1. For the purpose of discovering violations of this chapter or of securing information lawfully required under this chapter, the Commissioner or his or her duly authorized representatives may at any time investigate the business and examine the books, accounts, papers and records used therein of:

(a) Any licensee;

(b) Any other person engaged in the business described in NRS 675.060 or participating in such business as principal, agent, broker or otherwise;

(c) Any registered agent who represents a licensee or any other person engaged in the business described in NRS 675.060; and

(d) Any person who the Commissioner has reasonable cause to believe is violating or is about to violate any provision of this chapter, whether or not the person claims to be within the authority or beyond the scope of this chapter.

2. For the purpose of examination the Commissioner or his or her authorized representatives shall have and be given free access to the offices and places of business, files, safes and vaults of such persons.

3. The investigation of a registered agent pursuant to subsection 1, including, without limitation, any book, accounts, papers and records used therein must be kept confidential except to the extent necessary to enforce any provision of this chapter.

4. For the purposes of this section, any person who advertises for, solicits or holds himself or herself out as willing to make loan transactions is presumed to be engaged in the business described in NRS 675.060.

5. This section does not entitle the Commissioner or the authorized representatives of the Commissioner to investigate the business or examine the books, accounts, papers and records of any attorney who is not a person described in paragraph (a), (b) or (d) of subsection 1, other than examination of those books, accounts, papers and records maintained by such attorney in his or her capacity as a registered agent, and then only to the extent such books, accounts, papers and records are not subject to any privilege in NRS 49.035 to 49.115, inclusive.

(Added to NRS by 1959, 236; A 1971, 1371; 1973, 1520; 1983, 1809; 1987, 179, 1990; 2007, 2726; 2009, 1731)