The Commission shall, within the limits of available money:

1. Make recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, agencies of this State, political subdivisions, tribal governments, businesses located within this State and private persons who reside in this State with respect to actions and measures that may be taken to protect residents of this State and visitors to this State from potential acts of terrorism and related emergencies.

2. Upon consideration of the most recent statewide strategic plan prepared by the Nevada Office of Cyber Defense Coordination pursuant to NRS 480.930, make recommendations to the Governor, through the Division, on the use of money received by the State from any homeland security grant or related program, including, without limitation, the State Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative, in accordance with the following:

(a) The Division shall provide the Commission with program guidance and briefings;

(b) The Commission must be provided briefings on existing and proposed projects, and shall consider statewide readiness capabilities and priorities for the use of money, administered by the Division, from any homeland security grant or related program;

(c) The Commission shall serve as the public body which reviews and makes recommendations for the State’s applications to the Federal Government for homeland security grants or related programs, as administered by the Division; and

(d) The Commission shall serve as the public body which recommends, subject to approval by the Governor, the distribution of money from any homeland security grant or related program for use by state, local and tribal government agencies and private sector organizations.

3. Propose goals and programs that may be set and carried out, respectively, to counteract or prevent potential acts of terrorism and related emergencies before such acts of terrorism and related emergencies can harm or otherwise threaten residents of this State and visitors to this State.

4. With respect to buildings, facilities, geographic features and infrastructure that must be protected from acts of terrorism and related emergencies to ensure the safety of the residents of this State and visitors to this State, including, without limitation, airports other than international airports, the Capitol Complex, dams, gaming establishments, governmental buildings, highways, hotels, information technology infrastructure, lakes, places of worship, power lines, public buildings, public utilities, reservoirs, rivers and their tributaries, and water facilities:

(a) Identify and categorize such buildings, facilities, geographic features and infrastructure according to their susceptibility to and need for protection from acts of terrorism and related emergencies; and

(b) Study and assess the security of such buildings, facilities, geographic features and infrastructure from acts of terrorism and related emergencies.

5. Examine the use, deployment and coordination of response agencies within this State to ensure that those agencies are adequately prepared to protect residents of this State and visitors to this State from acts of terrorism and related emergencies.

6. Assess, examine and review the use of information systems and systems of communication used by response agencies within this State to determine the degree to which such systems are compatible and interoperable. After conducting the assessment, examination and review, the Commission shall:

(a) Establish a state plan setting forth criteria and standards for the compatibility and interoperability of those systems when used by response agencies within this State; and

(b) Advise and make recommendations to the Governor relative to the compatibility and interoperability of those systems when used by response agencies within this State, with particular emphasis upon the compatibility and interoperability of public safety radio systems.

7. Assess, examine and review the operation and efficacy of telephone systems and related systems used to provide emergency 911 service.

8. To the extent practicable, cooperate and coordinate with the Division to avoid duplication of effort in developing policies and programs for preventing and responding to acts of terrorism and related emergencies.

9. Submit an annual briefing to the Governor assessing the preparedness of the State to counteract, prevent and respond to potential acts of terrorism and related emergencies, including, but not limited to, an assessment of response plans and vulnerability assessments of utilities, public entities and private business in this State. The briefing must be based on information and documents reasonably available to the Commission and must be compiled with the advice of the Division after all utilities, public entities and private businesses assessed have a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Commission’s findings.

10. Perform any other acts related to their duties set forth in subsections 1 to 9, inclusive, that the Commission determines are necessary to protect or enhance:

(a) The safety and security of the State of Nevada;

(b) The safety of residents of the State of Nevada; and

(c) The safety of visitors to the State of Nevada.

(Added to NRS by 2003, 2454; A 2005, 931, 1534; 2011, 2881; 2017, 1640)