1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Department, in cooperation with the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, shall design, prepare and issue license plates for the support of the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake using any colors that the Department deems appropriate. The design of the license plates must include a depiction of Pyramid Lake 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 preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake, 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 preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake 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 preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake pursuant to subsections 3 and 4.

3. The fee for license plates for the support of the preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake 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 preservation and restoration of the natural environment of the Lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake 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 Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The fees deposited pursuant to this subsection may only be used to:

(a) Protect, restore and enhance the water quality and natural resources of or relating to the Lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake, including, without limitation:

(1) Providing matching money for grants that are available from federal or state agencies for such purposes; and

(2) Paying the costs of the Tribe’s portion of joint projects with local, state or federal agencies for such purposes.

(b) Pay for, or match grants for, projects for the enhancement of the economic development of the area surrounding the Lower Truckee River and Pyramid Lake.

(c) Pay for the development and construction of an arena on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation for activities pertaining to fairgrounds or rodeos, or both, and to provide financial support for the establishment of a rodeo team or other designated activities at Pyramid Lake High School. Until October 1, 2006, 25 percent of the fees deposited pursuant to this subsection must be used for the purposes described in this paragraph.

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 2001, 1672; A 2003, 497; 2013, 2855)