Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013 | 1:35 p.m.
CARSON CITY — A state board has endorsed pumping another $3 million into Nevada mental health services to increase bed capacity and reduce wait times for criminal defendants ordered to undergo evaluations.
The funding request approved Tuesday by the state Board of Examiners now goes to a legislative money committee later this month and comes amid intense scrutiny of Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas over discharge practices.
Officials say the money also will allow faster processing of defendants ordered to undergo mental evaluations by a judge.
The state plans to restore the Stein Hospital in Southern Nevada, opening 42 new beds for inmate evaluations and 16 for civil cases.
Last week, state lawmakers approved $2.1 million for mental health programs.
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