Assembly Bill No. 131–Assemblymen Mortenson, Chowning, Claborn, Carpenter, Ohrenschall, Anderson, Atkinson, Buckley, Christensen, Collins, Conklin, Giunchigliani, Horne, Koivisto, Leslie, Marvel, McClain, Oceguera, Parks, Perkins, Pierce and Williams

 

February 14, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Natural Resources,
Agriculture, and Mining

 

SUMMARY—Makes various changes relating to protection of cultural resources. (BDR 33‑92)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                           Effect on the State: Yes.

 

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

 

AN ACT relating to cultural resources; requiring the Administrator of the Office of Historic Preservation of the Department of Cultural Affairs to establish a stewardship program for the protection of cultural resources; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1. Chapter 383 of NRS is hereby amended by adding

1-2  thereto a new section to read as follows:

1-3  1.  The Administrator shall, by regulation, establish a

1-4  stewardship program to:

1-5  (a) Protect cultural resources in this state;

1-6  (b) Increase public awareness of the significance and value of

1-7  cultural resources and the damage done to cultural resources by

1-8  vandalism;

1-9  (c) Discourage vandalism of cultural resources and the sale

1-10  and trade of artifacts, including, without limitation, archeological

1-11  and paleontological materials;

2-1  (d) Support the adoption and enforcement of national, state,

2-2  tribal and local laws and regulations to protect cultural resources;

2-3  (e) Support and encourage high standards for the investigation

2-4  of cultural resources throughout this state;

2-5  (f) Promote cooperation among agencies, organizations,

2-6  Native American tribes and natural persons who are concerned

2-7  about the protection of cultural resources and enter into

2-8  agreements with such agencies, organizations, Native American

2-9  tribes and natural persons to promote the protection of cultural

2-10  resources; and

2-11      (g) Add to the inventory of cultural resources maintained

2-12  pursuant to NRS 383.021.

2-13      2.  The Administrator shall select, train and certify volunteers

2-14  to serve in the stewardship program based upon policy, criteria

2-15  and procedures established by the Administrator.

2-16      3.  The stewardship program must:

2-17      (a) In cooperation with agencies, organizations, Native

2-18  American tribes and natural persons who are concerned about the

2-19  protection of cultural resources, create a list of sites that are

2-20  cultural resources in this state for monitoring;

2-21      (b) Establish activities for periodic monitoring by volunteers of

2-22  cultural resources on the list created pursuant to paragraph (a);

2-23      (c) Establish requirements for reporting damage, threats of

2-24  damage or vandalism of cultural resources to appropriate

2-25  authorities as determined by the Administrator; and

2-26      (d) Establish programs for educating the public concerning

2-27  the significance and value of cultural resources and the loss to the

2-28  public resulting from damage to cultural resources.

2-29      4.  The Administrator shall coordinate the cooperation of

2-30  federal authorities, Native American tribes and state and local

2-31  governmental agencies, as necessary, to carry out the stewardship

2-32  program.

2-33      5.  The Administrator and the Office shall provide

2-34  administrative support to the stewardship program.

2-35      6.  Volunteers selected for the stewardship program serve

2-36  without compensation and are not entitled to receive a per diem

2-37  allowance or travel expenses.

2-38      7.  The Administrator may accept gifts and grants to assist in

2-39  the operation of the stewardship program.

2-40      Sec. 2.  NRS 383.011 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-41      383.011  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise

2-42  requires:

2-43      1.  “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Office.

2-44      2.  “Advisory Board” means the Board of Museums and

2-45  History.

3-1  3.  “Cultural resources” means objects, sites or information of

3-2  historic, prehistoric, archeological, architectural, paleontological

3-3  or traditional significance.

3-4  4.  “Director” means the Director of the Department of Cultural

3-5  Affairs.

3-6  [4.] 5. “Office” means the Office of Historic Preservation of

3-7  the Department of Cultural Affairs.

3-8  Sec. 3.  NRS 383.021 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-9  383.021  1.  The Office of Historic Preservation is hereby

3-10  created.

3-11      2.  The Office shall:

3-12      (a) Encourage, plan and coordinate historic preservation and

3-13  archeological activities within the State, including programs to

3-14  survey, record, study and preserve or salvage [objects, localities and

3-15  information of historic, prehistoric and paleoenvironmental

3-16  significance.] cultural resources.

3-17      (b) Compile and maintain an inventory of [historic,

3-18  archeological and architectural] cultural resources in Nevada

3-19  deemed significant by the Administrator.

3-20      (c) Designate repositories for the materials that comprise the

3-21  inventory.

3-22      3.  The Comstock Historic District Commission is within the

3-23  Office.

3-24      Sec. 4.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

3-25  H