Sandoval signs emergency school construction bill

By Cy Ryan

Published Wednesday, March 4, 2015 | 1:30 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, March 4, 2015 | 5:15 p.m.

CARSON CITY — Within hours of the state Assembly passing an emergency bill to permit the construction of more schools, Gov. Brian Sandoval signed the measure into law today.

The signing came after weeks of contentious partisan debate over similar legislation that extended school bonds and cut prevailing-wage measures for school construction. The Senate moved an emergency version of the bill out on Tuesday, and the Assembly voted 27-14 on Wednesday to approve the measure and send it to the governor.

Sandoval, surrounded by fifth-graders and legislative leaders from both parties, said during a news conference that the bill would allow school construction to begin nearly immediately and that the bill would alleviate an immediate need for overcrowded schools.

"You walk through these schools, and you see the number of kids in a classroom, you see some of these dilapidated conditions in the schools," he said. "You have to do something. You have to do something with a sense of urgency."

The Clark County School District is ready to start building seven elementary schools this summer with passage of the bill, which took two days to clear the Legislature.

“We’ll be shovel-ready by the end of the session,” said Joyce Haldeman, associate superintendent for the Clark County School District. Seven schools should be ready by fall 2017 and five more in 2018.

The Assembly today voted 27-14 to approve SB 207 as an emergency measure.

All of the 14 no votes came from Republicans who are concerned that the bill circumvents the will of the people and that it could be seen as a tax increase.

The Senate voted 15-4 to approve the emergency measure on Tuesday. Sen. Becky Harris, who sponsored both bills, said school districts had given them a deadline for Thursday to get the bill passed in order for new schools to open by 2017.

"I could not be more thrilled," she said. "This is going to have a profound impact on our state."

The bill gives school boards the authority to continue issuing construction bonds for 10 years beyond the time period approved by voters, although districts would not be allowed to raise property-tax rates to pay debt service on the bonds.

Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reno, said a controversial issue of prevailing wage paid workers on school projects — an item stripped from the bill — will be considered later in the session.

Assemblyman John Moore, R-Las Vegas, said schools are needed, but the bill “goes around the will of the voters.”

Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson said he was pleased to see the Assembly approve the measure. "I'm very happy we can start school construction in Washoe and Clark counties. This is a good day," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.