1. A program is hereby established for the issuance of additional big game tags each year to be known as “Dream Tags.” The program must provide:

(a) For the issuance of Dream Tags to either a resident or nonresident of this State;

(b) For the issuance of one Dream Tag for each species of big game for which 50 or more tags were available under the quota established for the species by the Commission during the previous year; and

(c) For the sale of Dream Tags to a nonprofit organization pursuant to this section.

2. The Department shall administer the program and shall take such actions as the Department determines are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section and NRS 502.222 and 502.225.

3. A nonprofit organization established through the Community Foundation of Western Nevada which is exempt from taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) and which has as its principal purpose the preservation, protection, management or restoration of wildlife and its habitat may purchase such Dream Tags from the Department, at prices established by the Department, subject to the following conditions:

(a) The nonprofit organization must agree to award the Dream Tags by raffle, with unlimited chances to be sold for $5 each.

(b) The nonprofit organization must agree to enter into a contract with a private entity that is approved by the Department which requires that the private entity agree to act as the agent of the nonprofit organization to sell chances to win Dream Tags, conduct any required drawing for Dream Tags and issue Dream Tags. For the purposes of this paragraph, a private entity that has entered into a contract with the Department pursuant to NRS 502.175 to conduct a drawing and to award and issue tags or permits as established by the Commission shall be deemed to be approved by the Department.

(c) All money received by the nonprofit organization from the proceeds of the Dream Tag raffle, less the cost of the Dream Tags purchased by the nonprofit organization and any administrative costs charged by the Community Foundation of Western Nevada, must be used for the preservation, protection, management or restoration of game and its habitat, as determined by the Advisory Board on Dream Tags created by NRS 502.225.

4. All money received by the Department for Dream Tags pursuant to this section must be deposited with the State Treasurer for credit to the Wildlife Account in the State General Fund.

5. The nonprofit organization shall, on or before February 1 of each year, report to the Department and the Interim Finance Committee concerning the Dream Tag program, including, without limitation:

(a) The number of Dream Tags issued during the immediately preceding calendar year;

(b) The total amount of money paid to the Department for Dream Tags during the immediately preceding calendar year;

(c) The total amount of money received by the nonprofit organization from the proceeds of the Dream Tag raffle, the amount of such money expended by the nonprofit organization and a description of each project for which the money was spent; and

(d) Any recommendations concerning the program or necessary legislation.

6. As used in this section, “big game tag” means a tag permitting a person to hunt any species of pronghorn antelope, bear, deer, mountain goat, mountain lion, bighorn sheep or elk.

(Added to NRS by 2009, 2058; A 2009, 2648; 2011, 1640, 3150; 2015, 96; 2019, 760)