Bill > SB321

This bill revises the civil penalty provisions for violations of natural gas pipeline safety regulations in Nevada. Currently, the state law allowed a maximum civil penalty of $200,000 per violation per day, up to $2 million for related violations. The bill updates this to align with federal regulations by tying the maximum civil penalty to the corresponding federal amounts, which are currently adjusted annually for inflation (currently around $272,926 per violation per day, up to $2,729,245 for related violations). The bill also removes the previous provision that allowed the civil penalty to be deducted from any sum owed to the violator by the state. The changes will be implemented through an amendment to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 704.595, ensuring that Nevada's pipeline safety penalties remain consistent with federal standards. The bill maintains the Commission's ability to compromise penalties and considers factors like the size of the business, the severity of the violation, and the good faith efforts toward compliance when determining penalty amounts.