CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - The state Supreme Court voted
unanimously Tuesday to adopt rules governing confidential meetings
between homeowners and lenders that could head off foreclosures.

Under the program approved by the 2009 Legislature, a homeowner
who gets a foreclosure notice can request a meeting with lenders
and a trained mediator. In a state with the nation's highest
foreclosure rate, that could be up to 1,500 such requests each
month.

Starting Wednesday, people who get such notices can seek the
mediation. Homeowners and lenders will share the costs of the
mediators, with a cap of $200 assessed to each party.

Verise Campbell, a former hotel-casino executive who will be
paid $84,140 a year to oversee the program, called the program "a
clear indicator of Nevada's commitment to seek real solutions to
the foreclosure crisis."

State Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, the Las Vegas Democrat
who was the primary sponsor of the legislation, said it was needed
because of Nevada's high foreclosure rate that caused home values
throughout the state to plummet.

During hearings on the plan, state Supreme Court justices urged
lenders to be flexible and ensure that the mediation process
succeeds. The first mediation sessions are expected in early
August.

Justices also said that once mediators catch up with the initial
workload, there could be a voluntary mediation process for those
who got foreclosure notices before Wednesday.

More than 350 lawyers have expressed interest in serving as
mediators but will be required to have at least 40 hours of
training.

The legislation that created the project was not the only one
passed by the Legislature to help victims of foreclosures. Another
law, AB140, makes it mandatory to notify renters that a property is
in foreclosure, and to give renters 60 days notice to move out. The
law also requires that a notice be served to the state Board of
Health if a licensed health facility faces foreclosure.

Legislation SB128 also requires that a foreclosure sale must be
recorded with the county recorder in a timely manner, to help keep
track of the owner of a foreclosed home.