1. Unless an exemption is approved pursuant to subsection 4, each county whose population is less than 100,000 shall pay an assessment each fiscal year to the Division of Child and Family Services in an amount which does not exceed the amount authorized by the Legislature for the provision of child protective services by the Division in the county during that year.

2. The Division shall provide each county whose population is less than 100,000, on or before May 1 of each year, with an estimate of the amount of the assessment. The estimate becomes the amount of the assessment unless the county is notified of a change within 2 weeks after the date on which the county contribution is approved by the Legislature. The county shall pay the assessment:

(a) In full within 30 days after the amount of the assessment becomes final; or

(b) In equal quarterly installments on or before the first day of July, October, January and April, respectively.

3. Money paid by a county pursuant to this section must be deposited by the Division with the State Treasurer, and the Division shall expend the money in accordance with the approved budget of the Division.

4. A county whose population is less than 100,000 may submit a proposal to the Governor for the county to carry out child protective services for the county. If the Governor approves the proposal, the Governor must submit a recommendation to the Interim Finance Committee to exempt the county from the assessment required pursuant to subsection 1. The Interim Finance Committee, upon receiving the recommendation from the Governor, shall consider the proposal and determine whether to approve the exemption. In considering whether to approve the exemption, the Interim Finance Committee shall consider, among other things, the best interests of the State, the effect of the exemption and the intent of the Legislature in requiring the assessment to be paid by the county.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 2523)