Friday, April 10, 2015 | 8:22 p.m.
A Senate panel approved legislation Friday aimed at eliminating overcrowding in school districts.
The Senate Committee on Revenue and Economic Development also approved Senate Bill 323 Friday to set up a $10 million fund to help minorities and women expand their businesses or hire more employees.
School districts in Clark and Washoe counties are using mobile classrooms and outdated schools to handle the influx of students.
SB411 would permit the school districts to set up a committee to examine the construction and repair needs of the district. This committee would then decide what taxes, if any, were needed for building and repairs.
Its recommendation would go to the school board and then to the county commission, which would put it on the ballot in the 2016 election.
This committee would be composed of gaming, business, economic development and homebuilders.
Attempts failed last year by Clark and Washoe counties to gain tax approvals for the construction.
The other bill, SB323, would provide low interest loans to minority and female businesses through the state Office of Economic Development. There would be a $10 million revenue bond issue to allow these loans. The office would set up the criteria in the interest rates.
The bills go to the floor of the Senate.
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