Senate Bill No. 275–Senators Washington, Raggio, Amodei, Mathews, McGinness, Rhoads, Schneider and Townsend

 

March 13, 2003

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Joint Sponsors: Assemblymen Knecht, Angle, Anderson, Carpenter, Geddes, Gibbons, Grady, Gustavson, Hardy, Hettrick and Marvel

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Referred to Committee on Natural Resources

 

SUMMARY—Creates Western Nevada Regional Water Planning Task Force. (BDR S‑888)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: Yes.

                           Effect on the State: Yes.

 

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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 water; creating the Western Nevada Regional Water Planning Task Force; prescribing its powers and duties; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

    Whereas, Water is a precious resource in Nevada, particularly in the fast-growing areas of western Nevada where the water supply may be a limiting factor for growth and development; and

    Whereas, A proactive approach to the use, management and storage of water in western Nevada, and particularly in the Carson, Truckee and Walker River Basins, is necessary to develop an effective regional water plan; and

    Whereas, The participation and coordination of local governments are vital to ensure regional solutions to water issues; and

    Whereas, While many counties in Nevada have comprehensive water plans, these plans often lack consistency; and

    Whereas, Western Nevada is in need of a proactive, comprehensive regional water planning effort to assess the condition

of the water resources in the region, evaluate the status and consistency of existing county water plans and develop a strategy to serve as a framework for future state and local water planning efforts; now, therefore,

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1.  As used in sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act,

1-2  “Task Force” means the Western Nevada Regional Water Planning

1-3  Task Force created pursuant to section 2 of this act.

1-4  Sec. 2.  1.  The Western Nevada Regional Water Planning

1-5  Task Force, consisting of 13 members, is hereby created. The Task

1-6  Force consists of:

1-7  (a) One member appointed by the Director of the State

1-8  Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to represent the

1-9  Office of the State Engineer;

1-10      (b) One member appointed by the Carson-Truckee Water

1-11  Conservancy District;

1-12      (c) One member appointed by the Washoe-Storey Conservation

1-13  District;

1-14      (d) One member appointed by the Carson Water

1-15  Subconservancy District;

1-16      (e) One member appointed by the Inter-Tribal Council of

1-17  Nevada, Inc.;

1-18      (f) One member appointed by the Governor to represent the

1-19  general public; and

1-20      (g) One member appointed by each of the Boards of County

1-21  Commissioners of Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, Storey and

1-22  Washoe Counties and one member appointed by the Board of

1-23  Supervisors of Carson City. Any such member may be a member of

1-24  the Board of County Commissioners or Board of Supervisors,

1-25  respectively, and shall reside in the territorial jurisdiction of the

1-26  governmental body making the appointment.

1-27      2.  If the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, Inc., ceases to exist,

1-28  the appointment required by subsection 1 must be made by its

1-29  successor organization or, if there is not a successor organization, by

1-30  the Governor.

1-31      Sec. 3.  1.  The members of the Task Force shall select a

1-32  Chair and a Vice Chair from among their members. After the initial

1-33  selection, the Chair and Vice Chair shall hold office for a term of 1

1-34  year. If a vacancy occurs in the chairmanship or vice chairmanship,

1-35  the members of the Task Force shall select a Chair or a Vice Chair,

1-36  as appropriate, to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

2-1  2.  Except for the initial members, the term of office of each

2-2  member of the Task Force is 4 years. The members shall continue in

2-3  office until their successors are appointed. A member of the Task

2-4  Force is eligible for reappointment. Vacancies of members

2-5  appointed to the Task Force must be filled in the same manner as

2-6  original appointments.

2-7  3.  The membership of any elected state, county or city officer

2-8  who is appointed to the Task Force pursuant to section 2 of this act

2-9  and who does not become a candidate for reelection or who is

2-10  defeated for reelection terminates upon the expiration of the term of

2-11  office of the elected officer. The vacancy created by such a

2-12  termination must be filled in the manner described in subsection 2.

2-13      Sec. 4.  1.  The members of the Task Force shall meet at least

2-14  four times each year and at the call of the Chair. The Task Force

2-15  shall prescribe regulations for its management and government.

2-16      2.  Seven members of the Task Force constitute a quorum, and

2-17  a quorum may exercise all the powers conferred on the Task Force.

2-18      Sec. 5.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this subsection,

2-19  each member of the Task Force serves without compensation.

2-20      2.  While engaged in the business of the Task Force, each

2-21  member is entitled to receive the per diem allowance and travel

2-22  expenses provided for state officers and employees generally.

2-23      3.  Each member of the Task Force who is an officer or

2-24  employee of this state or a political subdivision of this state must be

2-25  relieved from his duties without loss of his regular compensation so

2-26  that he may prepare for and attend meetings of the Task Force and

2-27  perform any work that is necessary to accomplish the duties of the

2-28  Task Force in the most timely manner practicable. A state agency or

2-29  political subdivision of this state shall not require an officer or

2-30  employee who is a member of the Task Force to:

2-31      (a) Make up the time he is absent from work to carry out his

2-32  duties as a member of the Task Force; or

2-33      (b) Take annual leave or compensatory time for the absence.

2-34      Sec. 6.  The Task Force may:

2-35      1.  Assess the condition of the water resources in the western

2-36  region of this state, including, without limitation, the water

2-37  resources in the Carson, Truckee and Walker River Basins;

2-38      2.  Review any comprehensive plans developed for Churchill,

2-39  Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, Storey and Washoe Counties and Carson

2-40  City as they relate to water in those regions, including, without

2-41  limitation, any plans developed pursuant to NRS 278.150 and

2-42  540A.130;

2-43      3.  Identify and evaluate any inconsistencies among the

2-44  comprehensive water plans described in subsection 2;

3-1  4.  Identify any areas within the western region of this state that

3-2  are in need of additional planning;

3-3  5.  Develop a strategy for the use, management and storage of

3-4  water in the western region of this state to be used as a basis for

3-5  subsequent decisions relating to water planning in the western

3-6  region of this state may be made;

3-7  6.  Seek and consider the advice of:

3-8  (a) The Division of Water Planning of the State Department of

3-9  Conservation and Natural Resources;

3-10      (b) Any water planning commission created pursuant to chapter

3-11  540A of NRS; and

3-12      (c) Any planning commission of a city and any county or

3-13  regional planning commission whose jurisdiction includes Carson

3-14  City or Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, Storey or Washoe

3-15  County; and

3-16      7.  Apply for and accept any gifts, grants or donations to assist

3-17  the Task Force in carrying out its functions.

3-18      Sec. 7.  On or before September 1 of each even-numbered year,

3-19  the Task Force shall submit a report concerning its activities and any

3-20  recommendations for legislation to the Director of the Legislative

3-21  Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislature.

3-22      Sec. 8.  The appointment of the members of the Western

3-23  Nevada Regional Water Planning Task Force required by section 2

3-24  of this act must be made as soon as practicable after October 1,

3-25  2003. The initial terms of:

3-26      1.  The members appointed pursuant to paragraphs (a), (d) and

3-27  (e) of subsection 1 of section 2 of this act, the members appointed

3-28  by the Boards of County Commissioners of Mineral, Storey and

3-29  Washoe Counties and the member appointed by the Board of

3-30  Supervisors of Carson City expire on September 30, 2006.

3-31      2.  The members appointed pursuant to paragraphs (b), (c) and

3-32  (f) of subsection 1 of section 2 of this act and the members

3-33  appointed by the Boards of County Commissioners of Churchill,

3-34  Douglas and Lyon Counties expire on September 30, 2007.

 

3-35  H