Existing law requires, with certain exceptions, every power-driven vessel for which this State is the principal state of operation to be numbered and titled. (NRS 488.065) Existing law further requires the owner of each power-driven vessel which is required to be numbered to file an application for a number and a certificate of ownership with the Department of Wildlife. Existing law requires such an application to be accompanied by an annual fee, the amount of which is prescribed in existing law and determined by the straight line length of the power-driven vessel, which is measured from the tip of the bow to the back of the transom of the power-driven vessel. Finally, existing law requires the Board of Wildlife Commissioners to adopt regulations providing for the renewal of a certificate of number by the purchase of a validation decal and provides that the amount of the fee for issuing a duplicate validation decal is $20. (NRS 488.075) Section 1 of this bill removes the amounts set forth in existing law for such fees and instead requires the Commission to establish by regulation: (1) a schedule of fees for the issuance and renewal of the certificate, which must be based on the straight line length of a power-driven vessel and the same for each; and (2) fees for issuing a duplicate validation decal. Section 2 of this bill makes a conforming change to provide that the fee for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of number for 2 years, if allowed, is an amount which is equal to twice the annual fee for the vessel set forth in such regulations. Section 1 further authorizes the money from such fees and other fees relating to vessels be expended only for projects to increase education concerning and access to boating and the administration and enforcement of certain provisions relating to vessels and wildlife, including, without limitation, any costs incurred when assisting a law enforcement agency in the enforcement of the laws of this State that are within the jurisdiction of a game warden. Existing law requires the Department to, on or before December 31 of each year, deposit with the State Education Fund 50 percent of each fee collected according to the length of the power-driven vessel for every power-driven vessel registered. (NRS 488.075) Section 1 instead requires the Department to, on or before July 31 of each year, deposit with the Fund $800,000 from such fees received by the Department. Section 5 of this bill makes a conforming change to reflect the requirement for the Department to deposit a fixed amount of money in the Fund instead of a portion of the fees. Existing law provides, with certain exceptions, that no transfer of title to or any interest in any power-driven vessel that is required to be numbered is effective until the transferor: (1) has properly endorsed and delivered certain documents to the transferee and the transferee has timely delivered such documents or placed such documents in the United States mail addressed to the Department with the transfer fee; or (2) has delivered or placed in the United States mail addressed to the Department the appropriate documents for the transfer of ownership pursuant to the sale or transfer. (NRS 488.1793) Section 4 of this bill requires the Commission to prescribe a fee for the transfer of title of a power-driven vessel. Section 3 of this bill makes a conforming change to reflect that such a fee is prescribed by regulation of the Commission. Section 6 of this bill provides that the existing fees for numbering and transferring the title of a vessel remain in effect until the Commission has established such fees by regulation.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 488.075, 488.125, 488.1793, 488.1795, 387.1212
BDR: 488.075, 488.125, 488.1793, 488.1795, 387.1212