AB 171 — Revises provisions relating to the admission to state parks and recreational areas in this State by certain veterans. (BDR 35-4)

EXEMPT (Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 17, 2019) FIRST REPRINT A.B.

171 AASSEMBLY SSEMBLYBILL BNO ILLN. O.

171–A171–ASSEMBLYMEN SSEMBLYWOMAN B ILBRAY -AXELROD AND E LLISON FEBRUARY 18, 2019 ____________ Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining SUMMARY—ExpandsSUMMARY—Revises veteransprovisions whorelating mayto receivethe free admission to state parks and other recreational areas.areas in this State by certain veterans.

expandingrequiring the veteransDivision whoof mayState receiveParks of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to issue an annual permit for the free use of state parks and other recreational areas;areas in this State to certain veterans with any permanent service-connected disability;

requiring the Administrator of the Division to reduce by at least $2 any entrance fee to state parks and recreational areas in this State charged to residents of this State who are veterans;

LegExistingLegislative lawCounsel’s providesDigest: for free admission permits to state parks and recreational areas for honorably discharged Nevadans who are veterans with certain service- connected disabilities.

(NRSExisting 407.065)law Sectionrequires 1the Division of thisState billParks extendsof the freeState admissionDepartment permitsof Conservation and Natural Resources to certainissue otherfor Nevadansno whocharge arean veterans.annual permit to enter, camp and boat in all state parks and recreational areas in this State to a bona disability of 10 percent or more;

and (2) has been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States.

(NRS 407.065) Section 1 of this bill requires the Division to issue such a permit to a bona fide resident of this State who has incurred any permanent service-connected disability and has been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States.

Existing regulations require the Division to reduce by $1 any entrance fee to a disability placard and presents it upon entrance to a park.

(NAC 407.050) Section 1 a requires the Administrator of the Division to reduce by at least $2 any entrance fee for a state park or recreational area in this State that is charged to a person who - *AB171_R1* – 2 – provides:

(1) proof of residency;

and (2) proof that he or she is a veteran.

Section 2 of this bill makes a conforming change.

The Administrator may appoint or - *AB171* – 2 – designate certain employees of the Division to have the general authority of peace officers.

(2) Upon application therefor and proof of residency and proof [ofof status as described in subsection 5 of NRS 361.091, to a bona fide resident of the State of Nevada who has incurred a[a] any permanent service-connected disability of[of 10 percent or moremore] and has been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States.]States. that he or she is a veteran as defined in NRS 417.005.

(e)- May*AB171_R1* conduct– and3 operate– such(e) specialShall servicesreduce asby mayat beleast necessary$2 any fees for theentering comforta andstate conveniencepark ofor therecreational generalarea public,in this State that is imposed pursuant to paragraph (d) and imposecharged to a person who provides proof of residency and collectproof reasonablethat feeshe foror suchshe specialis services.a veteran as defined in NRS 417.005.

(f) May rentconduct orand leaseoperate concessionssuch locatedspecial withinservices theas boundariesmay ofbe statenecessary parksfor or of real property controlled or administered by the Divisioncomfort toand publicconvenience or private corporations, to groups of naturalthe persons,general orpublic, to natural persons for a valuable consideration upon such terms and conditionsimpose as the Division deems fit and proper,collect butreasonable nofees concessionairefor maysuch dominatespecial anyservices. state park operation.

[(f)] (g) May establishrent suchor capitallease projectsconcessions constructionlocated fundswithin asthe areboundaries necessaryof state parks or of real property controlled or administered by the Division to accountpublic or private corporations, to groups of natural persons, or to natural persons for thea parksvaluable improvementsconsideration programupon approvedsuch byterms and conditions as the Legislature.Division deems fit and proper, but no concessionaire may dominate any state park operation.

[(g)] (h) May establish such capital projects construction funds as are necessary to account for the parks improvements program approved by the Legislature.

(h)[(h)] (i) In addition to any concession specified in paragraph (f),[(f),] (g), may establish concessions within the boundaries of any state park to provide for the sale of food, drinks, ice, publications, sundries, gifts and souvenirs, and other such related items as the Administrator - *AB171* – 3 – determines are appropriately made available totoas the visitors.

Any money received by the Administrator for a concession established pursuant to this paragraph must be deposited in the Account for State Park Interpretative and Educational Programs and Operation of Concessions created by NRS 407.0755.

The Administrator shall establish a program for the issuance of an annual permit, free of charge, to enter each state park and - *AB171_R1* – 4 – recreational area in this State to any pupil who is enrolled in the fifth grade at a school in this State.

During each Public Lands Day observed pursuant to NRS 236.053, and upon proof of residency in this State, the Division shall allow a resident of this State to enter, camp and boat in any state park or recreational area without the payment of any fees for thosesubsection activities.must include either the Friday night before Public Landsis Day or overnight on the night of Public Lands Day, as determined person is not entitled to receive more than one free night of camping during each Public Lands Day pursuant to this subsection.

The free day of camping authorized pursuant to this subsection must include either the Friday night before Public Lands - *AB171* – 4 – Day or overnight on the night of Public Lands Day, as determined by the Administrator for each state park and recreational area.

A person is not entitled to receive more than one free night of camping during each Public Lands Day pursuant to this subsection.

Except as otherwise provided in subsection 1 of NRS 407.0762 and subsection 1 of NRS 407.0765, the fees collected pursuant to paragraphs (d),(d) [, (e) and (f)(f)] to (g), inclusive, of subsection 1 or subsection 2 must be deposited in the State General Fund.

HSec. - *AB171*

2.

NRS 407.0762 is hereby amended to read as follows:

407.0762 1.

The Account for Maintenance of State Parks within the Division of State Parks is hereby created in the State General Fund.

Except as otherwise provided in NRS 407.0765, any amount of fees collected pursuant to paragraphs (d) [, (e) and (f)] to (g), inclusive, of subsection 1 or subsection 2 of NRS 407.065 in a calendar year, which is in excess of the amounts authorized for expenditure from that revenue source in the Division’s budget for the fiscal year beginning in that calendar year, must be deposited in the Account.

The interest and income earned on the money in the - *AB171_R1* – 5 – Account, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the Account.

2.

The money in the Account does not lapse to the State General Fund at the end of any fiscal year.

1 must only be used to repair and maintain state parks, monuments and recreational areas.

4.

Before the Administrator may expend money pursuant to subsection 3:

(a) For emergency repairs and projects with a cost of less than $25,000, the Administrator must first receive the approval of the Director.