Except in cases to which NRS 288.205 and 288.215 apply:

1. Anytime before March 1, the dispute may be submitted to a mediator, if both parties agree. Anytime after March 1, either party involved in negotiations may request a mediator. If the parties do not agree upon a mediator, the Commissioner shall submit to the parties a list of seven potential mediators. The parties shall select their mediator from the list by alternately striking one name until the name of only one mediator remains, who will be the mediator to hear the dispute. The employee organization shall strike the first name.

2. If mediation is agreed to or requested pursuant to subsection 1, the mediator must be selected at the time the parties agree upon a mediator or, if the parties do not agree upon a mediator, within 5 days after the parties receive the list of potential mediators from the Commissioner.

3. The mediator shall bring the parties together as soon as possible and, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties, attempt to settle the dispute within 30 days after being notified of the mediator’s selection as mediator. The mediator may establish the times and dates for meetings and compel the parties to attend but has no power to compel the parties to agree.

4. The local government employer and employee organization each shall pay one-half of the cost of mediation. Each party shall pay its own costs of preparation and presentation of its case in mediation.

5. If the dispute is submitted to a mediator and then submitted to a fact finder, the mediator shall, within 15 days after the last meeting between the parties, give to the Commissioner of the Board a report of the efforts made to settle the dispute.

(Added to NRS by 1969, 1379; A 1971, 1505; 1977, 917; 1979, 285; 1981, 1868; 1985, 1420; 1987, 571; 1989, 1669; 1997, 69; 2005, 819)