CHAPTER........
AN ACT relating to state financial administration; authorizing the issuance of general
obligation bonds under certain circumstances to assist in the construction of a
California Immigrant Trail Interpretive Center in Elko County; and providing other
matters properly relating thereto.
recognize and understand the history of our country and the events that
contributed to the development of the United States; and
Whereas, From 1840 to the completion of the transcontinental railroad
in 1869, over 300,000 people traveled across this state on the route known
as the California Trail; and
Whereas, The immigrants traveling on the California Trail added to the
population base for the development of the western area of the American
continent and in so doing, their numbers discouraged England and Russia
in their efforts to colonize the Pacific Coast of the Continent; and
Whereas, The early settlers of the State of Nevada were direct
descendants of the immigrants who traveled the California Trail; and
Whereas, Even today visual evidence of portions of the California
Trail remain, and from the borders of Idaho and Utah to the eastern border
of California, the trail and its subtrails are identifiable; and
Whereas, In order to preserve, demonstrate and display the historical
significance of the California Trail, an Interpretive Center for the California
Trail is needed at a site in Elko County, designated the "Hastings Cutoff,"
that is adjacent to the trail and subtrail of the Donner-Reed Party; and
Whereas, It has been demonstrated that other trail interpretive centers
in the West have contributed significantly to the tourism industry in the
populated centers along their respective trails; and
Whereas, Other trail interpretive centers have been built with the
primary funding coming from the Federal Government after a
demonstration of local and state governmental support; and
Whereas, The Board of County Commissioners of Elko County has
committed $1,000,000 to assist in the construction of a California
Immigrant Trail Interpretive Center in Elko County, contingent upon the
other commitments required by subparagraph (3) of paragraph (a) of
subsection 3 of section 1 of this act and paragraph (b) of subsection 3 of
section 1 of this act; and
Whereas, The Board of Supervisors of the City of Elko has committed
$2,000,000 to assist in the construction of a California Immigrant Trail
Interpretive Center in Elko County, contingent upon the other commitments
required by subsection 3 of section 1 of this act; now, therefore,
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA,
REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO
ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the State
Board of Finance shall issue general obligation bonds of the State of
Nevada in the face amount of not more than $3,000,000. The proceeds of
the bonds must be allocated to the Division of State Parks of the State
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to assist in the
construction of a California Immigrant Trail Interpretive Center in Elko
County.
2. The expenses related to the issuance of bonds pursuant to this
section must be paid from the proceeds of the bonds and must not exceed 2
percent of the face amount of the bonds sold.
3. The State Board of Finance shall not issue the general obligation
bonds pursuant to subsection 1 unless on or before June 30, 2003:
(a) The Division of State Parks of the State Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources has received commitments of at least:
(1) One million dollars from Elko County;
(2) Two million dollars from the City of Elko; and
(3) Six million dollars from the Federal Government and other
available sources of grant money,
for the construction of the California Immigrant Trail Interpretive Center in
Elko County; and
(b) The Federal Government has agreed to own and operate the
California Immigrant Trail Interpretive Center in Elko County.
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.
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