Senate Bill No. 120

Senate Bill No. 120-Committee on Natural Resources

February 6, 1997
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Referred to Committee on Natural Resources

SUMMARY--Makes appropriation for study of potential impact on economic activities as result of designation of certain land in State of Nevada as wilderness area. (BDR S-1012)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.

EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.

AN ACT relating to state lands; requiring the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada to cause to be conducted a study of the potential impact on the economic activities within this state as a result of the designation of certain land in the State of Nevada as a wilderness area; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

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Section 1 1. The Board of Regents of the University of Nevada shall cause to be conducted a study of the potential impact on the economic activities within this state as a result of the designation of certain land within the State of Nevada as a wilderness area. The study must include the potential impact of the designation of all land located in Nevada which has been declared suitable for wilderness designation by the Nevada State Office of the Bureau of Land Management and any other appropriate land on:
(a) Grazing;
(b) Minerals and mining;
(c) Recreation;
(d) Water;
(e) Buffer zones; and
(f) Any other areas necessary to compile an accurate assessment for this study.
2. To the extent possible, the study must be conducted in coordination with appropriate agencies in other states to compile the necessary data for the study.
3. The study required by this section must be conducted in such a manner as to preserve the confidentiality of any person from whom information is obtained unless the person consents to the disclosure of his identity.
4. The Board of Regents of the University of Nevada shall report the results of the study and any recommended legislation to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau on or before January 1, 1999, for distribution to the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature.
Sec. 2 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada the sum of $75,000 to conduct the study required by section 1 of this act.
2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 1999, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 3 This act becomes effective upon passage and approval or on June 30, 1997, whichever occurs earlier.