The Nevada Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (NV-MEWRA)

Nevada state companion to MEWRA. Builds on the Nevada Opportunity Scholarship (NRS Sec. 388D.260 et seq.), the Nevada Charter School Authority (NRS Ch. 388A), and the WINN fund.

THE NEVADA MERIT-BASED EDUCATION & WORKFORCE REFORM ACT (NV-MEWRA)

Vehicle: State passage. Nevada Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to Assembly / Senate Education.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Nevada Merit-Based Education & Workforce Reform Act (NV-MEWRA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that Nevada operates the Nevada Opportunity Scholarship Program under NRS Sec. 388D.260 et seq. (tax-credit scholarship funded through credits against the Modified Business Tax under NRS Sec. 363A.139); that the State Public Charter School Authority operates under NRS Ch. 388A; that the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation administers workforce programs under NRS Ch. 232; that the State Workforce Investment Board operates under NRS Ch. 232 consistent with 29 U.S.C. Sec. 3111; and that the Nevada Department of Education publishes the Nevada School Performance Framework. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH NEVADA LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

1. (a) “Nevada outcome-based school” means a provisional school authorized under Title II by the Nevada Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“NV-OBSA”).
2. (b) “NV-Opportunity” means the Nevada Opportunity Scholarship Program.
3. (c) “DETR” means the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Nevada Law

1. (a) Consistent with:

• NRS Sec. 388D.260 et seq. (Opportunity Scholarship).
• NRS Ch. 388A (State Public Charter School Authority).
• NRS Ch. 232 (DETR; workforce).

TITLE II — NEVADA OUTCOME-BASED SCHOOL AUTHORIZER

Sec. 201. Establishment of NV-OBSA

1. (a) The State Public Charter School Authority, in coordination with the Superintendent of Public Instruction, shall designate a Nevada Outcome-Based School Authorizer (“NV-OBSA”) under NRS Ch. 388A.
2. (b) NV-OBSA shall authorize provisional schools without requiring regional-accreditor accreditation.

Sec. 202. Outcome-Based Authorization Standard

1. (a) Authorization requires publication of outcome metrics under Sec. 401.
2. (b) Facilities, safety, and background-check standards applicable under NRS Title 34.
3. (c) Four-year term, renewable on thresholds.

TITLE III — EDUCATION-FUND PORTABILITY

Sec. 301. NV-Opportunity Scholarship Extension

1. (a) A Title II-authorized school is eligible as a qualifying private school under NRS Sec. 388D.260 et seq.

Sec. 302. Workforce Disbursements

1. (a) DETR shall ensure that within 24 months, at least 50 percent of WIOA-aligned workforce-program disbursements flow to providers publishing outcome data in the NV-OBSA Registry or Federal NLMF.

TITLE IV — PUBLISHED OUTCOME METRICS

Sec. 401. Nevada Outcome-Metrics Registry

1. (a) NV-OBSA shall publish completion rate; one- and three-year earnings medians; licensure/NVRMC/FRAC attainment.
2. (b) Data sources: Nevada P-20 Workforce Research Data System and DETR wage records.

Sec. 402. Coordination with the Federal NLMF

1. (a) Crosswalked to the Federal NLMF.
2. (b) Nothing authorizes disclosure of PII except as permitted under NRS Ch. 239 (Public Records) and FERPA.

TITLE V — ENFORCEMENT & REMEDIES

Sec. 501. Non-Compliant Provider Remedies

1. (a) Suspension of NV-Opportunity participating status; NV-OBSA Registry suspension; administrative penalty up to $500,000 per willful violation.
2. (b) No private right of action.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 602. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect the general effective date following the legislative session.

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Canonical federal version: MEWRA. Other Nevada bills: NV-ACSA, NV-GT&P, NV-AI-Workforce.