1. The board of county commissioners:

(a) In a county whose population is 100,000 or more shall establish a neighborhood justice center.

(b) In a county whose population is less than 100,000 may establish a neighborhood justice center.

A neighborhood justice center must be closely modeled after the program established by the American Bar Association for multi-door courthouses for the resolution of disputes.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, a neighborhood justice center must provide, at no charge:

(a) A forum for the impartial mediation of minor disputes including, but not limited to, disputes between landlord and tenant, neighbors, family members, local businesses and their customers, hospitals and their patients, and governmental agencies and their clients, except where prohibited by federal law.

(b) A system of providing information concerning the resolution of disputes and the services available in the community.

(c) An efficient and effective referral system which assists in the resolution of disputes and otherwise guides the client to the appropriate public or private agency to assist in the resolution of the particular dispute, including referrals to the justices of the peace, municipal courts, lawyer referral systems, legal aid services, district attorney, city attorneys, district courts, mental health services, other alternative methods of resolving disputes and other governmental and private services.

3. A board of county commissioners that has established a neighborhood justice center may authorize the center to charge a fee for:

(a) Services which are provided relating to the resolution of complex cases; and

(b) Training provided by the center.

4. A neighborhood justice center must be supported from the money in the account for dispute resolution in the county general fund and any gifts or grants received by the county for the support of the center.

(Added to NRS by 1991, 920; A 1993, 1212, 1213; 1997, 2363; 2013, 1618)