SB 52 — Requires the establishment of a program for awarding a dark sky designation to certain sites in this State. (BDR 35-427)

S.B.Senate Bill No.

5252–Committee SENATEon BILLNatural NOResources .CHAPTER..........

52–COMMITTEE ON N ATURAL RESOURCES (O NB EHALF OF THE L IEUTENANT G OVERNOR ) PREFILED N OVEMBER 18, 2020 ____________ Referred to Committee on Natural Resources SUMMARY—Requires the establishment of a program for awarding a dark sky designation to certain sites in this State.

(BDR 35-427) FISCAL NOTE:

Effect on Local Government:

No.

Effect on the State:

Yes.

~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

(NRS 232.1363, 407A.540, 407A.545) Under existing law, the coordinationAdministrator andis advocacyrequired ofto outdoorperform recreationvarious duties relating to the promotion, bill requires the Administrator to establish by regulation a program for awarding a dark sky designation to sites in Nevada.Nevada, including communities, parks, reserves and byways.

(NRS 407A.570) This bill requires the Administrator to establish by regulation a program for awarding a dark sky designation to sites in Nevada, including communities, parks, reserves and byways.

and (3) procedures for applying for a such designation, for reviewing and suspending or revoking such a designation and for appealing such a suspension or revocation.

-EXPLANATION *SB52* – 2Matter – W HEREAS , The International Dark-Sky Association estimates that approximately 30 to 60 percent of outdoor lighting in thebolded Uniteditalics States, including lighting for architecture, parking, landscaping, advertising and streets, is wastednew; primarily because of unshielded outdoor lights;

matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

W HEREAS , The International Dark-Sky Association estimates that approximately 30 to 60 percent of outdoor lighting in the United States, including lighting for architecture, parking, landscaping, advertising and streets, is wasted primarily because of unshielded outdoor lights;

and W HEREAS , The International Dark-Sky Association founded a program in 2001 that designates “International Dark Sky Places” as areas that possess varying degrees of exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is - 81st Session (2021) – 2 – specifically protected for its scientific, natural and educational value, as well as for public enjoyment;

and W HEREAS , Establishing a state-level program for designating dark sky places in Nevada will complement the International Dark Sky Places Program and serve to specifically promote, preserve, protect and enhance Nevada’s dark sky resources for their intrinsic value and their ecological, astronomical, cultural and economic importance;

now, therefore, - *SB52* – 3 – THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

4 Section 1.

(b)- Coordinate81st withSession the(2021) Department– of3 Tourism– and Cultural Affairs and the Office of Economic Development concerning the promotion and growth of any businesses and opportunities related to outdoor recreation.

(d) Coordinate with the Department, the Department of Wildlife and any other organization, association, group or other entity concerned with matters of conservation and natural resources policies regarding naturalconservation resources.entationand or interpretation of (e) Promote the growthimplementation ofor theinterpretation outdoor recreation economy in this State so that there is support for economic growth as well as stewardship and conservation of anypolicies regarding natural resourceresources. in this State.

(f)(e) AdvocatePromote forthe andgrowth coordinateof the outdoor recreation policy,economy managementin andthis promotionState amongso statethat andthere federalis agenciessupport for economic growth as well as stewardship and localconservation governmentof entitiesany natural resource in this State.

(g)(f) RecommendAdvocate policiesfor and initiativescoordinate to the Director to enhance outdoor recreationalrecreation amenitiespolicy, andlocal experiencesgovernment entities in this StateState. and help implement such policies and initiatives.

federal agencies and (g) Recommend policies and initiatives to the Director to enhance outdoor recreational amenities and experiences in this State and help implement such policies and initiatives.

- *SB52* – 4 – (j) Advocate on behalf of the State for federal funding, including, without limitation, any funding opportunities that are available pursuant to the Land and Water Conservation Fund established by 54 U.S.C.

(m) Establish by regulation a program for awarding a designation to sites in this State where the darkness of the night sky is relatively free of interference from artificial light.

(I)- Applying81st forSession (2021) – 4 – (II) The review and reassessment of sites that have been awarded a designation;

(II) The review and reassessment of sites that have been awarded a designation;

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