1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the board of county commissioners of a county whose population is less than 45,000 may by ordinance direct that:

(a) The powers and duties of two or more county offices be combined into one county office.

(b) The powers and duties of one county office be allocated between two or more county offices.

2. A board of county commissioners shall not take the action described in subsection 1 unless:

(a) The board determines that the combining or separating of the applicable county offices will benefit the public;

(b) The board determines that the combining or separating of the applicable county offices will not create:

(1) An ethical, legal or practical conflict of interest; or

(2) A situation in which the powers and duties assigned to a county office are incompatible with the proper performance of that office in the public interest;

(c) The board submits to the residents of the county, in the form of an advisory ballot question pursuant to NRS 295.230, a proposal to combine or separate the applicable county offices; and

(d) A majority of the voters voting on the advisory ballot question approves the proposal.

3. If the combining or separating of county offices pursuant to this section will result in the elimination of one or more county offices, the combining or separating of offices must not become effective until the earlier of the date on which:

(a) The normal term of office of the person whose office will be eliminated expires; or

(b) The person whose office will be eliminated resigns.

4. If the combining or separating of county offices pursuant to this section results in the powers and duties of one county office being transferred to another county office, the county office to which the powers and duties are transferred shall be deemed to be the county office from which the powers and duties were transferred for the purposes of any applicable provision of law authorizing or requiring the performance or exercise of those powers and duties, as appropriate.

(Added to NRS by 2009, 591; A 2011, 1102)