Existing law directed the State Board of Agriculture to lease certain real property to Washoe County subject to a trust imposed on that real property. (Chapter 251, Statutes of Nevada 1951, at pages 366-67) A portion of that real property was later exempted from the trust to enable Washoe County to construct a county public building complex on the real property. (Chapter 52, Statutes of Nevada 1977, at pages 123-26; chapter 561, Statutes of Nevada 1997, at pages 2726-28) Section 10 of this bill terminates the lease for that real property which is owned by the State of Nevada and leased to Washoe County. Section 14 of this bill repeals the chapters of Statutes of Nevada that are related to the lease of this real property to Washoe County. Section 9 of this bill sets forth a legislative declaration relating to the legislative history of the lease of that real property and the reasons for terminating the lease. Section 11 of this bill requires the Administrator of the Division of State Lands of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as ex officio State Land Registrar, to enter into an agreement to lease to Washoe County the real property in use as a county public building complex. Section 11 requires that, as part of the agreement, Washoe County must survey and generate a legal description for the portion of the real property in use by Washoe County. Section 12 of this bill provides that, following the termination of the lease, the State Department of Agriculture is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the portion of the real property that is not transferred to Washoe County, which shall be referred to as the Nevada State Fairgrounds. Sections 5 and 12 of this bill require the Director of the State Department of Agriculture to establish a state fairground, to be known as the Nevada State Fairgrounds, on the portion of the real property not leased to Washoe County. Section 5 requires the Department to develop, maintain, operate and promote the use of the Nevada State Fairgrounds and any facilities located thereon. Section 12 further provides that the Nevada State Fairgrounds are subject to the trust imposed on that real property. Section 6 of this bill creates the Account for the Maintenance and Operation of the Nevada State Fairgrounds in the State General Fund with the money in the Account to be used to develop, maintain, operate and promote the use of the Nevada State Fairgrounds and any facilities located thereon. Sections 3 and 4 of this bill define “Department” and “Director”, respectively. Section 2 of this bill applies those definitions to the provisions of sections 5 and 6 and certain provisions of existing law relating to fairs and exhibits. (Chapter 551 of NRS) Section 7 of this bill revises certain references to the Department and Director consistent with the definitions. Existing law requires the Nevada Junior Livestock Show Board to review the uses of the real property leased to Washoe County for use as a fairground and any physical improvements or changes to the facilities at the fairground. (NRS 563.080) Section 8 of this bill instead requires the Board to review any physical improvements or changes to the Nevada State Fairgrounds.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 551.030, 563.080
BDR: 551.030, 563.080