BDR 35-471 – In Honor of Native American Heritage Month
To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, we are sharing all the favorable outcomes of the 82nd Legislative Session.
As all our relatives become more engaged in civic matters, please know that the bill which “Provides for the issuance of free annual permits to certain persons for entering state parks and recreational areas.” is now a law.
(BDR 35-471) Existing law requires the Administrator of the Division of State Parks of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to establish a program to issue free of charge an annual permit to enter all state parks and recreational areas in this State to any pupil who is enrolled in the fifth grade at a school in this State. (NRS 407.065)
Section 1 of this bill requires the Administrator to establish a similar program to issue free of charge an annual permit to enter all state parks and recreational areas in this State to any:
(1) member of an Indian Tribe located in whole or part in this State;
(2) bona fide resident of this State who has been discharged, except a person who has been dishonorably discharged, from the Armed Forces of the United States.
Section 1.3 of this bill makes a conforming change to provide that such a program is an exception to the requirement that the Administrator impose and collect a reasonable fee for entering state parks and recreation areas.
Section 1.7 of this bill makes an appropriation to the Division to offset the loss of revenue from user fees associated with implementing such a program.
The NEVADA INDIAN COMMISSION (NIC) is a State agency created by statute in 1965 to “study matters affecting the social and economic welfare and well-being of American Indians residing in Nevada, including but not limited to matters and problems relating to Indian affairs and to federal and state control, responsibility, policy, and operations affecting such Indians.” Beginning on July 1, 2024, our agency will be known as the Department of Native American Affairs (DNA).
For more information about Free Admission to State Parks for Tribal Citizens, click here.