On or after January 1, 2001, a refiner who engages in the direct operation of:

1. Less than 30 service stations in this state, with his or her own employees or through a subsidiary or commissioned agent or a person on the basis of a fee, may commence the direct operation of not more than 5 additional service stations per calendar year, but in no case may the refiner commence the direct operation of more than 30 service stations without complying with the provisions of subsection 2.

2. At least 30 service stations in this state, with his or her own employees or through a subsidiary or commissioned agent or a person on the basis of a fee, may commence the direct operation of additional service stations per year, with his or her own employees or through a subsidiary or commissioned agent or person on the basis of a fee, only if, during the year in which the service stations are added, the refiner leases, in addition to the number of service stations leased by the refiner to lessee dealers on July 1, 1997, at least 1 additional service station to a lessee dealer for every 2 directly operated service stations added. For the purposes of this subsection, an additional service station leased by the refiner to a lessee dealer before the refiner engages in the direct operation of at least 30 service stations shall be deemed to be 1 service station leased to a lessee dealer during any year following the year in which the refiner engages in the direct operation of at least 30 service stations.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 2197; A 1997, 2016; 2003, 1221)