Senate Bill No. 526–Committee on Natural Resources

March 22, 1999

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Referred to Committee on Natural Resources

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to plan for use of water resources. (BDR 48-1601)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

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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).

 

AN ACT relating to water resources; requiring the division of water planning of the state department of conservation and natural resources to submit its plan for the use of water to the legislature by a certain date; requiring the division to indicate the differences between the plan submitted and the plan last submitted to the legislature; restricting the contents of a plan; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. NRS 540.101 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 540.101 1. The division shall develop a plan for the use of water

1-3 resources within the state.

1-4 2. The division shall coordinate with local governments in developing

1-5 the plan pursuant to subsection 1. Upon request of the division, each local

1-6 government shall cooperate with and assist the division in the development

1-7 of the plan.

1-8 3. The water plan developed pursuant to subsection 1 must include

1-9 provisions designed to protect the identified needs for water for current and

1-10 future development in the rural areas of the state, giving consideration to

1-11 relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the economy of the affected

1-12 areas and the quality of life in the affected areas. The plan must not

1-13 include language which states or implies that:

1-14 (a) Implementation of a policy or recommendation of the plan is

1-15 mandatory; or

2-1 (b) Persons other than the division are required or expected to assist

2-2 in the implementation of the plan or a policy or recommendation of the

2-3 plan.

2-4 4. [The] Not later than February 15th of each odd-numbered year,

2-5 the division shall submit to the legislature for its review and consideration:

2-6 (a) The plan developed pursuant to subsection 1; and

2-7 (b) The recommendations regarding the plan provided to the division by

2-8 the advisory board on water resources planning and development pursuant

2-9 to NRS 540.111.

2-10 [The division must obtain the approval of the legislature before the plan is

2-11 implemented.] The plan submitted to the legislature must contain a list of

2-12 modifications or include in the plan highlighting or clearly indicating by

2-13 another method the differences between the plan submitted and the plan

2-14 which was last submitted to the legislature.

2-15 5. As used in this section, "local government" means a political

2-16 subdivision of this state, including, without limitation, a city, county,

2-17 irrigation district, water district or water conservancy district.

2-18 Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

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