Question: What services does the Department of Business & Industry provide for Nevada citizens and businesses?
Describing the Department of Business & Industry (B&I) is like trying to herd cats. The 16 agencies that comprise B&I are all over the spectrum in scope, authority, purpose and constituency.
Insurance Division licenses and regulates all insurance agencies, companies and agents, provides consumer information and handles complaints involving agents and insurance companies. The division licenses insurance agents, solicitors, brokers, adjusters, title and escrow officers, bail bondsmen and others.
Industrial Relations is composed of four sections:
The Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces health and safety regulations, conducts inspections, investigates employees’ complaints and industrial accidents, and issues operating permits for boilers, elevators and escalators.
The Workers’ Compensation Section assures employers’ compliance with statutes and regulations governing workers’ compensation, ensures injured employees receive timely and accurate compensation and benefits, trains, audits and investigates insurers, healthcare providers, third-party administrators and employers.
The Safety Consultation & Training Section helps employers develop and implement effective workplace safety and health programs.
The Mine Safety & Training Section conducts mine inspections and provides technical assistance and safety training.
Another agency with broad jurisdiction over business is the Office of the Labor Commissioner, which enforces wage laws, employee rights and child labor laws, establishes minimum wage, enforces the payment of prevailing wage rates on public construction projects, investigates fraudulent employment practices, and licenses and regulates employment agencies and apprenticeship programs.
The Real Estate Division licenses and regulates real estate agents and appraisers, home inspectors and community association managers. It also provides information on consumer protection related to real estate.
The division’s Office of the Ombudsman for Common Interest Communities provides education and assistance to homeowner association boards, property managers and home/unit owners, as well as mediating disputes.
The Mortgage Lending Division oversees, licenses and regulates all escrow agencies and agents, mortgage brokers and mortgage companies.
The Financial Institutions Division regulates and licenses the financial and banking system.
The Manufactured Housing Division regulates various aspects of manufactured housing and commercial coaches.
The non-regulatory Housing Division administers the State HOME Investment Partnerships Programs and the Low-Income Housing Trust Fund. It allocates low-Income tax credits, and utilizes tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds to finance the purchase of single- and multi-unit mortgages at below-market interest rates.
Another bonding provider, the Office of Business Finance and Planning, administers and coordinates financing programs, including Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, to provide low-cost, long-term financing to new or existing industries and to certain non-profit corporations.
The Consumer Affairs Division investigates consumer complaints, provides consumer education and ensures fair trade practices among businesses. The agency also regulates the travel industry, telemarketing agencies, credit reporting and service bureaus, health and membership clubs, dance studios and discount buying services.
The Dairy Commission licenses and regulates all business entities that process, sell or distribute dairy products in Nevada.
The Athletic Commission licenses and regulates all boxing, wrestling and full-contact karate events in Nevada.
The Transportation Services Authority oversees and licenses limousines, tow companies, movers of household goods, taxicabs (outside of Clark County), charter buses and other passenger services.
The Taxicab Authority licenses and regulates all taxi companies and drivers in Clark County.
The non-regulatory Local Government Employee-Management Relations Board resolves labor disputes between local governments and their labor-bargaining units.
The Attorney for Injured Workers and its staff of lawyers represent injured workers who seek benefits under the Nevada workers’ compensation laws and regulations at the administrative, District and Supreme Court levels.
The Department Director’s Office provides administrative oversight, as well as budgetary, personnel and public information support for all agencies within the department.
For more information on the agencies of Business & Industry, log on to www.dbi.state.nv.us.