(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

 

Assembly Bill No. 219–Assemblymen Buckley, Cegavske, Anderson, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brown, Carpenter, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Nolan, Oceguera, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

 

February 22, 2001

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Joint Sponsors: Senators Titus, O’Donnell, Neal, Wiener, Carlton, Amodei, Care, Coffin, James, Schneider, Shaffer, Townsend and Washington

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Referred to Committee on Government Affairs

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Committee on Public Lands to take certain actions relating to wild horses. (BDR S‑1119)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.

                             Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to wild horses; directing the Legislative Committee on Public Lands to take certain actions relating to wild horses; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

   Whereas, On December 15, 1971, Congress enacted the provisions of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1331, et seq.; and

   Whereas, The Act was enacted largely because of the efforts of a resident of this state named Velma “Wild Horse Annie” Johnson; and

   Whereas, Since 1971, it has been the responsibility of the Bureau of Land Management to manage and protect most of the wild horses in this state; and

   Whereas, Approximately 24,000 wild horses live on public rangelands in this state; and

   Whereas, The Bureau of Land Management has recently estimated that the public rangelands in this state can support between 14,000 and 15,000 wild horses; and

   Whereas, The Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses has stated in its plan for the preservation and protection of wild horses in this state that an appropriate level of management must be established and maintained so that the number of wild horses on the public rangelands in this state is in appropriate balance under the concept of multiple use of the public rangelands; and

   Whereas, Because of a lack of reliable and adequate funding by Congress during the 30 years since the enactment of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the Bureau of Land Management has been unsuccessful in managing wild horses in this state in a manner which achieves an appropriate level of management in accordance with the provisions of that Act; and

   Whereas, Additional money has recently become available from the Federal Government to carry out the activities and practices that are required to manage wild horses within the limits of their natural habitat; and

   Whereas, When adopted as a companion, a wild horse displays remarkable toughness, intelligence and adaptability, all of which are traits that have helped wild horses survive in the wild; and

   Whereas, Since their introduction into the Great Basin and Mojave Desert by Europeans, wild horses have contributed significantly to the economic, social and cultural history of this state; and

   Whereas, Wild horses are unique animals and deserve assistance in their continuing struggle to survive; now, therefore,

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. The Legislative Committee on Public Lands is hereby

1-2  directed to:

1-3    1.  Monitor the activities of Congress and the Bureau of Land

1-4  Management relating to the management and protection of wild horses in

1-5  this state;

1-6    2.  Urge Congress to provide in a reliable manner an adequate amount

1-7  of money to support the activities of the Bureau of Land Management in

1-8  managing and protecting wild horses in this state in accordance with the

1-9  provisions of the Free-Roaming Wild Horses and Burros Act, 16 U.S.C. §§

1-10  1331, et seq.; and

1-11  3.  Prepare and submit to the Director of the Legislative Counsel

1-12  Bureau for transmittal to the 72nd session of the Nevada Legislature a

1-13  written report concerning the activities of the Legislative Committee on

1-14  Public Lands in carrying out the provisions of this act. The written report

1-15  must include, without limitation, a discussion and analysis of the progress

1-16  of the Bureau of Land Management in managing and protecting wild

1-17  horses in this state in accordance with the provisions of the Wild Free-

1-18  Roaming Horses and Burros Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1331, et seq.

1-19  Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.

 

1-20  H