Vol. XXXVI No. 11 UNICAMER AL March 18 - 21, 2013 • the Nebraska Legislature’s news source since 1977 • stories published daily at update.legislature.ne.gov UPDATE Tax modernization Bill to increase juvenile commission plan advanced court usage advanced fter several days of discussion, senators gave first-round ap- A proval March 20 to a bill that would establish the Tax Modernization Commission to review and recommend updates to Nebraska’s tax code. Under LB613, introduced by Columbus Sen. Paul Schum- acher, the com- mission would continually re- view and recom- mend updates to Nebraska’s tax Sen. Paul Schumacher code. Schumacher said the Legislature needs to take a step back and look at tax policy as a whole. “This is far more complex and in- volved, dealing with so many interests, that we need to pause for a moment,” he said. “We need to try to figure out in the long term what is right for the Sen. Brad Ashford explains the role of the juvenile court system. people of Nebraska and what will enators advanced a bill March a felony or a misdemeanor and the hopefully serve the state as long as the 21 that would result in fewer juvenile was 16 or 17 years old at the current system.” Sjuvenile offenders being tried time the crime was committed. An Executive Board amendment, in adult court. Ashford said prosecutors currently adopted 47-0, replaced the bill. Under LB464, introduced by file juvenile cases in adult court re- As amended, LB613 would direct Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford, all charges gardless of the severity of the offense. the commission to consider fair- against juveniles younger than 18 years In 2012, 4,537 Nebraska youth were ness, competitiveness, simplicity and old would be filed in juvenile court. charged as adults, he said, and a ma- compliance, stability, adequacy and Cases could be transferred to adult jority of those cases were for minor complementary tax systems as it evalu- court upon a motion by the prosecutor offenses. Requiring more cases to ates Nebraska’s current tax code. and be heard before the juvenile court originate in juvenile court would give The commission would comprise if the alleged law violation is either more youth a chance at rehabilitation the speaker of the Legislature and (continued on page 2) (continued on page 3) INSIDE: Contraception access discussed • Meet Sen. Kintner • Hearing schedule • Speaker priority bills March 18 - 21, 2013 Bill to increase juvenile Unicameral court usage advanced Youth (continued from front page) Legislature and reduce their odds of having crimi- adult is cruel and unusual for a child.” nal records, he said. Scottsbluff Sen. John Harms also Further, Ashford said, Nebraska’s supported the bill, saying that Ne- juvenile justice system is based on a braska has one of the highest youth prosecutory model and not a rehabili- incarceration rates in the nation. tative model, which results in higher “Youth are more susceptible to recidivism rates. The judicial system peer pressure and incapable of weigh- is beginning to recognize that chil- ing long-term consequences,” he dren’s brains function differently from said. “Juvenile court was established adults’, Ashford to recognize the said, and that unique needs igh school students with an interest in law, government, juveniles must and treatment H “What may not leadership or public speaking are receive suffi- of children that encouraged to register for the cient treatment be considered are not offered 2013 Unicameral Youth Legisla- for abuse and in adult court.” ture, which will convene June 9-12. mental health cruel and Columbus issues that may Sen. Paul Schum- The Unicameral Youth Legis- be overlooked in unusual for an acher said he was lature is a four-day legislative adult court. concerned about simulation conducted at the “This bill is adult is cruel reversing the State Capitol Building and co- so very critical current proce- ordinated by the Clerk’s Office of the Nebraska Legislature. Stu- to starting the and unusual for dure that allows dent senators will sponsor bills, [juvenile justice] a child.” county attorneys conduct committee hearings, continuum in to determine in debate legislation and discover the right place, which court ju- -- Sen. Ernie Chambers the unique process of the na- and that is the venile cases are tion’s only unicameral. juvenile court prosecuted and Students will learn about the system,” Ashford said. instead provide judges more discre- inner workings of the Legislature A Judiciary Committee amend- tion. directly from senators, staff and ment, adopted 37-0, would no longer “I think what we are dealing with lobbyists. Bills will be based on require juveniles who are committed is an attempt to channel the county legislation considered during the current legislative session. to the Office of Juvenile Services to attorneys’ discretion,” he said. “That remain committed until they are 21 really does not change the underlying Early-bird registration is avail- years old or legally discharged. issue we are dealing with, which is a able until April 1. Registration Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers juvenile system that is cumbersome forms can be obtained from the spoke in support of the bill. Children and does not serve our children in the Legislature’s Unicameral Youth are not miniature adults—their brains most effective way.” Legislature page: are not fully developed until they reach Senators advanced the bill from www.nebraskalegislature.gov/ their 20s, he said. general file on a 39-0 vote. g education/unicamyouth.php “We do not want cruel and unusual and the UNL Big Red Summer punishments inflicted on children,” Academic Camps website: liferaydemo.unl.edu/ Chambers said. “What may not be web/4hcamps/bigredcamps. considered cruel and unusual for an The registration deadline is May 15. PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 103RD LEGISLATURE March 18 - 21, 2013 Meet the Senator New senator steps up to the plate en. Bill Kintner has spent his “Simply put, the government life involved in two games: spends too much money,” Kintner Sbaseball and politics. His Capi- said, noting that he visited a variety tol office décor – a mixture of sports of state agencies before the legislative memorabilia and an homage to for- session began, to learn where and how mer President Ronald Reagan – leaves citizen’s tax dollars are being spent. little doubt about where his heart lies. Originally from Cincinnati, Kintner “I was a foot soldier in the ‘Regan decided to take advantage of his greater Revolution,’” Kintner said, tracing his level of job flexibility and make his interest in politics and fiscal conserva- home in Nebraska with his wife Lauren. tism to his college days. After volun- Never one to shrink from a chal- teering in the 1984 presidential race, lenge, Kintner manages to find time to he went on to lead several political work his “day job” as a market research campaigns, beginning with a congres- sales professional, as well as occasion- sional campaign in North Carolina ally putting in time as a sports writer when he was just 25 years old. and baseball umpire for high school “I’ve worked on tons of campaigns and college games. over the years,” he said. “I just never A former high school baseball thought I’d run myself.” coach, Kintner joked that he has “gone Kintner said it was his interest in over to the dark side” as an umpire – a reducing the size of government and position he clearly relishes. making it more efficient in delivering “I still get to be involved in the Sen. Kintner enjoys working as an umpire for high school and college baseball games. needed services that led him to run for game I love,” he said. “I still manage to a seat in the Unicameral. get paid to have dirt under my feet.” g Tax modernization commission plan advanced (continued from front page) members of the appropriations, health at least once per year to review and “We need to take a step back and and human services, revenue and leg- evaluate the tax code. make a determination on how best to islature’s planning committees. Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley sup- make changes instead of quickly push- Ex-officio members would include ported the bill. He said the goal of the ing through radical changes,” he said. the Legislature’s fiscal analyst, tax commission would be to ensure that In an effort to extend debate, experts from the University of Ne- all Nebraskans are treated equitably Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers brought braska and the tax commissioner and under the tax code. several technical amendments that he property tax administrator from state “It is very clear to us that people said would improve a poorly worded Department of Revenue. would like us to look at modernizing bill. Under the bill, the commission our tax system,” Hadley said. “We After senators adopted several of would provide a preliminary report need to make sure we can look at this the amendments, Schumacher moved to the Legislature and the governor from a neutral standpoint.” to invoke cloture, or cease debate on by Dec. 15, 2013, and a final report Omaha Sen. Heath Mello also the bill. Senators obliged on a 44-2 would be due by Nov. 15, 2014. The supported the bill, saying it is the ap- vote and advanced the bill to select commission would continue to meet propriate path forward. file 47-1. g 103RD LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 3 March 18 - 21, 2013 effort to train Nebraska’s youth for a Laura Kliewer, director of the Appropriations future in wind energy. Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail “This is all about creating jobs and Commission, testified in support of Funding sought for wind economic opportunity for the future,” the bill.