Nevada’s Senate Passed Childhood Independence Legislation Unanimously in 2021, But the House did not call for a vote.

Nevada Criminal Code (NRS Title 15) includes as criminal child neglect the act of leaving of a child without proper supervision, food, shelter, medicine, or other necessary care. (NRS 200.508). Child endangerment includes knowingly placing a minor (under 18) in a situation that may harm his/her physical or mental well-being. (NRS 200.508). This is a very broad criminal law. Nevada law seems somewhat more protective than average for children allowed to be alone in cars, however, insofar as it only prohibits leaving children in the car with the engine running or with keys in the ignition if they are under age 7 unless they have someone within eyesight who is 12 or older. (NRS 202.485)

Negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child occurs if a child has been subjected to harmful behavior that is terrorizing, degrading, painful or emotionally traumatic, has been abandoned, is without proper care, control or supervision or lacks the subsistence, education, shelter, medical care or other care necessary for the well-being of the child because of the faults or habits of the person responsible for the welfare of the child or the neglect or refusal of the person to provide them when able to do so. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 432B.140. Nevada also has some threatening pamphlets and lacks policy guidance to limit child welfare punitive action.

In 2021, Democratic Sen. Dallas Harris (from Las Vegas) and Republican Rep. Alexis Hansen (from northwest Nevada) joined together as sponsors of SB 143.  A broad alliance of public defenders, legal services, ACLU, and child advocacy organizations joined in the effort to pass legislation, over strenuous opposition of law enforcement groups but with some agreement in principle with the state child welfare agency director.  The bill passed the Senate unanimously and had substantial support in the Nevada House, after it was considerably watered down and gave substantial discretion to the State child welfare agency to define independent activities that could be done independently.  However, despite the clear majority of the members of the House Judiciary Committee’s support and expressed desire to join as cosponsors of the bill, the Committee did not vote on the measure.  Opposition by the House Majority Leader, for reasons that were never clear to Let Grow, caused the lack of a vote on the bill. 

This webpage is not a legal document, and Let Grow does not take responsibility for the content. Be mindful that some localities have rules and guidelines even when the state does not. When in doubt, consult your local authorities to confirm the laws where you live. What’s more, laws change, as do judicial interpretations of them, and this webpage may not be updated immediately.