Lawmakers take ESAs out of treasurer’s office

By Yvonne Gonzalez

Published Friday, May 12, 2017 | 2:58 p.m.

Updated Friday, May 12, 2017 | 4:37 p.m.

Nevada’s education savings account program is no longer under the treasurer’s office.

The move leaves the Legislature to consider Senate Bill 506, a measure setting up the ESA program under the Department of Education. Nevada’s ESA program faced legal challenges over its funding, and legislation proposed this session has sought to make revisions to the law.

Assembly Republican Leader Paul Anderson is sponsoring SB 506, which has yet to pass a committee vote and has been exempted from deadlines. On Friday, two legislative committees decided to take ESAs out of the treasurer’s office.

“With today’s vote to begin the transition of ESAs from the Treasurer’s office to a permanent home, Nevadans are one step closer to having the opportunities they deserve to have an education that works for them,” Anderson said in a statement Friday.

Gov. Brian Sandoval has requested $60 million in funding for the program. Sen. Joyce Woodhouse, D-Henderson, said lawmakers will take up the governor’s ESA bill in the coming weeks.

June 5 is the last day of the 2017 session. ESAs have been a sticking point in the budget process, with Democrats scheduling no hearings on these bills so far.

The Nevada State Education Association and other opponents of the program have said ESAs take money away from public schools.

“Assembly Democrats are focused on their constitutional obligation to fully fund public schools before any other budgetary items,” Democratic caucus spokeswoman Sarah Abel said. “There are $37 million in budget differences that must be figured out and how to monetarily bridge that gap before there are any conversations on vouchers. Once public education is fully funded, the conversation on voucher funding can resume — and that was reflected in the bipartisan vote we saw today.”

Anderson said putting ESAs under a Department of Education office will help better serve families.

“There will be much debate in the coming weeks,” Anderson said in his statement. “Our caucus is standing firm with students and parents — we will not back down.”

This version of the story has been updated to include Sarah Abel's comments.