EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

Whereas, In 1997, the Federal Government, the States of Nevada and

2-1 Section 1. 1. The Administrator of the Division of State Lands of the

2-2 State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in cooperation

2-3 with other state agencies, shall coordinate the development and

2-4 implementation of a program of environmental improvement projects for:

2-5 (a) The protection and enhancement of the quality of the air and water;

2-6 (b) The protection and restoration of natural watercourses, wetlands,

2-7 wildlife habitat, fisheries, vegetation and forests;

2-8 (c) Prevention and control of erosion; and

2-9 (d) Enhancement of recreational and tourism opportunities,

2-10 in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

2-11 2. Money to carry out the program in an amount not to exceed

2-12 $3,200,000 must be provided for the period between the fiscal year

2-13 beginning on July 1, 1999 and the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2001, by

2-14 the issuance by the State Board of Finance of general obligation bonds of

2-15 the State of Nevada in a total face amount of not more than $3,200,000

2-16 pursuant to NRS 349.150 to 349.364, inclusive. The proceeds of the bonds

2-17 issued pursuant to this subsection must be deposited in the fund to protect

3-1 the Lake Tahoe Basin created pursuant to section 2 of this act and, except

3-2 as otherwise provided in this subsection, must be used as follows:

3-3 (a) Sand Harbor Visitor/Administrative Center BMPs $1,000,000

3-4 (b) North Canyon Hiking Trail 15,000

3-5 (c) Sand Harbor Erosion Control 100,000

3-6 (d) Upland Wildlife Habitat Enhancement 66,000

3-7 (e) North Canyon Old Growth Habitat Restoration 130,000

3-8 (f) Forest Restoration - Phase I 1,500,000

3-9 (g) Sand Harbor-Memorial Point Trail 56,000

3-10 (h) Hidden Beach Rehabilitation, BMPs 106,000

3-11 (i) Sugar Pine Old Growth Habitat Restoration 75,000

3-12 (j) Project contingency 152,000

3-13 If an amount authorized pursuant to this subsection is insufficient to allow

3-14 the completion of the project for which it is authorized, the Interim Finance

3-15 Committee, upon the request of the Division of State Lands of the State

3-16 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, may increase the

3-17 amount authorized for the project and offset the increase by reducing the

3-18 amount authorized for another project or projects pursuant to this

3-19 subsection by the amount of the increase. The Division of State Lands may

3-20 use money authorized pursuant to this subsection for a project other than a

3-21 project listed in this subsection if the Interim Finance Committee approves

3-22 such a use in writing before the Division engages in the project. The

3-23 Division of State Lands may allocate money pursuant to paragraph (j)

3-24 without the prior approval of the Interim Finance Committee.

3-25 3. Money to carry out the program in an amount not to exceed

3-26 $53,200,000 must be provided for the period between the fiscal year

3-27 beginning on July 1, 2001, and the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2007, by

3-28 the issuance by the State Board of Finance of general obligation bonds of

3-29 the State of Nevada in a total face amount of not more than $53,200,000.

3-30 With the prior approval of the Legislature or the Interim Finance

3-31 Committee, the bonds may be issued from time to time pursuant to a

3-32 schedule established by the Administrator of the Division of State Lands.

3-33 The provisions of NRS 349.150 to 349.364, inclusive, apply to the issuance

3-34 of bonds pursuant to this subsection.

3-35 4. The amount of bonds authorized by subsection 3 must be reduced by

3-36 the amount of any money appropriated by the Legislature for the same

3-37 purpose upon certification by the Administrator of the Division of State

3-38 Lands of the amount of each such appropriation to the State Board of

3-39 Finance. The Administrator of the Division of State Lands shall submit a

3-40 request to the Legislature each biennium, as necessary, for an appropriation

3-41 for the program.

3-42 5. The Administrator of the Division of State Lands may adopt such

3-43 regulations as are necessary to carry out the program.

4-1 Sec. 2. 1. The fund to protect the Lake Tahoe Basin is hereby

4-2 created in the state general fund. The Administrator of the Division of State

4-3 Lands shall administer the fund.

4-4 2. All money that is collected for the use of the program established

4-5 pursuant to section 1 of this act, including, without limitation, an

4-6 appropriation made by the Legislature and the proceeds of any bonds

4-7 issued pursuant to section 1 of this act, after deducting any applicable

4-8 charges, must be deposited in the fund.

4-9 3. Any interest or income earned on the money in the fund must be

4-10 credited to the fund. Any money remaining in the fund at the end of the

4-11 fiscal year does not lapse to the state general fund but must be carried over

4-12 into the next fiscal year.

4-13 4. All claims against the fund must be paid as other claims against the

4-14 state are paid.

4-15 5. The Administrator of the Division of State Lands may use the

4-16 proceeds from any bonds issued pursuant to section 1 of this act or may

4-17 request an appropriation to defray the costs of administering the program if

4-18 the money in the fund is not sufficient.

4-19 6. The Administrator of the Division of State Lands shall report

4-20 semiannually to the Interim Finance Committee concerning the

4-21 establishment and administration of the program and the expenditure of

4-22 money from the fund for the program.

4-23 Sec. 3. The Administrator of the Division of State Lands may issue

4-24 grants to state agencies and local governments to carry out the program

4-25 established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The Administrator shall adopt

4-26 such regulations as are necessary for awarding the grants. The regulations

4-27 must:

4-28 1. Set forth the procedure for applying for a grant;

4-29 2. Set forth the criteria that will be considered in awarding a grant; and

4-30 3. State whether and the extent to which an applicant must match any

4-31 money awarded.

4-32 Sec. 4. The Legislature finds and declares that the issuance of

4-33 securities and the incurrence of indebtedness pursuant to this act:

4-34 1. Are necessary for the protection and preservation of the natural

4-35 resources of this state and for the purpose of obtaining the benefits thereof;

4-36 and

4-37 2. Constitute an exercise of the authority conferred by the second

4-38 paragraph of section 3 of article 9 of the Constitution of the State of

4-39 Nevada.

4-40 Sec. 5. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999.