The Nevada Legislature's Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance Subcommittee on Human Services convened on February 18, 2025, to discuss the allocation of a $10 million opioid settlement aimed at expanding support for families affected by opioid use. The primary focus of the meeting was on the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, specifically its kinship care component.

Robert Thompson, a representative from the TANF program, confirmed that the funds would be directed towards families caring for children removed from their parents due to opioid-related issues. Currently, the kinship care program requires guardians to be at least 62 years old, a restriction that has been criticized as many caregivers are younger. The proposed changes would eliminate this age limit, allowing younger relatives, including grandparents and siblings, to qualify for assistance.

The discussion also highlighted the financial implications of implementing these changes. Senator Winn raised concerns about the $1 million budgeted for information technology upgrades necessary to manage the new aid code for tracking the funds. Thompson explained that the system upgrade is essential for separating the new funds from existing federal allocations and ensuring proper tracking and reporting.

Lisa Swearingen, head of the IT department, elaborated on the costs associated with creating a new aid code, which typically amounts to around $850,000, alongside additional expenses for system modifications and vendor fees. The timeline for rolling out the new aid code and distributing the funds is estimated to take between six to nine months.

The meeting underscored the urgency of addressing the needs of families impacted by the opioid crisis, with plans to streamline support for those stepping in to care for affected children. The next steps involve finalizing the system upgrades and preparing for the distribution of the remaining $9 million in benefits once the new aid code is operational.