Code Section
Nevada > Statutes > Legal Defense Funds

N.R.S. 294A.286 - Establishment; notification of Secretary of State of creation; reporting of contributions and expenditures; deadline; period covered; form; filing; disposition of unspent money in fund

Overview of Statute

This section provides for the establishment of a legal defense funds.

Statute

      1.  Any candidate or public officer may establish a legal defense fund. A person who administers a legal defense fund shall:

      (a) Within 5 days after the creation of the legal defense fund, notify the Secretary of State of the creation of the fund on a form provided by the Secretary of State; and

      (b) For the same period covered by the report filed pursuant to NRS 294A.120 or 294A.200, report any contribution received by or expenditure made from the legal defense fund.

      2.  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 294A.3733, the reports required by paragraph (b) of subsection 1 must be filed in the same manner and at the same time as the report filed pursuant to NRS 294A.120 or 294A.200.

      3.  Not later than the 15th day of the second month after the conclusion of all civil, criminal or administrative claims or proceedings for which a candidate or public officer established a legal defense fund, the candidate or public officer shall dispose of unspent money through one or any combination of the following methods:

      (a) Return the unspent money to contributors; or

      (b) Donate the money to any tax-exempt nonprofit entity.

      (Added to NRS by 2007, 3368; A 2011, 1721, 2117, 3302; 2013, 1356, 2405)

Definition [Contribution]

1.  “Contribution” means a gift, loan, conveyance, deposit, payment, transfer or distribution of money or of anything of value other than the services of a volunteer, and includes:

      (a) The payment by any person, other than a candidate, of compensation for the personal services of another person which are rendered to a:

             (1) Candidate;

             (2) Person who makes an independent expenditure; or

             (3) Committee for political action, political party or committee sponsored by a political party which makes an expenditure for or against a candidate or group of candidates, without charge to the candidate, person, committee or political party.

      (b) The value of services provided in kind for which money would have otherwise been paid, such as paid polling and resulting data, paid direct mail, paid solicitation by telephone, any paid paraphernalia that was printed or otherwise produced to promote a campaign and the use of paid personnel to assist in a campaign.

2.  As used in this section, “volunteer” means a person who does not receive compensation of any kind, directly or indirectly, for the services provided to a campaign.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 294A.007.

Definition [Legal defense fund]

An account established to defray attorney’s fees or other legal costs incurred by a candidate or public officer if such a candidate or public officer becomes subject to any civil, criminal or administrative claim or proceeding arising from a campaign, the electoral process or the performance of official duties.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 294A.0078.

Definition [State]

A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293D.080.

Definition [Person]

1.  A natural person;

2.  Any form of business or social organization;

3.  Any nongovernmental legal entity, including, without limitation, a corporation, partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization, labor union, committee for political action, political party and committee sponsored by a political party; or

4.  A government, governmental agency or political subdivision of a government.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 294A.009.

Definition [Candidate]

Any person:

      1.  Who files a declaration of candidacy;

      2.  Who files an acceptance of candidacy;

      3.  Whose name appears on an official ballot at any election; or

      4.  Who has received one or more contributions in excess of $100, regardless of whether:

      (a) The person has filed a declaration of candidacy or an acceptance of candidacy; or

      (b) The name of the person appears on an official ballot at any election.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 294A.005.

Additional Resources

Notes from "State of Nevada Elections 2015," published on January 1, 2016, by Barbara K. Cegavske, Nevada Secretary of State.

  • Subsection 4 of section 54, chapter 501, Statutes of Nevada 2011, at p. 3302, was moved in revision to NRS 294A.160.