Nev. Rev. Stat. § 629.670 – Interpreters: Duties to provide and pay cost; duty to utilize qualified interpreter; exceptions

1. A provider of health care shall not:
1. (a) Require a person with limited English proficiency to provide his or her own interpreter or pay the cost of an interpreter;
2. (b) Utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 629.690 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency except where authorized pursuant to subsection 2 or 3;
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
4. (d) Utilize a person under the supervision of the provider of health care who is not an interpreter or a translator qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690 to interpret or facilitate communication for a person with limited English proficiency.
2. A provider of health care may utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 629.690 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:
1. (a) There is an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of any person or the public;
2. (b) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690 is not immediately available;
3. (c) The provider of health care is attempting to find an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690; and
4. (d) An interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690 later confirms or supplements the initial communications with the interpreter utilized pursuant to this section.
3. A provider of health care may utilize an adult who is not qualified as an interpreter pursuant to NRS 629.690 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:
1. (a) Made without the adult present to an interpreter who is qualified pursuant to NRS 629.690;
2. (b) Agreed to by the adult;
3. (c) Documented in the record of the person with limited English proficiency; and
4. (d) Deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the provider of health care.

(Added to NRS by 2025, 1072)