1. The board of county commissioners of any county may create by ordinance the office of coordinator of services for veterans. If such an office is created, the board shall appoint a qualified veteran to hold the office and the board shall establish the coordinator’s compensation.

2. If the coordinator of services for veterans performs duties as a veterans service officer, including, without limitation, assisting veterans with filing claims for benefits with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the board of county commissioners of the county must request the Director of the Department of Veterans Services to provide the coordinator of services for veterans training and certification as a veterans service officer pursuant to paragraph (o) of subsection 1 of NRS 417.090.

3. The coordinator of services for veterans shall:

(a) Assist a veteran or the veteran’s spouse or dependent, if the person requesting assistance is a resident of the county, in preparing, submitting and pursuing any claim that the person has against the United States, or any state, to establish the person’s right to any privilege, preference, care or compensation to which he or she believes that he or she is entitled;

(b) If the coordinator of services for veterans performs duties as a veterans service officer, including, without limitation, assisting veterans with filing claims for benefits with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and the board of county commissioners of the county has made the request pursuant to subsection 2, become certified as a veterans service officer by the Director of the Department of Veterans Services pursuant to paragraph (o) of subsection 1 of NRS 417.090;

(c) If a certification is received pursuant to paragraph (b), maintain the certification with the Director of the Department of Veterans Services and accreditation or official recognition with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a veterans service officer;

(d) Aid, assist and cooperate with the Director of the Department of Veterans Services and with the Nevada Veterans Services Commission;

(e) Disseminate information relating to veterans’ benefits in cooperation with the Director of the Department of Veterans Services; and

(f) Perform such other services related to assisting a veteran, or the veteran’s spouse or dependent, as requested by the board of county commissioners.

4. Two or more counties jointly may create one office of coordinator of services for veterans to serve those counties.

5. As used in this section, “veterans service officer” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 417.017.

(Added to NRS by 1997, 1318; A 1997, 2592; 1999, 577, 2478; 2017, 383; 2019, 133)