SB380 was introduced to Nevada lawmakers on March 17, 2025. The goal of this bill is to increase education requirements in various law enforcement agencies across the state surrounding autism and other intellectual disabilities. This educational requirement would, in theory, help reduce harm in tense incidents between police officers and individuals who are disabled.
Democratic State Senator James Ohrenschall sponsored the bill, with Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop co-sponsoring. The bill was brought to the state’s lawmaker’s attention during a meeting on March 24, 2025.
Currently, existing laws in Nevada require police to complete specific training on how to identify and interact with individuals with developmental disabilities, but this newer bill would introduce specific educational requirements. This bill would require peace officers to undergo at least 4 hours of in-person instruction that would include topics relating to autism spectrum disorders. The education would also need to include training that would teach peace officers the best ways to interact with individuals who are on the spectrum.
Another bill, SB377, was also introduced on the same day, which would require different health insurance companies in the state to provide coverage for specific opioid alternative medications. These medications are designed to help individuals cope with addictions, and existing law already requires insurance policies to cover drugs that support safe withdrawal from substance use disorder and medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Since these laws are already in place, this bill simply expands existing laws to include opioid alternative medications. This bill is being sponsored by Republican State Senator John Steinbeck.
A third interesting bill that was introduced is SB371. This bill seeks to revise provisions relating to certain crimes, and it’s also being sponsored by Senator John Steinbeck. This bill specifically enhanced criminal penalties related to crimes that occur on resort hotel property.
Why Should Nevada Police Officers be Required to Have Training on Autism?
According to NPR, adolescents with autism are statistically much more likely to have frequent contact with the police, and even worse, get arrested. Unfortunately, adults with autism are likely to continue with this pattern, experiencing more frequent incidents involving police as a result of their ongoing records.
Unfortunately, some autistic behaviors could be considered threatening or concerning during a police stop, interrogation, or another type of interaction with authorities. As a result of this, it’s critical that the police get the right training to be able to navigate these situations. Otherwise, a miscommunication could lead to an arrest or unintentional injury.
While it’s great that lawmakers are making an effort to reduce harmful interactions between autistic individuals and the police, the best way to keep your child safe is to work on educating them about these types of situations. Here at the Nevada Autism Center, we work towards helping autistic children understand and cope with situational awareness, social interactions, and maladaptive behaviors.
Get started on your family’s journey now by filling out our enrollment form. One of our staff members will be in touch with you to answer any questions and help you determine your next steps.
