AB 221 — Authorizes the management of designated invertebrates. (BDR 45-339)

REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE EXEMPT (§ 8 & NRS 502.240) (Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 14, 2023) FIRST REPRINT A.B.

221–COMMITTEE ON NATURAL R ESOURCES (O N BEHALF OF THE JOINT NTERIM S TANDING COMMITTEE ON N ATURAL RESOURCES ) FEBRUARY 23, 2023 ____________ Referred to Committee on Natural Resources SUMMARY—Authorizes the management of designated terrestrial invertebrates.

authorizing the management of designated terrestrial invertebrates by the Board of Wildlife Commissioners and the Department of Wildlife;

revising the definition of “wildlife” to include designated terrestrial invertebrates;

establishing a wildlife classification for designated terrestrial invertebrates;

requiring the listing of designated terrestrial invertebrates as a fully protected species under certain circumstances;

(Chapter 501 of NRS) This bill expands the wildlife managed by thet Board and Department to include designated terrestrial invertebrates.

As a result of the inclusion of designated terrestrial invertebrates, certain fees and penalties that apply to violations of certain provisions of law relating to wildlife will also apply to designated terrestrial invertebrates.

(See, e.g., NRS 501.385, 502.240, 504.295) Section 2 of this bill defines “designated terrestrial invertebrate” to mean any conservationnonpest need in the State Wildlife Action Plan.

Section 3 of this bill defines “State Wildlife ActionActionthe Plan.” Section 5 of this bill revises the definition of “wildlife” to include designated terrestrial invertebrates.

- *AB221**AB221_R1* – 2 – Section 4 of this bill makes a conforming change to indicate the proper placement of sections 2 and 3 in the Nevada Revised Statutes.

(NRS 501.110) Section 6 of this bill establishes a classification for designated terrestrial invertebrates.

(NRS 503.585)royed Sections 5, 7 and 8 of this bill provide for the placement of designated terrestrial invertebrates on the list of fully protected species.

(NRS 503.587) Section 9 of this bill requires the Commission tod include designated terrestrial invertebrates in such a program.

“Designated terrestrial invertebrate” means any nonpest species of terrestrial invertebrate designated as a species of greatest conservation need in the State Wildlife Action Plan.

501.097 “Wildlife” means any wild mammal, wild bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, mollusk , [or] crustacean or designated terrestrial invertebrate found naturally in a wild state, whether indigenous to Nevada or not and whether raised in captivity or not.

- *AB221**AB221_R1* – 3 – (a) Wild mammals, which must be further classified as either game mammals, fur-bearing mammals, protected mammals or unprotected mammals.

(h) Designated terrestrial invertebrates.

Nevada has experienced the extermination or extirpation of some of the State’s native species of animals, including fish , [and] vertebrate wildlife [.] and designated terrestrial invertebrates.

(a) Conservation, protection, restoration and propagation of selected species of native fish , [and other] vertebrate wildlife, including , without limitation, migratory birds [;] and designated terrestrial invertebrates;

503.585 A species or subspecies of native fish, wildlife , including, without limitation, vertebrates and designated - *AB221**AB221_R1* – 4 – terrestrial invertebrates and other fauna must be regarded as threatened with extinction when the Commission, after consultation with competent authorities, determines that its existence is endangered and its survival requires assistance because of withoverexploitation, destruction,disease drasticor modification or severe curtailment.

AnyatenedAny animal so declared to bebestic threatened with extinction must be placed on the list of fully protected species, and no member of its kind may be captured, removed or destroyed at any time by any means except under special permit issued by the Department.

503.587 The Commission shall use its authority to manage land to carry out a program for conserving, protecting, restoring and propagating selected species of native fish [,] and wildlife [and other] , including, without limitation, vertebrates and designated terrestrial invertebrates and their habitats which are threatened with extinction and destruction.

H - *AB221**AB221_R1*