2015 Legislative Policy Agenda

The items below reflect the 2015 Opportunity Alliance policy objectives and agenda.

1. Urge Nevada Legislators to create an ACT relating to Financial Security and Economic Opportunity: Creating the Nevada Task Force on Financial Security and Economic Opportunity, a public-private partnership, to conduct a comprehensive examination of the middle class financial security and upward economic mobility of families and individuals in Nevada. This task force will identify ways to further financial stability and asset-building opportunities for Nevadans.

2. Enhance protections to prevent unfair lending to military families by  adding a state level extension of national Military Lending Act by requiring that all loans under NRS Chapter 604A to active military personnel are capped at the 36% Military Annual Percentage Rate. The U.S. Department of Defense found that predatory lending undermines national security and proposes a 36% cap as the protection.

3. Urge the continued support of the Nevada State Treasurer Board’s “Nevada Kick Start Saving” program which establishes with an initial deposit of $50 a 529 Plan college savings account in the name of each kindergartner enrolled in public school in Nevada. The program is administered by the State Treasurer and the Board of Trustees of the College Savings Plans of Nevada. The program’s funding is generated through grants, private sponsorships, and program management fees. No taxpayer dollars are utilized.

Opportunity Alliance Nevada (OA) is a community-wide coalition comprised of diverse community organizations, such as non-profits, institutions of primary, secondary and postsecondary education, banks, credit unions, small businesses, large corporations and government agencies. The coalition was formed in 2009 and operated under the name of the Financial Stability Partnership of Northern Nevada within the structure of the United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra. In 2014 the name changed to the Opportunity Alliance and is currently applying for its own 501c3 status. The mission of the Opportunity Alliance is to create partnerships and opportunities to build financial independence. The coalition was formed to help individuals and families attain and preserve assets, become more financially stable, and achieve long-term economic independence.