1. There is hereby established a Statewide Central Registry for the Collection of Information Concerning the Abuse or Neglect of a Child. This Central Registry must be maintained by the Division.

2. The Central Registry must contain:

(a) The information in any substantiated report of child abuse or neglect made pursuant to NRS 392.303 or 432B.220;

(b) The information in any substantiated report of a violation of NRS 201.540, 201.560, 392.4633 or 394.366 made pursuant to NRS 392.303;

(c) Statistical information on the protective services provided in this State; and

(d) Any other information which the Division determines to be in furtherance of NRS 392.275 to 392.365, inclusive, 432.097 to 432.130, inclusive, and 432B.010 to 432B.400, inclusive.

3. The Division may release information contained in the Central Registry to an employer:

(a) If the person who is the subject of a background investigation by the employer provides written authorization for the release of the information; and

(b) Either:

(1) The employer is required by law to conduct the background investigation of the person for employment purposes; or

(2) The person who is the subject of the background investigation could, in the course of his or her employment, have regular and substantial contact with children or regular and substantial contact with elderly persons who require assistance or care from other persons,

but only to the extent necessary to inform the employer whether the person who is the subject of the background investigation has been found to have abused or neglected a child.

4. Except as otherwise provided in this section or by specific statute, information in the Central Registry may be accessed only by:

(a) An employee of the Division;

(b) An agency which provides child welfare services;

(c) An employee of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department who is obtaining information in accordance with NRS 432A.170; and

(d) With the approval of the Administrator, an employee or contractor of any other state or local governmental agency responsible for the welfare of children who requests access to the information and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Administrator a bona fide need to access the information. Any approval or denial of a request submitted in accordance with this paragraph is at the sole discretion of the Administrator.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 790; A 1977, 738; 1979, 546; 1985, 1385; 1993, 2704; 1999, 2029; 2005, 2029; 2015, 1097; 2017, 2057)