Click here for the HSLDA NV Legislation Monitoring Page

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6/12/2019 – LEGISLATIVE session ends – homeschool freedom remains intact.

NV ESA program is scrubbed and removed from NV statutes. Governor Steve Sisolak signs SB 551 that among other things REPEALED the Nevada ESA law.  See Section 39.5 of the bill.

• SB 551 was a bill to fund the NV state government.  It was introduced and passed in the final days of the 2019 NV legislative session with little opportunity for public input.

• NHN has updated our education options chart, Nevada Parental Choice Options.2019.June reflecting the change in the law and current level of freedom from government intervention in the education choices parents may the make for their children.

• NHN is wary of government funded (taxpayer’s money) “school choice” programs IF they impact the freedom of NV parents to homeschool their children as they see fit without “government approval.”  For more information on how the NV ESA impacted NV homeschool freedom see – Homeschooling vs. Government “school choice.“

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NV Legislature  to study “home visits” for “at risk” mothers and children during the 2019/2020 Interim Session

National articles on why government “home visits” are unconstitutional and problematic

Evidence-Based Home Visiting Programs – Rodger Williams, Researcher – Homeschooling Backgrounder 4/8/19

Here Comes Big Brother: Home Visiting Laws Threaten Parental Rights Nationwide – Karen Ephram, MD, The National Pulse 4/8/19

Home Visit Legislation: A Sales Pitch For Family Surveillance? – Wrench in the gears: A Skeptical Parent’s Thoughts on Digital Curriculum 2/17/2019

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4/24/2019 – AB 430 – 1st Reprint passes in the NV Assembly – bill moves to the State Senate.

The bill has been changed to a “study” on home visit programs during the 2020 Interim Session.  However, we remain concerned that the word “voluntary” is not used in reference to home visits.

• What is fueling these programs?  The federal government.
  • “In February 2018, the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program was allocated $400 million per year through fiscal year 2022. On September 20, 2018, HRSA awarded approximately $361 million in funding to 56 states, territories, and nonprofit organizations to support communities in providing voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. By law acheter oxymetholon avec france expedition crossfit, state and territory grantees must spend the majority of their grants to implement evidence-based home visiting models, with up to 25 percent of funding available to implement promising approaches that will undergo rigorous evaluation.” https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/home-visiting-overview 
• So the key is that any “home visit” program should always be voluntary on the part of the “at risk” identified participant.

4/16/2018 – Here’s what happens when government officials fail at their job and look for a scapegoat: Keeping Children Safe produced by TEACH-CT (Connecticut).

• Identifying “risk factors” in parents as a deterrent to child abuse denies families a presumption of innocence… there must be substantiated probable cause of abuse/neglect to warrant intrusion into a family’s home by the government.  Even doing a study of “government home visits” that AB 430 now calls for is without merit.  Offer taxpayer funded programs that parents can CHOOSE to avail themselves of if they want… but entering the home without cause must never be granted to DCSF or any other government entity.

4/12/2018 – AB 430 was amended – changing the bill to a “study” of home visits during the 2020 interim session.

The amended bill received a “Do Pass” from the Assembly Health and Human  Services committee.  The bill goes back to the Assembly Floor but may be redirected to Assembly Ways & Means since studies cost money.  The study will be more limited in scope than the original bill BUT it still all about setting up home visits by government officials for “at risk” families.  NHN remains opposed to AB 430, see letter submitted 4/11/19.

4/11/2019 – AB 430, Amended will have a “work session” in Assembly Health & Human Services Committee on 4/12 at 12:30. 

NHN submitted the following letter in opposition to both the original bill and the amendment.

AB430.NHN ltr to Assm HHS 4.11.2019

4/10/2019 – Your Voices Were Heard!!!

Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson sponsor of AB 430, the “home visits” for certain “at risk” families has agreed to a proposed amendment by Assemblywoman Shea Backus to change the bill to a “study” during the 2020 Legislative interim on home visits/services for at risk families with any new proposal to be heard in 2021.
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/…/ExhibitD…/OpenExhibitDocument…

The key for us in the future will be that any “home visit” program offered by the state be VOLUNTARY with no penalty or record kept of parents choosing not to participate.

4/9/2019 – NV Legislative Alert!

AB 430 – Government mandated home visits for “at risk” new parents to be heard in committee.

Wednesday, 4/10/2019 – Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services Agenda

March 28, 2019  

NEVADA LEGISLATIVE ALERT – CALL TO ACTION 

 AB 430 threatens fundamental parental rights of some Nevadans

(printable version:  AB430.2019.Legislative Alert.Call to Action)

By way of introduction, Nevada Homeschool Network (NHN) advocates for Nevada families who have chosen to direct the education of their children via homeschooling.  We also advocate for the fundamental parental rights of all parents.  In this capacity, we are writing today about AB 430.

Our concerns:

• This bill will mandate government “home visits” for certain “at risk” Nevada citizens with newborns and young children. In so doing the 4^th Amendment Rights[1] and fundamental parental rights[2] of these parents will be violated without probable cause.
• Placing government mandated “home visits” under the Division of Child and Family Services (NV-DCFS) is problematic and will add additional casework to an already overburdened bureaucracy.
• There will be a fiscal impact on state and county budgets to implement this new “service.”
• “Appropriately trained professionals” is ambiguous and worrisome.
• The scope and time-frame a family would have to submit to NON-voluntary home visits is not defined.
• The “risk factors” defining families who are to “receive services” via home visits is discriminatory.

Conclusion:

AB 430 is vaguely written and as such threatens the constitutional rights of Nevada citizens.  Further, there is no credible research showing that what works in a “voluntary” environment will work in a “coercive” environment as required by this bill.  This bill is an overreach and without merit as introduced. NHN is OPPOSSED to AB 430.

CALL TO ACTION: 

First, this bill DOES NOT impact homeschool freedom in Nevada. There is no need for you to even mention that you are a homeschooler.  Instead, we are concerned about the constitutional rights of all NV parents.

The bill has been referred to Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services.  It has not been given a hearing date at this time.  For now, please share in your OWN words your opinion on this bill  on the Legislation Opinion page (don’t just copy & paste our concerns and conclusion, that is not effective and actually makes you comment TOO long – thanks); https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Opinions/80th2019/.

We also encourage you to contact your NV State Assembly-person and let them know what you think about AB 430.  You can find your legislator by clicking this link; http://mapserve1.leg.state.nv.us/whoRU/ .

Thanks for participating in your government!

Elissa Wahl, NHN Chairwoman – Las Vegas, NV

Matt Alder, NHN Vice-Chairman/Treasurer – Reno, NV

NHN Officers:  Kelley Millard Radow, Secretary – D. Raymond Poole, Officer – Aaron Sutherland, Officer – Kristi Casaus, Officer – Maureen Ford, Provisional Officer

Barbara Dragon, Officer Emerita

[1] The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[2] NRS 126.036 – https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-126.html#NRS126Sec036

Other States with similar “non-voluntary home visits” legislation:

Minnesota: https://cplaction.com/cpl-article/minnesota-home-visits-an-opportunity-to-herd-our-children/

Oregon: https://www.oceanetwork.org/study-on-home-visits-in-oregon-sb-526/?fbclid=IwAR2fusi4rC3g9qMcrXj9GkYR_LZcKYZLWGtWHemkBuQh-h5xeJNTI2Ra7sE

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February 22, 2019 –  NHN is watching for bills threatening homeschool freedom in Nevada… nothing so far but check back regularly for updates.

Also keep an eye on our NHN Facebook page.

And/or sign up for free NV-Alert emails

Become a member or make a donation to support the advocacy work NHN does for Nevada homeschool families year-round.  Thank you!