Nevada Senate passes school choice bill on to governor

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Senate gave final legislative approval Tuesday to Gov. Brian Sandoval’s school choice bill giving tax credits to businesses that donate to scholarship programs for children to attend private schools.

Assembly Bill 165, one part of the Republican governor’s ambitious education agenda, authorizes $10.5 million in tax credits over the upcoming two-year budget cycle. The total would increase 10 percent per year thereafter.

It was approved by the Senate on a party-line vote, with 11 Republicans voting in favor and nine Democrats opposed.

The bill now goes to the governor for his signature.

“This is a great day for students across Nevada,” Sandoval said. “The creation of Opportunity Scholarships ensures that all children, regardless of financial ability, will have the opportunity to attend a school that best suits their needs.”

State Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, said the measure is an “important piece of legislation” that gives more parents a choice on where they send their children to school.

Democrats said the bill takes money from the state general fund and diminishes available money for public schools.

“It’s really a tax abatement bill,” said state Sen. Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, adding businesses currently can offer scholarships.

“Why do they need a tax break to be able to offer these opportunities?” he asked.

The bill allows businesses to that donate to the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program to receive credits against modified business taxes assessed on payroll.

The bill earlier passed the Assembly, 25-17, also along party lines.

The scholarships would be directed to children who are members of a household with income not more than 300 percent of the poverty level.

Democrats said the income threshold was too high and amounted to a subsidy for wealthy families to send their children to private and religious schools.

“This means a tax break for wealthier families as opposed to an opportunity for lower income families to attend private schools,” said Democratic Minority Leader Aaron Ford, D-Las Vegas.

Republican Majority Leader Michael Roberson, R-Henderson, took exception to that assertion.

“This bill provides the opportunity for children who live in families who make up to three times the poverty level,” Roberson said. “For instance, a single mom with two kids making $60,000 a year would be the top end of the eligibility.

“That’s not wealthy.”

During earlier hearings, Assemblyman David Gardner, a Las Vegas Republican and backer of the measure, said about 72 percent of public school children could potentially be eligible for one of the scholarships. The maximum scholarship would be $7,755 per student, and about 800 to 1,000 scholarships will be available.

Sandoval proposed the same measure in the 2013 session but saw no action in the Legislature, which was then controlled by Democrats. Now, Republicans control both houses.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb