Assembly Bill No. 57–Assemblymen Anderson, Parks, Andonov, Buckley, Claborn, Collins, Conklin, Geddes, Giunchigliani, Hettrick, Horne, Koivisto, Leslie, Manendo, McClain, Oceguera and Williams

 

CHAPTER..........

 

AN ACT relating to construction; requiring the State Public Works Board to adopt certain seismic standards; requiring certain governing bodies to amend their building codes to include certain seismic standards; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

    Section 1. Chapter 341 of NRS is hereby amended by adding

thereto a new section to read as follows:

    For the purposes of the design and construction of buildings or

other projects of this state, the Board shall adopt by regulation:

    1.  The seismic provisions of the International Building Code

published by the International Code Council; and

    2.  Standards for the investigation of hazards relating to

seismic activity, including, without limitation, potential surface

ruptures and liquefaction.

    Sec. 2.  NRS 278.580 is hereby amended to read as follows:

    278.580  1.  Subject to the limitation set forth in NRS 244.368,

the governing body of any city or county may adopt a building code,

specifying the design, soundness and materials of structures, and

may adopt rules, ordinances and regulations for the enforcement of

the building code.

    2.  The governing body may also fix a reasonable schedule of

fees for the issuance of building permits. A schedule of fees so fixed

does not apply to the State of Nevada, the University and

Community College System of Nevada or any school district, except

that such entities may contract with the governing body to pay such

fees for the issuance of building permits, the review of plans and the

inspection of construction. Except as it may agree to in such a

contract, a governing body is not required to provide for the review

of plans or the inspection of construction with respect to a structure

of the State of Nevada, the University and Community College

System of Nevada or any school district.

    3.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the State and its

political subdivisions shall comply with all zoning regulations

adopted pursuant to this chapter, except for the expansion of any

activity existing on April 23, 1971.

    4.  A [local] governing body shall amend its building codes to

permit the use of straw or other materials and technologies which

conserve scarce natural resources or resources that are renewable in

the construction of a structure and the use of solar energy for the

heating of a structure, to the extent the local climate allows . [, as

intended by:

    (a) The Uniform Building Code adopted by the International

Conference of Building Officials in the form most recently

published before March 1, 1995; and

    (b) The Model Energy Code adopted by the Council of

American Building Officials in the form most recently published

before March 1, 1995.]

    5.  A governing body shall amend its building codes to

include:

    (a) The seismic provisions of the International Building Code

published by the International Code Council; and

    (b) Standards for the investigation of hazards relating to

seismic activity, including, without limitation, potential surface

ruptures and liquefaction.

    Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective:

    1.  On July 1, 2003, for the purposes of the State Public Works

Board adopting the seismic provisions and standards specified in

section 1 of this act; and

    2.  On July 1, 2004, for all other purposes, including for the

purpose of a governing body to amend its building codes to include

the seismic provisions and standards specified in subsection 5 of

NRS 278.580, as amended by section 2 of this act.

 

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