S.B. 339 - *SB339* SENATE BILL NO. 339–SENATOR BUCK MARCH 12, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Judiciary SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to common-interest communities. (BDR 10-639) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: Yes. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to common-interest communities; requiring the Real Estate Division of the Department of Business and Industry to audit the financial accounts of unit-owners’ associations of common-interest communities under certain circumstances; requiring background investigations for candidates nominated for membership on executive boards of associations; revising provisions relating to reserve accounts; providing that certain actions related to common-interest communities are not subject to mandatory alternative dispute resolution processes and must be adjudicated as small claims; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law requires the executive board of the unit-owners’ association of a 1 common-interest community to cause the annual review or audit of the financial 2 statements of the association. (NRS 116.31144) Section 2 of this bill requires the 3 Real Estate Division of the Department of Business and Industry to investigate and 4 audit all financial accounts related to an association if the Division has reasonable 5 cause to believe that the accounts or records of the association have not been 6 maintained and that the investigation and audit is reasonably necessary to 7 administer or enforce certain laws under the jurisdiction of the Division. 8 Existing law establishes procedures related to the election or appointment of a 9 member of the executive board. (NRS 116.31034) Section 3 of this bill requires 10 candidates for membership on the executive board to undergo a background 11 investigation conducted by the Division. Section 6 of this bill requires the 12 candidate to submit a copy of the background investigation to the association for 13 distribution to the units’ owners during the election process or in a subsequent 14 mailing under certain circumstances. 15 – 2 – - *SB339* Section 4 of this bill requires the Division to establish a training program for 16 members of executive boards and requires members to take the training within 6 17 months after their election or appointment. 18 Existing law requires the association to establish adequate reserves for the 19 repair, replacement and restoration of the major components of the common 20 elements and any other portion of the common-interest community that the 21 association is obligated to maintain, repair, replace or restore. (NRS 116.3115) 22 Existing law requires the executive board to: (1) cause a study of the reserves to be 23 conducted every 5 years; (2) annually review the results of the study; and (3) make 24 adjustments to the funding plan of the association. (NRS 116.31152) Section 7 of 25 this bill requires the study to be conducted every year and establishes the standards 26 for determining the sufficiency of funds in the reserves of the association. 27 Existing law provides that before commencing a civil action relating to the 28 interpretation, application or enforcement of any covenants, conditions or 29 restrictions applicable to residential property or any bylaws, rules or regulations 30 adopted by an association or the procedures used for increasing, decreasing or 31 imposing additional assessments upon residential property, a dispute must first be 32 submitted to mediation or, if the parties agree, referred to a program established by 33 the Division for resolution of the dispute. (NRS 38.310) Section 9 of this bill 34 exempts actions brought for damages from a failure or refusal to comply with 35 certain provisions of law related to common-interest communities or the 36 declarations or bylaws of an association from such mandatory mediation or such a 37 program for resolution. Instead, sections 8 and 10 of this bill require such actions 38 to be commenced in justice court and adjudicated as small claims. 39 Section 5 of this bill makes a conforming change related to the applicability of 40 certain provisions to sections 2-4. 41 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 116 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1 thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2, 3 and 4 of this act. 2 Sec. 2. The Division shall investigate and audit all financial 3 accounts related to an association if the Division has reasonable 4 cause to believe that the accounts or records of the association 5 have not been properly maintained and the Division determines 6 that the investigation and audit are reasonably necessary to assist 7 the Division in administering or enforcing the provisions of this 8 chapter and any other statute that the Division is charged with 9 administering or enforcing. 10 Sec. 3. 1. The Division shall prepare a report on the 11 background of a candidate nominated for membership to an 12 executive board pursuant to NRS 116.31034. 13 2. A candidate shall submit an application to the Division for 14 the preparation of the report not later than 3 days after the 15 nomination of the candidate. 16 3. The application must be made on a form prescribed by the 17 Division. 18 – 3 – - *SB339* 4. The Division shall provide to the candidate a certified copy 1 of the report on the background of a candidate. 2 Sec. 4. 1. The Division shall by regulation establish a 3 training and orientation program for members of executive 4 boards, which must include, without limitation, information 5 concerning the powers and duties of the members. 6 2. Each member of an executive board shall, not later than 6 7 months after election or appointment, complete the training and 8 orientation program described in subsection 1. 9 Sec. 5. NRS 116.1203 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10 116.1203 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 11 and 3, if a planned community contains no more than 12 units and is 12 not subject to any developmental rights, it is subject only to NRS 13 116.1106 and 116.1107 unless the declaration provides that this 14 entire chapter is applicable. 15 2. The provisions of NRS 116.12065 and the definitions set 16 forth in NRS 116.005 to 116.095, inclusive, to the extent that the 17 definitions are necessary to construe any of those provisions, apply 18 to a residential planned community containing more than 6 units. 19 3. Except for NRS 116.3104, 116.31043, 116.31046 and 20 116.31138, the provisions of NRS 116.3101 to 116.350, inclusive, 21 and sections 2, 3 and 4 of this act, and the definitions set forth in 22 NRS 116.005 to 116.095, inclusive, to the extent that such 23 definitions are necessary in construing any of those provisions, 24 apply to a residential planned community containing more than 6 25 units. 26 Sec. 6. NRS 116.31034 is hereby amended to read as follows: 27 116.31034 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5 of 28 NRS 116.212, not later than the termination of any period of 29 declarant’s control, the units’ owners shall elect an executive board 30 of at least three members, all of whom must be units’ owners. The 31 executive board shall elect the officers of the association. Unless 32 the governing documents provide otherwise, the officers of the 33 association are not required to be units’ owners. The members of the 34 executive board and the officers of the association shall take office 35 upon election. 36 2. The term of office of a member of the executive board may 37 not exceed 3 years, except for members who are appointed by the 38 declarant. Unless the governing documents provide otherwise, there 39 is no limitation on the number of terms that a person may serve as a 40 member of the executive board. 41 3. The governing documents of the association must provide 42 for terms of office that are staggered in such a manner that, to the 43 extent possible, an equal number of members of the executive board 44 – 4 – - *SB339* are elected at each election. The provisions of this subsection do not 1 apply to: 2 (a) Members of the executive board who are appointed by the 3 declarant; and 4 (b) Members of the executive board who serve a term of 1 year 5 or less. 6 4. Not less than 30 days before the preparation of a ballot for 7 the election of members of the executive board, the secretary or 8 other officer specified in the bylaws of the association shall cause 9 notice to be given to each unit’s owner of the unit’s owner’s 10 eligibility to serve as a member of the executive board. Each unit’s 11 owner who is qualified to serve as a member of the executive board 12 may have his or her name placed on the ballot along with the names 13 of the nominees selected by the members of the executive board or a 14 nominating committee established by the association. 15 5. Before the secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws 16 of the association causes notice to be given to each unit’s owner of 17 his or her eligibility to serve as a member of the executive board 18 pursuant to subsection 4, the executive board may determine that if, 19 at the closing of the prescribed period for nominations for 20 membership on the executive board, the number of candidates 21 nominated for membership on the executive board is equal to or less 22 than the number of members to be elected to the executive board at 23 the election, then: 24 (a) The association will not prepare or provide any ballots to 25 units’ owners pursuant to this section; and 26 (b) The nominated candidates shall be deemed to be duly elected 27 to the executive board at the meeting of the units’ owners at which 28 the ballots would have been counted pursuant to paragraph (e) of 29 subsection 15. 30 6. If the executive board makes the determination set forth in 31 subsection 5, the secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws of 32 the association shall disclose the determination and the provisions of 33 subsection 5 with the notice given pursuant to subsection 4. 34 7. If, at the closing of the prescribed period for nominations for 35 membership on the executive board, the number of candidates 36 nominated for membership on the executive board is less than 37 the number of members to be elected to the executive board at the 38 election, the executive board may fill the remaining vacancies on the 39 executive board by appointment of the executive board at a meeting 40 of the executive board held after the candidates are elected pursuant 41 to subsection 5. Any such person appointed to the executive board 42 shall serve as a member of the executive board until the next 43 regularly scheduled election of members of the executive board. An 44 executive board member elected to a previously appointed position 45 – 5 – - *SB339* which was temporarily filled by board appointment pursuant to this 1 subsection may only be elected to fulfill the remainder of that term. 2 8. If, at the closing of the prescribed period for nominations for 3 membership on the executive board described in subsection 5, the 4 number of candidates nominated for membership on the executive 5 board is greater than the number of members to be elected to the 6 executive board, then the association shall: 7 (a) Prepare and provide ballots to the units’ owners pursuant to 8 this section; and 9 (b) Conduct an election for membership on the executive board 10 pursuant to this section. 11 9. Each person who is nominated as a candidate for 12 membership on the executive board pursuant to subsection 4 must: 13 (a) Make a good faith effort to disclose any financial, business, 14 professional or personal relationship or interest that would result or 15 would appear to a reasonable person to result in a potential conflict 16 of interest for the candidate if the candidate were to be elected to 17 serve as a member of the executive board; [and] 18 (b) Disclose whether the candidate is a member in good 19 standing. For the purposes of this paragraph, a candidate shall not be 20 deemed to be in “good standing” if the candidate has any unpaid and 21 past due assessments or construction penalties that are required to be 22 paid to the association [.] ; and 23 (c) Provide to the association a certified copy of the report 24 prepared by the Division pursuant to section 3 of this act. 25 The candidate must make all disclosures required pursuant to this 26 subsection in writing to the association with his or her candidacy 27 information. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the 28 association shall distribute the disclosures [,] and a copy of the 29 report on behalf of the candidate, to each member of the association 30 with the ballot or, in the event ballots are not prepared and provided 31 pursuant to subsection 5, in the next regular mailing of the 32 association. The association is not obligated to distribute any 33 disclosure pursuant to this subsection if the disclosure contains 34 information that is believed to be defamatory, libelous or profane. 35 10. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 11 and 12, 36 unless a person is appointed by the declarant: 37 (a) A person may not be a candidate for or member of the 38 executive board or an officer of the association if: 39 (1) The person resides in a unit with, is married to, is 40 domestic partners with, or is related by blood, adoption or marriage 41 within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to another person 42 who is also a member of the executive board or is an officer of the 43 association; 44 – 6 – - *SB339* (2) The person stands to gain any personal profit or 1 compensation of any kind from a matter before the executive board 2 of the association; or 3 (3) The person, the person’s spouse or the person’s parent or 4 child, by blood, marriage or adoption, performs the duties of a 5 community manager for that association. 6 (b) A person may not be a candidate for or member of the 7 executive board of a master association or an officer of that master 8 association if the person, the person’s spouse or the person’s parent 9 or child, by blood, marriage or adoption, performs the duties of a 10 community manager for: 11 (1) That master association; or 12 (2) Any association that is subject to the governing 13 documents of that master association. 14 11. A person, other than a person appointed by the declarant, 15 who owns 75 percent or more of the units in an association may: 16 (a) Be a candidate for or member of the executive board or an 17 officer of the association; and 18 (b) Reside in a unit with, be married to, be domestic partners 19 with, or be related by blood, adoption or marriage within the third 20 degree of consanguinity or affinity to another person who is also a 21 member of the executive board or is an officer of the association, 22 unless the person owning 75 percent or more of the units in the 23 association and the other person would constitute a majority of the 24 total number of seats on the executive board. 25 12. A person, other than a person appointed by the declarant, 26 may: 27 (a) Be a candidate for or member of the executive board; and 28 (b) Reside in a unit with, be married to, be domestic partners 29 with, or be related by blood, adoption or marriage within the third 30 degree of consanguinity or affinity to another person who is also a 31 member of the executive board or is an officer of the association, 32 if the number of candidates nominated for membership on the 33 executive board is less than or equal to the number of members to be 34 elected to the executive board. 35 13. If a person is not eligible to be a candidate for or member 36 of the executive board or an officer of the association pursuant to 37 any provision of this chapter, the association: 38 (a) Must not place his or her name on the ballot; and 39 (b) Must prohibit such a person from serving as a member of the 40 executive board or an officer of the association. 41 14. An officer, employee, agent or director of a corporate 42 owner of a unit, a trustee or designated beneficiary of a trust that 43 owns a unit, a partner of a partnership that owns a unit, a member or 44 manager of a limited-liability company that owns a unit, and a 45 – 7 – - *SB339* fiduciary of an estate that owns a unit may be an officer of the 1 association or a member of the executive board. In all events where 2 the person serving or offering to serve as an officer of the 3 association or a member of the executive board is not the record 4 owner, the person shall file proof in the records of the association 5 that: 6 (a) The person is associated with the corporate owner, trust, 7 partnership, limited-liability company or estate as required by this 8 subsection; and 9 (b) Identifies the unit or units owned by the corporate owner, 10 trust, partnership, limited-liability company or estate. 11 15. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5 or NRS 12 116.311 or 116.31105, the election of any member of the executive 13 board must be conducted by secret ballot in the following manner: 14 (a) The secretary or other officer specified in the bylaws of the 15 association shall cause a secret paper or electronic ballot to be 16 provided to each unit’s owner and: 17 (1) If a paper ballot is provided, shall send the ballot and a 18 return envelope, prepaid by United States mail, to the mailing 19 address of each unit within the common-interest community or to 20 any other mailing address designated in writing by the unit’s owner; 21 or 22 (2) If an electronic ballot is provided, shall provide the ballot 23 or make the ballot available by electronic means to each unit’s 24 owner. 25 (b) Each unit’s owner must be provided with at least 15 days 26 after the date the secret ballot is mailed, provided or made available 27 to the unit’s owner to return the secret ballot to the association by 28 physical or electronic means. 29 (c) A quorum is not required for the election of any member of 30 the executive board. 31 (d) Only the secret ballots that the association receives by 32 physical or electronic means may be counted to determine the 33 outcome of the election. 34 (e) At the meeting of the units’ owners held pursuant to 35 subsection 1 of NRS 116.3108, the secret ballots physically received 36 by the association must be opened and counted and the results of the 37 secret ballots received by the association by electronic means must 38 be reviewed, announced and entered into the record. A quorum is 39 not required to be present when the secret ballots physically 40 received by the association are opened and counted or the results of 41 the secret ballots received by the association by electronic means are 42 reviewed, announced and entered into the record at the meeting. 43 (f) The incumbent members of the executive board and each 44 person whose name is placed on the ballot as a candidate for 45 – 8 – - *SB339* membership on the executive board may not possess, be given 1 access to or participate in the opening or counting of the secret 2 ballots that the association physically receives, or the collection of 3 data regarding the secret ballots that the association receives by 4 electronic means, before those secret ballots have been opened and 5 counted or reviewed, announced and entered into the record, as 6 applicable, at a meeting of the association. 7 16. An association shall not adopt any rule or regulation that 8 has the effect of prohibiting or unreasonably interfering with a 9 candidate in the candidate’s campaign for election as a member of 10 the executive board, except that the candidate’s campaign may be 11 limited to 90 days before the date that ballots are required to be 12 returned to the association. 13 17. A candidate who has submitted a nomination form for 14 election as a member of the executive board may request that the 15 association or its agent either: 16 (a) Send before the date of the election and at the association’s 17 expense, to the mailing address of each unit within the common-18 interest community or to any other mailing address designated in 19 writing by the unit’s owner a candidate informational statement. The 20 candidate informational statement: 21 (1) Must be no longer than a single, typed page; 22 (2) Must not contain any defamatory, libelous or profane 23 information; and 24 (3) May be sent with a secret ballot mailed pursuant to 25 subsection 15 or in a separate mailing; or 26 (b) To allow the candidate to communicate campaign material 27 directly to the units’ owners, provide to the candidate, in paper 28 format at a cost not to exceed 25 cents per page for the first 10 pages 29 and 10 cents per page thereafter, in the format of a compact disc at a 30 cost of not more than $5 or by electronic mail at no cost: 31 (1) A list of the mailing address of each unit, which must not 32 include the names of the units’ owners or the name of any tenant of 33 a unit’s owner; or 34 (2) If the members of the association are owners of time 35 shares within a time share plan created pursuant to chapter 119A of 36 NRS and: 37 (I) The voting rights of those owners are exercised by 38 delegates or representatives pursuant to NRS 116.31105, the mailing 39 address of the delegates or representatives. 40 (II) The voting rights of those owners are not exercised by 41 delegates or representatives, the mailing address of the association 42 established pursuant to NRS 119A.520. If the mailing address of the 43 association is provided to the candidate pursuant to this sub-44 subparagraph, the association must send to each owner of a time 45 – 9 – - *SB339* share within the time share plan the campaign material provided by 1 the candidate. If the campaign material will be sent by mail, the 2 candidate who provides the campaign material must provide to the 3 association a separate copy of the campaign material for each owner 4 and must pay the actual costs of mailing before the campaign 5 material is mailed. If the campaign material will be sent by 6 electronic transmission, the candidate must provide to the 7 association one copy of the campaign material in an electronic 8 format. 9 The information provided pursuant to this paragraph must not 10 include the name of any unit’s owner or any tenant of a unit’s 11 owner. If a candidate who makes a request for the information 12 described in this paragraph fails or refuses to provide a written 13 statement signed by the candidate which states that the candidate is 14 making the request to allow the candidate to communicate campaign 15 material directly to units’ owners and that the candidate will not use 16 the information for any other purpose, the association or its agent 17 may refuse the request. 18 18. An association and its directors, officers, employees and 19 agents are immune from criminal or civil liability for any act or 20 omission which arises out of the publication or disclosure of any 21 information related to any person and which occurs in the course of 22 carrying out any duties required pursuant to subsection 17. 23 19. Each member of the executive board shall, within 90 days 24 after his or her appointment or election, certify in writing to the 25 association, on a form prescribed by the Administrator, that the 26 member [has read] : 27 (a) Has read and understands the governing documents of the 28 association and the provisions of this chapter to the best of his or her 29 ability [.] ; and 30 (b) Acknowledges that the member must complete the training 31 and orientation program as required by section 4 of this act. 32 20. The Administrator may require the association to submit a 33 copy of the certification of each member of the executive board of 34 that association at the time the association registers with the 35 Ombudsman pursuant to NRS 116.31158. 36 Sec. 7. NRS 116.31152 is hereby amended to read as follows: 37 116.31152 1. The executive board shall [:] , at least 38 annually: 39 (a) [At least once every 5 years, cause] Cause to be conducted a 40 study of the reserves required to repair, replace and restore the 41 major components of the common elements and any other portion of 42 the common-interest community that the association is obligated to 43 maintain, repair, replace or restore; 44 – 10 – - *SB339* (b) [At least annually, review] Review the results of that study to 1 determine whether those reserves are sufficient [;] to fund the cost 2 projected for the fiscal year to repair, replace or restore the major 3 components of the common elements and any other portion of the 4 common-interest community that the association is obligated to 5 maintain, repair, replace or restore; and 6 (c) [At least annually, make] Make any adjustments to the 7 association’s funding plan which the executive board deems 8 necessary to provide adequate funding for the required reserves. 9 2. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the study of 10 the reserves required by subsection 1 must be conducted by a person 11 who holds a permit issued pursuant to chapter 116A of NRS. If the 12 common-interest community contains 20 or fewer units and is 13 located in a county whose population is less than 55,000, the study 14 of the reserves required by subsection 1 may be conducted by any 15 person whom the executive board deems qualified to conduct the 16 study. 17 3. The study of the reserves must include, without limitation: 18 (a) A summary of an inspection of the major components of the 19 common elements and any other portion of the common-interest 20 community that the association is obligated to maintain, repair, 21 replace or restore; 22 (b) An identification of the major components of the common 23 elements and any other portion of the common-interest community 24 that the association is obligated to maintain, repair, replace or 25 restore which have a remaining useful life of less than 30 years; 26 (c) An estimate of the remaining useful life of each major 27 component of the common elements and any other portion of the 28 common-interest community that the association is obligated to 29 maintain, repair, replace or restore identified pursuant to 30 paragraph (b); 31 (d) An estimate of the cost of maintenance, repair, replacement 32 or restoration of each major component of the common elements 33 and any other portion of the common-interest community identified 34 pursuant to paragraph (b) during and at the end of its useful life; and 35 (e) An estimate of the total annual assessment that may be 36 necessary to cover the cost of maintaining, repairing, replacement or 37 restoration of the major components of the common elements and 38 any other portion of the common-interest community identified 39 pursuant to paragraph (b), after subtracting the reserves of the 40 association as of the date of the study, and an estimate of the 41 funding plan that may be necessary to provide adequate funding for 42 the required reserves. 43 4. A summary of the study of the reserves required by 44 subsection 1 must be submitted to the Division not later than 45 – 11 – - *SB339* 45 days after the date that the executive board adopts the results of 1 the study. 2 5. If a common-interest community was developed as part of a 3 planned unit development pursuant to chapter 278A of NRS and is 4 subject to an agreement with a city or county to receive credit 5 against the amount of the residential construction tax that is imposed 6 pursuant to NRS 278.4983 and 278.4985, the association that is 7 organized for the common-interest community may use the money 8 from that credit for the repair, replacement or restoration of park 9 facilities and related improvements if: 10 (a) The park facilities and related improvements are identified as 11 major components of the common elements of the association; and 12 (b) The association is obligated to repair, replace or restore the 13 park facilities and related improvements in accordance with the 14 study of the reserves required by subsection 1. 15 Sec. 8. NRS 116.4117 is hereby amended to read as follows: 16 116.4117 1. Subject to the requirements set forth in 17 subsection 2, if a declarant, community manager or any other person 18 subject to this chapter fails to comply with any of its provisions or 19 any provision of the declaration or bylaws, any person or class of 20 persons suffering actual damages from the failure to comply may 21 bring a civil action for damages or other appropriate relief. 22 2. [Subject to the requirements set forth in NRS 38.310 and 23 except] Except as otherwise provided in NRS 116.3111, a civil 24 action for damages or other appropriate relief for a failure or refusal 25 to comply with any provision of this chapter or the governing 26 documents of an association may be brought: 27 (a) By the association against: 28 (1) A declarant; 29 (2) A community manager; or 30 (3) A unit’s owner. 31 (b) By a unit’s owner against: 32 (1) The association; 33 (2) A declarant; or 34 (3) Another unit’s owner of the association. 35 (c) By a class of units’ owners constituting at least 10 percent of 36 the total number of voting members of the association against a 37 community manager. 38 3. A civil action brought for damages pursuant to subsection 39 1 must be commenced in the justice court and adjudicated in 40 accordance with the provisions of chapter 73 of NRS relating to 41 small claims. 42 4. Members of the executive board are not personally liable to 43 the victims of crimes occurring on the property. 44 – 12 – - *SB339* [4.] 5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection [5,] 6, 1 punitive damages may be awarded for a willful and material failure 2 to comply with any provision of this chapter if the failure is 3 established by clear and convincing evidence. 4 [5.] 6. Punitive damages may not be awarded against: 5 (a) The association; 6 (b) The members of the executive board for acts or omissions 7 that occur in their official capacity as members of the executive 8 board; or 9 (c) The officers of the association for acts or omissions that 10 occur in their capacity as officers of the association. 11 [6.] 7. The court may award reasonable attorney’s fees to the 12 prevailing party. 13 [7.] 8. The civil remedy provided by this section is in addition 14 to, and not exclusive of, any other available remedy or penalty. 15 [8.] 9. The provisions of this section do not prohibit the 16 Commission from taking any disciplinary action against a member 17 of an executive board pursuant to NRS 116.745 to 116.795, 18 inclusive. 19 Sec. 9. NRS 38.310 is hereby amended to read as follows: 20 38.310 1. [No] Except as otherwise provided in subsection 21 2, no civil action based upon a claim relating to: 22 (a) The interpretation, application or enforcement of any 23 covenants, conditions or restrictions applicable to residential 24 property or any bylaws, rules or regulations adopted by an 25 association; or 26 (b) The procedures used for increasing, decreasing or imposing 27 additional assessments upon residential property, 28 may be commenced in any court in this State unless the action 29 has been submitted to mediation or, if the parties agree, has been 30 referred to a program pursuant to the provisions of NRS 38.300 to 31 38.360, inclusive, and, if the civil action concerns real estate within 32 a planned community subject to the provisions of chapter 116 of 33 NRS or real estate within a condominium hotel subject to the 34 provisions of chapter 116B of NRS, all administrative procedures 35 specified in any covenants, conditions or restrictions applicable to 36 the property or in any bylaws, rules and regulations of an 37 association have been exhausted. 38 2. The provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to a civil action 39 for damages brought pursuant to subsection 1 of NRS 116.4117. 40 3. A court shall dismiss any civil action which is commenced 41 in violation of the provisions of subsection 1. 42 Sec. 10. NRS 73.010 is hereby amended to read as follows: 43 73.010 1. [A] Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, 44 a justice of the peace has jurisdiction and may proceed as provided 45 – 13 – - *SB339* in this chapter and by rules of court in all cases arising in the justice 1 court for the recovery of money only, where the amount claimed 2 does not exceed $10,000. 3 2. In cases brought pursuant to NRS 116.4117, regardless of 4 the sum sought to be recovered, the justice of the peace may 5 proceed as provided in this chapter and by rules of the court, 6 except that the provisions of this chapter related to the awarding 7 of costs and attorney’s fees do not apply. 8 3. An action brought pursuant to this chapter must be filed in 9 one of the following townships as the proper venue for the action: 10 (a) The township in which the defendant named is a resident, 11 does business or is employed at the time the cause of action arose or 12 at the time the complaint is filed; or 13 (b) In addition to any township described in paragraph (a): 14 (1) In a case involving injury to the person or property, the 15 township where the injury was committed. 16 (2) In a case involving a person who has contracted to 17 perform an obligation at, or relating to, a particular place, the 18 township in which the obligation is or was to be performed. For the 19 purposes of this subparagraph, the township in which the obligation 20 is incurred shall be deemed to be the township in which the 21 obligation is or was to be performed, unless there is a special 22 contract to the contrary. 23 Sec. 11. 1. This section becomes effective on passage and 24 approval. 25 2. Sections 1 to 10, inclusive, of this act become effective: 26 (a) Upon passage and approval for the purpose of adopting any 27 regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative 28 tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and 29 (b) On October 1, 2025, for all other purposes. 30 H