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NRS 432B.020

“Abuse or neglect of a child” defined

Applied in 3 court decisions — leading case Jason S. v. Valley Hospital Medical Center (2004)

Most recently applied in 140 Nev. Adv. Op. No. 70 - MARTINEZ, JR. (JESUS) v. STATE (November 2024)

(Added to NRS by 1985, 1368; A 2001, 1255; 2003, 1149; 2025, 1248)

How often courts cite this section

200420102020202410
citing decisions per year

Court decisions citing this, by year. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.

1. “Abuse or neglect of a child” means, except as otherwise provided in subsection 2:

(a) Physical or mental injury of a nonaccidental nature;

(b) Sexual abuse or sexual exploitation; or

(c) Negligent treatment or maltreatment as set forth in NRS 432B.140,

Ê of a child caused or allowed by a person responsible for the welfare of the child under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm.

2. A child is not abused or neglected, nor is the health or welfare of the child harmed or threatened for the sole reason that:

(a) The parent of the child delivers the child to a provider of emergency services pursuant to NRS 432B.630, if the parent complies with the requirements of paragraph (a) of subsection 3 of that section;

(b) The parent or guardian of the child, in good faith, selects and depends upon nonmedical remedial treatment for such child, if such treatment is recognized and permitted under the laws of this State in lieu of medical treatment. This paragraph does not limit the court in ensuring that a child receive a medical examination and treatment pursuant to NRS 62E.280;

(c) The parent or guardian of the child seeks to have the child admitted into a public or private mental health facility or hospital if the behavioral health needs of the child pose a risk to the safety and welfare of the family; or

(d) The parent or guardian of the child brings into the home of the child a biological, foster or adoptive child whose behavioral health needs pose a risk to the safety and welfare of the family.

3. As used in this section, “allow” means to do nothing to prevent or stop the abuse or neglect of a child in circumstances where the person knows or has reason to know that a child is abused or neglected.

Official source: Nevada Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Nevada statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.