School choice program bill introduced in Nevada Assembly

CARSON CITY — A centerpiece of Gov. Brian Sandoval’s plan to give parents more choices in where their children attend school was introduced Friday in the Assembly.

Assembly Bill 165 would establish the Nevada Educational Choice Scholarship Program, which would provide tax credits to businesses that donate money to a scholarship organization to allow children of low-income families to attend the school of their choice, including private and religious schools.

The tax credits would be limited to a total of $10 million in the 2015-16 school year, increasing 10 percent per year. The scholarships would be directed to children in households with income not more than 300 percent of the poverty level.

Sandoval proposed the same measure in the 2013 session. It saw no action in the Legislature, which was controlled by Democrats. The 2015 session has Republicans in the majority in the Senate and the Assembly.

The bill was introduced by the Assembly Committee on Education. No hearing date has been set.

Sandoval has backed the scholarship idea for school choice instead of a voucher program. Voters would have to approve a change to Nevada’s constitution to allow a voucher program.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801.