NRS218D.810. Preparation and distribution of ballot materials.

      1.  As used in this section, “first committee of reference” means the committee to which a bill or joint resolution was first referred in the House in which it was introduced.

      2.  Upon request from the first committee of reference, the Legal, Research and Fiscal Analysis Divisions shall prepare, for any proposed constitutional amendment or statewide measure which, if approved by the Legislature, would be submitted to a vote of the people:

      (a) A condensation of the proposal into a question to be placed on the ballot;

      (b) An explanation of the proposal, including arguments for and against the proposal;

      (c) If the Legislature rejects a statewide measure proposed by initiative, proposes a different measure on the same subject which the Governor approves and includes the measure on the ballot with the statewide measure proposed by initiative, rebuttals to each argument for and against the proposal; and

      (d) A fiscal note for the proposal, including an explanation of any anticipated financial effects on state and local governments.

      3.  The condensation, explanation, arguments, rebuttals and fiscal note must be of reasonable length and written in easily understood language. The explanation must include a digest. The digest must include a concise and clear summary of any existing laws directly relating to the constitutional amendment or statewide measure and a summary of how the constitutional amendment or statewide measure adds to, changes or repeals such existing laws. For a constitutional amendment or statewide measure that creates, generates, increases or decreases any public revenue in any form, the first paragraph of the digest must include a statement that the constitutional amendment or statewide measure creates, generates, increases or decreases, as applicable, public revenue.

      4.  After the bill or joint resolution has been approved by both Houses, the first committee of reference shall request the preparation of the condensation, explanation, arguments, rebuttals and fiscal note, if it has not already done so, and shall review the draft and approve such changes as it deems necessary.

      5.  The first committee of reference shall submit the condensation, explanation, arguments, rebuttals and fiscal note, in the form of a simple resolution, to the members of the House in which the proposed constitutional amendment or statewide measure was introduced. After that resolution is approved, it must be entered in the journal in its entirety and the enrolled resolution delivered to the Secretary of State to accompany the bill or joint resolution to which it relates.

      6.  If the Legislature adjourns before the procedures set forth in subsections 4 and 5 have been completed, the Legislative Commission shall review, revise and approve the condensation, explanation, arguments, rebuttals and fiscal note for delivery to the Secretary of State on or before July 1 of the year in which the general election is to be held.

      7.  In the case of a joint resolution which proposes a constitutional amendment, the condensation, explanation, arguments, rebuttals and fiscal note must be treated in the same manner when the proposal is before the Legislature for its second approval as when the proposal was first approved.

      8.  The Legislative Counsel Bureau shall distribute copies of the condensations, explanations, arguments, rebuttals and fiscal notes to Legislators, public libraries, newspapers and broadcasters.

      (Added to NRS by 1981, 751; A 1997, 3063; 2003, 1697; 2011, 3203; 2013, 655)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 218.443)