NRS: CHAPTER 235 - STATE SEAL, MOTTO AND SYMBOLS; GIFTS AND ENDOWMENTS

NRS 235.005 “Director” defined. As used in NRS 235.005 to 235.016, inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, “Director” means the Director of the Office of Finance created by NRS 223.400.

(Added to NRS by 1989, 139; A 1993, 1537)

NRS 235.010 Contents and design of Seal; authorized use; official colors; exceptions; penalty.

1. There must be a Seal of the State of Nevada called The Great Seal of the State of Nevada, the design of which is as follows: In the foreground, there must be two large mountains, at the base of which, on the right, there must be located a quartz mill, and on the left a tunnel, penetrating the silver leads of the mountain, with a miner running out a carload of ore, and a team loaded with ore for the mill. Immediately in the foreground, there must be emblems indicative of the agricultural resources of the State, as follows: A plow, a sheaf and sickle. In the middle ground, there must be a railroad train passing a mountain gorge and a telegraph line extending along the line of the railroad. In the extreme background, there must be a range of snow-clad mountains, with the rising sun in the east. Thirty-six stars and the motto of our state, “All for Our Country,” must encircle the whole group. In an outer circle, the words “The Great Seal of the State of Nevada” must be engraved with “Nevada” at the base of the Seal and separated from the other words by two groups of three stars each.

2. The size of the Seal must not be more than 2 3/4 inches in diameter.

3. The Seal must be kept by the Governor and used by the Governor officially. The Secretary of State must have access to the Seal at all times, and may use it in verification of all of the Secretary of State’s official acts.

4. A reproduction or facsimile of the Seal may only be used:

(a) With the written permission of the Governor;

(b) In the performance of official acts by an agency of one of the branches of State Government;

(c) On items distributed by an agency of one of the branches of State Government which are not necessary to carry out the duties of that agency, if the use of the reproduction or facsimile is approved by the head of that agency;

(d) On medallions or bars minted pursuant to the direction of the Director; or

(e) As otherwise permitted by a specific statute.

5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, a colored reproduction or facsimile of the State Seal may only be used if it is in substantially the following colors:

6. A person or entity that is granted permission to use the State Seal pursuant to:

(a) Paragraph (a) of subsection 4 may use a reproduction or facsimile of the State Seal that does not consist of the official colors provided in subsection 5 if the Governor has authorized such use in the written permission.

(b) Paragraph (b), (c), (d) or (e) of subsection 4 may use a one-color, two-color or metallic reproduction or facsimile of the State Seal in addition to or in lieu of the official colors provided in subsection 5.

7. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 205.175, a person who uses or allows to be used, any reproduction or facsimile of The Great Seal of the State of Nevada in violation of subsection 4 is guilty of a misdemeanor.

[1:41:1866; B § 4046; BH § 4938; C § 4997; RL § 4402; NCL § 7610] + [2:41:1866; added 1955, 138] + [Part 1:7:1875; BH § 4939; C § 4998; RL § 4403; NCL § 7611] + [2:7:1875; BH § 4940; C § 4999; RL § 4404; NCL § 7612]—(NRS A 1969, 97, 819; 1989, 140; 1999, 1374)

NRS 235.012 Solicitation and award of contract for production of medallions and bars.

1. The Director, after consulting with the Director of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, the Administrator of the Division of Museums and History of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the Administrator of the Division of Minerals of the Commission on Mineral Resources, may contract with a mint to produce medallions made of gold, silver, platinum or nonprecious metals and bars made of gold, silver or platinum.

2. The decision of the Director to award a contract to a particular mint must be based on the ability of the mint to:

(a) Provide a product of the highest quality;

(b) Advertise and market the product properly, including the promotion of museums and tourism in this State; and

3. The Director shall award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, except that if in his or her judgment no satisfactory bid has been received, the Director may reject all bids.

4. All bids for the contract must be solicited in the manner prescribed in NRS 333.310 and comply with the provisions of NRS 333.330.

(Added to NRS by 1989, 139; A 1993, 1537; 1999, 3619; 2001, 935; 2007, 1000; 2011, 2947)

NRS 235.014 Form and content of medallions and bars.

1. The ore used to produce a medallion or bar must be mined in Nevada, if the ore is available. If it is not available, ore newly mined in the United States may be used. Each medallion or bar made of gold, silver or platinum must be 0.999 fine. Additional series of medallions made of gold, silver or platinum at degrees of fineness of 0.900 or greater may be approved by the Director with the concurrence of the Interim Finance Committee. The degree of fineness of the materials used must be clearly indicated on each medallion.

2. Medallions may be minted in weights of 1 ounce, 0.5 ounce, 0.25 ounce and 0.1 ounce.

3. Bars may be minted in weights of 1 ounce, 5 ounces, 10 ounces and 100 ounces.

4. Each medallion must bear on its obverse The Great Seal of the State of Nevada and on its reverse a design selected by the Director, in consultation with the Director of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, the Administrator of the Division of Museums and History of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the Administrator of the Division of Minerals of the Commission on Mineral Resources.

(Added to NRS by 1989, 139; A 1993, 1537; 1999, 3620; 2001, 936; 2007, 1000; 2011, 2947)

NRS 235.016 Royalties for medallions and bars; deposit of money collected.

1. The Director shall set and collect a royalty for the use of The Great Seal of the State of Nevada from the mint which produces the medallions or bars. The amount of the royalty must be:

(a) Based on the usual and customary fee charged as a commission by dealers of similar medallions or bars; and

(b) Adjusted at least once each year to ensure it is competitive with the usual and customary fee.

2. The money collected pursuant to this section must be deposited in the Account for the Division of Minerals created pursuant to NRS 513.103.

(Added to NRS by 1989, 140; A 1991, 1758; 1993, 1537; 1999, 3620; 2015, 2767)

MISCELLANEOUS STATE SYMBOLS

NRS 235.020 State flag. The official flag of the State of Nevada is hereby created. The body of the flag must be of solid cobalt blue. On the field in the upper left quarter thereof must be two sprays of Sagebrush with the stems crossed at the bottom to form a half wreath. Within the sprays must be a five-pointed silver star with one point up. The word “Nevada” must also be inscribed below the star and above the sprays, in a semicircular pattern with the letters spaced apart in equal increments, in the same style of letters as the words “Battle Born.” Above the wreath, and touching the tips thereof, must be a scroll bearing the words “Battle Born.” The scroll and the word “Nevada” must be golden-yellow. The lettering on the scroll must be black-colored sans serif gothic capital letters.

[1:147:1929; NCL § 7020]—(NRS A 1991, 773)

NRS 235.025 State colors. The colors silver and blue are hereby designated as the official state colors of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1983, 1347)

NRS 235.030 State song. The song entitled “Home Means Nevada,” written by Mrs. Bertha Raffetto, of Reno, Nevada, is hereby adopted and declared to be the official state song of the State of Nevada.

[2:6:1933; 1931 NCL § 7615]—(NRS A 1959, 107)

NRS 235.035 State march. The march entitled “Silver State Fanfare,” composed by Gerald Willis, is hereby adopted and declared to be the official state march of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 2001, 966)

NRS 235.040 State trees. The trees known as the Single-Leaf Pinon (Pinus monophylla) and the Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) are hereby designated as the official state trees of the State of Nevada.

[1:72:1953]—(NRS A 1959, 107; 1987, 785; 1997, 1604)

NRS 235.050 State flower. The shrub known as Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata or trifida) is hereby designated as the official state flower of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1959, 107; A 1967, 702)

NRS 235.055 State grass. The grass known as Indian Ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) is hereby designated as the official state grass of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1977, 386)

NRS 235.060 State bird. The bird known as the Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) is hereby designated as the official state bird of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1967, 702)

NRS 235.062 State insect. The insect known as the Vivid Dancer Damselfly (Argia vivida) is hereby designated as the official state insect of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 2009, 48)

NRS 235.065 State reptile. The reptile known as the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is hereby designated as the official state reptile of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1989, 1094)

NRS 235.070 State animal. The animal known as the Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) is hereby designated as the official state animal of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1973, 315)

NRS 235.075 State fish. The fish known as the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Salmo clarki henshawi) is hereby designated as the official state fish of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1981, 684)

NRS 235.080 State fossil. The prehistoric marine reptile known as the Ichthyosaur (genus Shonisaurus), now extinct, is hereby designated as the official state fossil of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1977, 272; A 1989, 1038)

NRS 235.085 State artifact. The object of human workmanship known as the tule duck decoy is hereby designated as the official state artifact of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1995, 97)

NRS 235.090 State metal. The metallic element known as silver (Ag) is hereby designated as the official state metal of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1977, 355)

NRS 235.100 State precious gemstone. The precious gemstone known as the Virgin Valley black fire opal is hereby designated as the official state precious gemstone of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 456)

NRS 235.110 State semiprecious gemstone. The semiprecious gemstone known as Nevada turquoise is hereby designated as the official state semiprecious gemstone of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 456)

NRS 235.115 State soil. The soil series known as Orovada series, classified as coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Durinodic Xeric Haplocambids, is hereby designated as the official state soil of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 2001, 392)

NRS 235.120 State rock. The rock known as sandstone is hereby designated as the official state rock of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 539)

NRS 235.130 State tartan.

1. The tartan designed by Richard Zygmunt Pawlowski and further described in this section is hereby designated as the official state tartan of the State of Nevada. The colors and design of the tartan represent the following features that make Nevada a unique and bountiful state:

(a) Blue represents one of the state colors of Nevada, the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe and the Mountain Bluebird, the official state bird;

(b) Silver represents the other state color, the official state mineral, the granite composition of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and the silver country of northern Nevada;

(c) Red represents the Virgin Valley black fire opal, the official state precious gemstone, and the red rock formations of southern Nevada;

(d) Yellow represents Sagebrush, the official state flower, and symbolizes the Great Basin Region of central Nevada;

(e) White represents the name of this state meaning snow-covered, which is the translation of the Spanish word “nevada”;

(f) The crossing of the yellow and red stripes represents the different colors of Nevada sandstone, the official state rock;

(g) The white intersection on the silver field stands for the snow-capped peaks of granite mountains, which make up the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range;

(h) The four blue lines represent the four main rivers of Nevada which are the Colorado River, Truckee River, Humboldt River and Walker River;

(i) The intersecting blue lines in the silver field represent the Colorado River as it meets Hoover Dam and creates Lake Mead;

(j) The small solid “boxes” of silver and blue number 8 by 8, or 64, to signify the year (1864) that Nevada was admitted into statehood;

(k) The 13 solid-colored intersections of the small stripes represent Boundary Peak, the highest point in Nevada, which stands at an elevation of 13,143 feet; and

(l) The 16 solid silver intersections and the solid white intersection in the center of the tartan represent the 16 counties and the one consolidated city-county government of Nevada.

2. The official state tartan must be reproduced in the following colors, pattern and dimension of pattern:

(Added to NRS by 2001, 403)

NRS 235.135 State locomotives. The steam locomotive of the Nevada Northern Railway known as Engine No. 40, built in 1910, is hereby designated as an official state locomotive of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 2009, 98)

NRS 235.140 State element. The chemical element known as neon is hereby designated as the official state element of the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 27)

GIFTS AND ENDOWMENTS

NRS 235.150 Nevada Gift and Endowment Fund.

1. The Nevada Gift and Endowment Fund is hereby created as a trust fund in the State Treasury.

2. The State Treasurer shall deposit in the Fund any money the State Treasurer receives from any person who wishes to contribute to the Fund as a token of appreciation for the benefits the person received as a resident of or visitor to this State or to further the excellent quality of life which is unique to this State.

3. The Fund must be administered by a committee consisting of the Governor, the State Treasurer and the Secretary of State.

4. The Fund must only be used for the greatest good and highest benefit of the majority of the residents of this State. Any interest earned on money in the Fund must be credited to the Fund. The money which represents the principal of the Fund must not be spent, and only the interest earned on the principal may be used to carry out the provisions of this section.

5. During the last week of each October, in conjunction with the celebration of Nevada Day, the Governor shall issue a proclamation declaring the existence of the Fund and the uses and benefits thereof.

(Added to NRS by 1987, 1677)

NRS 235.160 Nevada State Parks and Cultural Resources Endowment Fund.

1. The Nevada State Parks and Cultural Resources Endowment Fund is hereby created as a trust fund in the State Treasury.

2. The State Treasurer shall deposit in the Fund any money the State Treasurer receives from any person who wishes to contribute to the Fund.

3. The Fund must be administered by a committee consisting of:

(a) The Administrator of the Division of State Parks of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources;

(b) The Administrator of the Office of Historic Preservation of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; and

4. The Fund must only be used for the purposes of the enhancement of state parks and the preservation of the cultural resources of this State. Any interest earned on money in the Fund must be credited to the Fund. The money which represents the principal of the Fund must not be spent, and only the interest earned on the principal may be used to carry out the provisions of this section.

5. As used in this section, “cultural resources” has the meaning ascribed to it in subsection 4 of NRS 383.011.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 2165; A 2015, 76)