1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and NRS 482.38279, the Department, in cooperation with Nevada Ducks Unlimited or its successor, shall design, prepare and issue license plates for the support of the conservation of wetlands, using any colors and designs that the Department deems appropriate. The Department shall not design, prepare or issue the license plates unless it receives at least 1,000 applications for the issuance of those plates.

2. If the Department receives at least 1,000 applications for the issuance of license plates for the support of the conservation of wetlands, the Department shall issue those plates for a passenger car or light commercial vehicle upon application by a person who is entitled to license plates pursuant to NRS 482.265 and who otherwise complies with the requirements for registration and licensing pursuant to this chapter. A person may request that personalized prestige license plates issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 be combined with license plates for the support of the conservation of wetlands if that person pays the fees for the personalized prestige license plates in addition to the fees for the license plates for the support of the conservation of wetlands pursuant to subsections 3 and 4.

3. The fee for license plates for the support of the conservation of wetlands is $35, in addition to all other applicable registration and license fees and governmental services taxes. The license plates are renewable upon the payment of $10.

4. In addition to all other applicable registration and license fees and governmental services taxes and the fee prescribed in subsection 3, a person who requests a set of license plates for the support of the conservation of wetlands must pay for the initial issuance of the plates an additional fee of $25 and for each renewal of the plates an additional fee of $20, to be distributed pursuant to subsection 5.

5. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 482.38279, the Department shall deposit the fees collected pursuant to subsection 4 with the State Treasurer for credit to the State General Fund. The State Treasurer shall, on a quarterly basis, distribute the fees deposited pursuant to this subsection to the Treasurer of Nevada Ducks Unlimited or its successor for use by Nevada Ducks Unlimited or its successor in carrying out:

(a) Projects for the conservation of wetlands that are:

(1) Conducted within Nevada; and

(2) Sponsored or participated in by Nevada Ducks Unlimited or its successor; and

(b) Fundraising activities for the conservation of wetlands that are:

(1) Conducted within Nevada; and

(2) Sponsored or participated in by Nevada Ducks Unlimited or its successor.

6. If, during a registration period, the holder of license plates issued pursuant to the provisions of this section disposes of the vehicle to which the plates are affixed, the holder shall:

(a) Retain the plates and affix them to another vehicle that meets the requirements of this section if the holder pays the fee for the transfer of the registration and any registration fee or governmental services tax due pursuant to NRS 482.399; or

(b) Within 30 days after removing the plates from the vehicle, return them to the Department.

7. As used in this section, “wetland” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 244.388.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 3063; A 2007, 822; 2013, 2847)