1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Department, in cooperation with the Division of State Lands of the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, shall design, prepare and issue license plates for the support of the natural environment of the Mount Charleston area using any colors that the Department deems appropriate. The design of the license plates must include a depiction of Mount Charleston and its surrounding area. The Department shall not design, prepare or issue the license plates unless it receives at least 250 applications for the issuance of those plates.

2. If the Department receives at least 250 applications for the issuance of license plates for the support of the natural environment of the Mount Charleston area, 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 natural environment of the Mount Charleston area 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 natural environment of the Mount Charleston area pursuant to subsections 3 and 4.

3. The fee for license plates for the support of the natural environment of the Mount Charleston area 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 natural environment of the Mount Charleston area 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. 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 Board of County Commissioners of Clark County. The fees distributed pursuant to this subsection:

(a) May be used by the Board of County Commissioners, with the advice of the Mount Charleston Town Advisory Board or its successor, only:

(1) For the support of programs for the natural environment of the Mount Charleston area, including, without limitation, programs to improve the wildlife habitat, the ecosystem, the forest, public access to the area and its recreational use.

(2) To make grants to governmental entities and nonprofit organizations to carry out the programs described in subparagraph (1).

(b) Must not be used to replace or supplant money available from other sources.

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.

(Added to NRS by 1999, 1165; A 2001, 327; 2011, 473; 2013, 2852)