1. The Director shall:

(a) Make investigations on the Director’s own initiative with respect to any irregularities which the Director discovers in the statements and reports filed and with respect to the failure of any person to file a required statement or report and shall make an investigation upon the written complaint of any person alleging a violation of any provision of this chapter.

(b) Report suspected violations of law to the:

(1) Legislative Commission; and

(2) Attorney General, who shall investigate and take any action necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

2. If an investigation by the Director reveals a violation of any provision of this chapter by a lobbyist, the Director may suspend the lobbyist’s registration for a specified period or revoke the lobbyist’s registration. The Director shall cause notice of such action to be given to each client of the lobbyist.

3. A lobbyist whose registration is suspended or revoked by the Director may:

(a) Request a hearing on the matter before the Director;

(b) Appeal to the Legislative Commission from any adverse decision of the Director; and

(c) If the lobbyist’s registration is suspended, renew the lobbyist’s registration if the Legislature is still in a regular or special session following the period of suspension.

4. A lobbyist whose registration is revoked may, with the consent of the Director, renew the lobbyist’s registration if the lobbyist:

(a) Files a registration statement in the form required by NRS 218H.200;

(b) Pays any fee for late filing owed pursuant to NRS 218H.410, plus the fee for registration prescribed by the Legislative Commission; and

(c) If the revocation occurred because of the lobbyist’s failure to file an activity report, files that report.

5. If a lobbyist’s registration is suspended, the suspension does not relieve the lobbyist of:

(a) The reporting requirement for any reporting period during which the lobbyist engaged in any lobbying activities.

(b) The continuing duty to file a supplementary registration statement with the Director pursuant to NRS 218H.220 and to comply with NRS 218H.930 and any other requirement set forth in this chapter, unless the lobbyist, following the period of suspension, ceases all lobbying activities and complies with the provisions of subsection 2 of NRS 218H.180.

6. If a lobbyist’s registration is revoked:

(a) The lobbyist shall cease all lobbying activities and terminate all representation concerning the interests of all clients to all members of the Legislative Branch and thereafter shall not engage in or otherwise provide, or offer, promise, agree or attempt to engage in or otherwise provide, any lobbying activities or representation concerning the interests of any clients to any members of the Legislative Branch at any time before the commencement of the next regular session, unless the lobbyist’s registration is renewed pursuant to subsection 4.

(b) The revocation does not relieve the lobbyist of:

(1) The reporting requirement for any reporting period during which the lobbyist engaged in any lobbying activities.

(2) The continuing duty to comply with NRS 218H.930, but as a lobbyist whose registration has been revoked, until the commencement of the next regular session or the lobbyist’s registration is renewed pursuant to subsection 4, whichever occurs first.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 1173; A 1979, 1324; 1989, 1975; 2011, 3254; 2019, 2993)