Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to develop an inventory of connectivity needs on the state highway system where the implementation of wildlife crossings and other related highway features will support certain purposes relating to wildlife. (NRS 408.661) Existing law also requires: (1) the Board of Directors of the Department to adopt a plan for measuring the performance of the Department; and (2) the Director of the Department to prepare a report, based upon certain performance measurements, on the level of achievement of each division of the Department and the Department as a whole which must include, among other requirements, the scheduling, scope, cost and progress of any current or proposed highway projects. (NRS 408.133) Section 1 of this bill requires that the information in the report prepared by the Director relating to current and proposed highway projects include the progress of any current or proposed project identified in the inventory of connectivity and the need for such a project. Existing law requires each Deputy Director of the Department to: (1) hold a master's degree in public or business administration, or meet certain other educational requirements; and (2) have at least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in engineering or project management, or meet certain other experiential requirements. (NRS 408.178) Section 1.1 of this bill instead requires each Deputy Director to: (1) hold a bachelor's degree in business, economics or public or business administration, or meet certain other educational requirements; and (2) have at least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in engineering, project management, business or economics, or meet certain other experiential requirements. Existing law further requires the Department to prepare a written analysis of the costs and benefits of each proposal for a highway project that will cost $25 million or more. (NRS 408.3195) Section 1.3 of this bill instead requires that the Department prepare such an analysis of each proposal for a highway project that will cost $50 million or more. Section 1.3 additionally requires the Department to include in the analysis for a highway project proposal a discussion of the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the highway district and the value of any mitigation of wildlife-vehicle collisions from the design, construction and use of wildlife crossings.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 408.656, 444A.090
Reprint 1: 408.3195, 408.656, 444A.090
Reprint 2: 408.133, 408.3195
Reprint 3: 408.133, 408.178, 408.3195
As Enrolled: 408.133, 408.178, 408.3195
BDR: 408.656, 444A.090