the case, he shall appoint the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers to represent the claimant. Once the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers has been appointed to represent a claimant, the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers is authorized to represent the claimant at any level of proceedings if, in the opinion of the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers, the representation is necessary. (Added to NRS by 1977, 886; A 1983, 478; 1985, 667; 1989, 818; 1991, 833)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 616.2535) NRS 616A.455 Powers and duties. 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers shall, when appointed by an appeals officer or the Administrator, represent without charge a claimant before the appeals officer, Administrator, district court or Supreme Court. In addition, the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers may give advice regarding a claimant’s rights before a hearing officer and the procedure for enforcing those rights. 2. When representing a claimant, the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers shall: (a) Advise the claimant and present his case to the appeals officer or Administrator; and (b) Present in the district court or Supreme Court an appeal from the decision of the appeals officer or Administrator if, in the opinion of the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers, the appeal is merited. 3. If the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers determines, in accordance with the guidelines adopted pursuant to subsection 4, that a claim is frivolous or lacks merit, he may refuse to represent a claimant. 4. The Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers shall establish the policies to be followed in determining whether a claim is frivolous or lacks merit. (Added to NRS by 1977, 886; A 1985, 668; 1989, 818; 1991, 834, 2403)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 616.2537) NRS 616A.460 Employment of private counsel by claimant; reimbursement of Division; report to Governor. 1. The provisions of NRS 616A.435 to 616A.460, inclusive, do not prevent any claimant from engaging private counsel at any time, but the employment of private counsel relieves the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers from further presentation of the claimant’s case. Any claimant who uses the services of the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers and who also retains private counsel shall reimburse the Division for the reasonable cost of the services of the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers. 2. The Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers shall submit a report to the Governor containing a statement of the number of claimants represented, the status of each case and the amount and nature of the expenditures made by his office. (Added to NRS by 1977, 887; A 1981, 1463; 1985, 668; 1991, 834; 1993, 1861)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 616.2539) ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF PUBLIC AGENCIES NRS 616A.465 Responsibilities of Division, Commissioner of Insurance, Department of Administration and Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Division shall: (a) Regulate insurers pursuant to chapters 616A to 617, inclusive, of NRS; (b) Investigate insurers regarding compliance with statutes and the Division’s regulations; (c) Determine whether an employee leasing company is entitled to a certificate of registration pursuant to NRS 616B.673; and (d) Regulate employee leasing companies pursuant to the provisions of NRS 616B.670 to 616B.697, inclusive. 2. The Commissioner is responsible for reviewing rates, investigating the solvency of insurers, authorizing private carriers pursuant to chapter 680A of NRS and certifying: (a) Self-insured employers pursuant to NRS 616B.300 to 616B.330, inclusive, and 616B.336; (b) Associations of self-insured public or private employers pursuant to NRS 616B.350 to 616B.446, inclusive; and (c) Third-party administrators pursuant to chapter 683A of NRS. 3. The Department of Administration is responsible for contested claims relating to industrial insurance pursuant to NRS 616C.310 to 616C.385, inclusive. The Administrator is responsible for administrative appeals pursuant to NRS 616B.215. 4. The Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers is responsible for legal representation of claimants pursuant to NRS 616A.435 to 616A.460, inclusive, and 616D.120. 5. The Division is responsible for the investigation of complaints. If a complaint is filed with the Division, the Administrator shall cause to be conducted an investigation which includes a review of relevant records and interviews of affected persons. If the Administrator determines that a violation may have occurred, the Administrator shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of NRS 616D.120 and 616D.130. 6. As used in this section, “employee leasing company” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 616B.670. (Added to NRS by 1981, 1453; A 1983, 355; 1985, 666; 1991, 831, 2400; 1993, 699, 700, 1856; 1995, 531, 542, 1638, 2010, 2130; 1997, 285, 532, 535; 1999, 400, 1714, 2412; 2001, 170) NRS 616A.467 Power of Commissioner and Administrator to delegate authority to collect fines and deposit in Fund for Workers’ Compensation and Safety; claims for attorney’s fees and costs of investigation if authority to collect fines not delegated. 1. The Commissioner or the Administrator may delegate to a hearing officer or panel his authority to take any disciplinary action pursuant to NRS 616B.318, 616B.321, 616B.350 to 616B.446, inclusive, 616B.463, 616B.472 or 616D.120, impose and collect administrative fines pursuant to those sections and deposit the money in the Fund for Workers’ Compensation and Safety. 2. If a hearing officer or panel is not authorized to take disciplinary action pursuant to subsection 1 and the Commissioner or the Administrator deposits the money collected from the imposition of administrative fines with the State Treasurer for credit to the State General Fund, he may present a claim to the State Board of Examiners for recommendation to the Interim Finance Committee if money is needed to pay attorney’s fees or the costs of an investigation, or both. [84:168:1947; 1943 NCL § 2680.84]—(NRS A 1965, 1344; 1973, 602; 1981, 1477; 1983, 1532; 1985, 584; 1989, 893; 1993, 724; 1995, 2028; 1999, 1715, 1766)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 616B.086) NRS 616A.469 Certificate to operate as external review organization: Authority of Commissioner to issue certificate; application; fee; prerequisites to issuance; ineligible parties. 1. The Commissioner may issue certificates authorizing qualified external review organizations to conduct external reviews for the purposes of chapters 616A to 617, inclusive, of NRS. If the Commissioner issues such certificates and the Commissioner determines that an external review organization is qualified to conduct external reviews for the purposes of chapters 616A to 617, inclusive, of NRS, the Commissioner shall issue a certificate to the external review organization that authorizes the organization to conduct such external reviews in accordance with the provisions of NRS 616C.363 and the regulations adopted by the Commissioner. 2. The Commissioner may adopt regulations setting forth the procedures that an external review organization must follow to be issued a certificate to conduct external reviews. Any regulations adopted pursuant to this section must include, without limitation, provisions setting forth: (a) The manner in which an external review organization may apply for a certificate and the requirements for the issuance and renewal of the certificate pursuant to this section; (b) The grounds for which the Commissioner may refuse to issue, suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a certificate issued pursuant to this section; (c) The manner and circumstances under which an external review organization is required to conduct its business; and (d) A fee for issuing or

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