2011 Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 281A - Ethics in Government
NRS 281A.300 - Oaths; written requests and subpoenas for attendance and production of books and papers.

1. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission may administer oaths.

2. The Commission, upon majority vote, may issue a subpoena to compel the attendance of a witness and the production of books and papers. Upon the request of the Executive Director or the public officer or public employee who is the subject of a request for an opinion, the Chair or, in the Chair s absence, the Vice Chair, may issue a subpoena to compel the attendance of a witness and the production of books and papers.

3. Before issuing a subpoena to a public officer or public employee who is the subject of a request for an opinion, the Executive Director shall submit a written request to the public officer or public employee requesting:

(a) The appearance of the public officer or public employee as a witness; or

(b) The production by the public officer or public employee of any books and papers relating to the request for an opinion.

4. Each written request submitted by the Executive Director pursuant to subsection 3 must specify the time and place for the attendance of the public officer or public employee or the production of any books and papers, and designate with certainty the books and papers requested, if any. If the public officer or public employee fails or refuses to attend at the time and place specified or produce the books and papers requested by the Executive Director within 5 business days after receipt of the request, the Chair may issue the subpoena. Failure of the public officer or public employee to comply with the written request of the Executive Director shall be deemed a waiver by the public officer or public employee of the time set forth in subsections 4, 5 and 6 of NRS 281A.440.

5. If any witness refuses to attend, testify or produce any books and papers as required by the subpoena, the Chair of the Commission may report to the district court by petition, setting forth that:

(a) Due notice has been given of the time and place of attendance of the witness or the production of the books and papers;

(b) The witness has been subpoenaed by the Commission pursuant to this section; and

(c) The witness has failed or refused to attend or produce the books and papers required by the subpoena before the Commission, or has refused to answer questions propounded to the witness, and asking for an order of the court compelling the witness to attend and testify or produce the books and papers before the Commission.

6. Upon such a petition, the court shall enter an order directing the witness to appear before the court at a time and place to be fixed by the court in its order, the time to be not more than 10 days after the date of the order, and then and there show cause why the witness has not attended, testified or produced the books or papers before the Commission. A certified copy of the order must be served upon the witness.

7. If it appears to the court that the subpoena was regularly issued by the Commission, the court shall enter an order that the witness appear before the Commission, at the time and place fixed in the order, and testify or produce the required books and papers. Upon failure to obey the order, the witness must be dealt with as for contempt of court.

(Added to NRS by 1991, 1591; A 1997, 257; 1999, 2733; 2003, 3387; 2005, 2279; 2009, 1052) (Substituted in revision for NRS 281.475)