Nevada Legislature: Bill would help lower-income children afford private schools

A bill introduced in the Nevada Assembly aims to help lower-income students afford private schools.

AB165 is sponsored by the Assembly Education Committee and was introduced on Friday.

It would allow businesses credit toward their modified business tax bill if they donated to a qualifying scholarship organization. The organization would give scholarships to students whose household income doesn’t exceed 300 percent of the poverty level.

Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval mentioned the program in his State of the State speech. Proponents say it would help students leave lower-achieving schools and attend better ones.

But Democrats generally oppose the idea, saying it gives away state resources through the tax credits that should benefit public schools.

The measure says the state can’t offer more than $10 million in credits in its first year.