Sandoval’s scholarship bill heads to Senate floor

CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval’s plan to help low-income students attend private school by offering tax credits to businesses that donate to a scholarship fund sailed through a Senate committee Thursday on a party-line vote.

One day after Assembly Bill 165 won partisan approval in the lower house, the Senate Revenue Committee heard the bill and minutes later voted to approve it 4-3, with the three Democratic members voting against it.

The measure now goes to the Senate floor.

The bill would establish tax credits for businesses that donate money to the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program, up to $5 million in the first year of the budget and $5.5 million in the second year. The maximum scholarship would be $7,755 per student.

Assemblyman David Gardner, R-Las Vegas, said the bill would allow students in households up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level to attend private schools. There is no requirement that they be enrolled in underperforming public schools to qualify.

The scholarship program is a centerpiece of Sandoval’s plan to give students more choice in where they attend school. About 11 other states have similar programs.

Gardner estimated 72 percent of Nevada public school children could be eligible for a scholarship, which could include aid to attend religious schools.

Senate Minority Leader Aaron Ford, D-Las Vegas, questioned how the program differs from school vouchers, arguing that the tax credits will still amount to a financial hit on state coffers.

He also said that the income eligibility threshold doesn’t really limit availability to the most disadvantaged students.

State Sen. Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, supported the bill, saying he is a strong proponent of “giving parents more control over their children’s education.”

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