Section 3 of this bill creates the Nevada Medal of Distinction, which must be awarded each year to: (1) one person who is living and has made a significant and lasting contribution to the State of Nevada; and (2) one person who is deceased and during his or her lifetime made a significant and lasting contribution to the State of Nevada. Section 4 of this bill creates the Nevada Awards and Honors Board, to be composed of five members who are residents of this State and appointed by the Governor. The Board is required to: (1) establish a suitable design for the Nevada Medal of Distinction; (2) establish the requirements for determining whether a person is a Nevada resident or otherwise has a sufficient connection to this State and has made a significant and lasting contribution to the State; (3) procure the manufacture of the Medal; and (4) take any other action necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 3-6 of this bill. Section 5 of this bill requires, on or before January 1 of each year, a selection committee to be established, consisting, with certain exceptions, of nine members as follows: (1) three members appointed by the Governor; (2) two members appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate; (3) two members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; and (4) two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court. If the Governor, Majority Leader of the Senate and Speaker of the Assembly are all members of the same political party, section 5 provides that the selection committee must consist of: (1) three members appointed by the Governor; (2) one member appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate; (3) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; (4) one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; (5) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Assembly; and (6) two members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Nevada Supreme Court. Section 5 also requires each member of the selection committee to submit to the Board the nomination of one person who is living and one person who is deceased to receive the Nevada Medal of Distinction for that year. Sections 5 and 7 of this bill exempt meetings of the selection committee from the Open Meeting Law. (Chapter 241 of NRS) Section 6 of this bill requires the Board to hold a ceremony to announce the recipients of the Nevada Medal of Distinction for that year, which must be held in: (1) Carson City during each odd-numbered year on a date in which the Legislature is in regular session; and (2) Clark County during each even-numbered year. Section 6 further requires the selection committee to meet and select the recipients of the Nevada Medal of Distinction for that year not more than 7 calendar days before the ceremony.

Statutes affected:
Reprint 1: 241.016
As Enrolled: 241.016