1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the review panel shall determine whether there is just and sufficient cause for the Commission to render an opinion in the matter within 15 days after the Executive Director provides the review panel with the recommendation required by NRS 281A.725. The public officer or employee who is the subject of the ethics complaint may waive this time limit.

2. The review panel shall cause a record of its proceedings to be kept.

3. The review panel shall not determine that there is just and sufficient cause for the Commission to render an opinion in the matter unless the Executive Director has provided the public officer or employee an opportunity to respond to the allegations as required by NRS 281A.720.

4. If the review panel determines that there is not just and sufficient cause for the Commission to render an opinion in the matter, it shall dismiss the matter, with or without prejudice, and with or without issuing a letter of caution or instruction to the public officer or employee pursuant to NRS 281A.780.

5. If the review panel determines that there is just and sufficient cause for the Commission to render an opinion in the matter but reasonably believes that the conduct at issue may be appropriately addressed through additional training or other corrective action under the terms and conditions of a deferral agreement, the review panel may:

(a) Approve a deferral agreement proposed by the Executive Director and the public officer or employee instead of referring the ethics complaint to the Commission for further proceedings in the matter; or

(b) Authorize the Executive Director and the public officer or employee to develop such a deferral agreement and may thereafter approve such a deferral agreement instead of referring the ethics complaint to the Commission for further proceedings in the matter.

6. If the review panel does not approve a deferral agreement pursuant to subsection 5 or if the public officer or employee declines to enter into such a deferral agreement, the review panel shall refer the ethics complaint to the Commission for further proceedings in the matter.

7. If the review panel determines that there is just and sufficient cause for the Commission to render an opinion in the matter and reasonably believes that the conduct at issue may not be appropriately addressed through additional training or other corrective action under the terms and conditions of a deferral agreement, the review panel shall refer the ethics complaint to the Commission for further proceedings in the matter.

(Added to NRS by 2017, 2482)