of this bill expires on the day the governor terminates the state of emergency related to COVID-19 or on July 1, 2023, whichever comes first (Sec. 39).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes liability protections for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the health department to enforce regulations concerning public health in establishments holding gaming licenses (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the health department to create regulations requiring public accommodation facilities to adopt cleaning standards to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (Sec. 11). 

• Requires all workers returning to work for the first time since March 13, 2020, to take a COVID-19 test (Sec. 13). 

• Specifies that any public school, district, or charter school is excluded from “governmental entity” as defined in this bill (Sec. 27).

• Specifies that a business is immune from liability unless the plaintiff proves that (Sec. 29):

• The entity violated health standards with gross negligence; or

• The gross negligence was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury or death.

• Specifies that hospices, intermediate care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and hospitals are excluded from “business” as defined in this bill (Sec. 29).

• Establishes that the plaintiff has the burden of establishing that the defending entity was not in compliance with COVID-19 health standards (Sec. 29).

• Authorizes the Secretary of State to revoke a business license for any business that fails to comply with COVID-19 health standards (Sec. 30).

• Establishes that this bill takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 39).

• Establishes that section 30 of this bill expires on the day the governor terminates the state of emergency related to COVID-19 or on July 1, 2023, whichever comes first (Sec. 39).

Full Bill Text