UNICAMERAL UPDATE Stories published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 40, Isssue 7 / Feb. 13 - 16, 2017 Initial budget cuts approved Overtime limits after cloture vote proposed for Corrections staff imiting the amount of overtime state Department of Correc- Ltional Services staff members are required to work was the focus of a bill heard by the Judiciary Commit- tee Feb. 16. Under LB245, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz, correctional employees only could work 32 hours of overtime Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. John Stinner and Sen. Paul Schumacher discuss LB22. over any two-week awmakers voted to end debate ka to retain approximately $5.2 period. Employees and give final approval Feb. 13 million in unspent funds; and would be required Sen. Kate Bolz Lto a bill that makes cuts to the • adds $3.5 million to the state to have eight consecutive hours off state’s budget for the current fiscal Department of Health and from work between scheduled shifts. year. The reductions are a first step to Human Services to offset the Bolz said monthly overtime hours offset an anticipated budget shortfall loss of federal funds for cer- worked by correctional employees of nearly $1 billion over the biennium. tain developmental disability has doubled from 20,000 to 40,000 LB22, introduced by Norfolk Sen. providers. since 2014. Jim Scheer at the request of Gov. Pete Omaha Sen. Bob Krist offered a “When employees are not rested Ricketts, is part of the governor’s motion to return LB22 to select file for or are forced to work overtime when expedited adjustments proposed for consideration of an amendment that they’re exhausted, the chances that the state budget ending June 30, 2017. would have exempted the Legislature’s they’ll make a mistake or affect the The regular budget process for setting budget from the bill’s provisions. He safety of their colleagues or inmates spending for the next two fiscal years said lawmakers need to protect unap- increase,” she said. “A safe environ- will be taken up separately later in propriated funds to address ongoing ment means sufficient staffing [levels], the session. upgrades to phone systems, public well-trained officers and well-rested The bill makes across-the-board hearing rooms and logistics related officers.” cuts to funds previously appropriated to an overhaul of the Capitol’s heat- The bill would prohibit any adverse to state agencies, with some excep- ing, ventilation and air-conditioning action against an employee who refuses tions. Among other provisions, the system. to volunteer for additional overtime. bill: “I just don’t think we have to make Adverse action would include, but is • cuts approximately $4 million this cut — this deep — right away,” not limited to: termination, demotion from the state Supreme Court Krist said. or an involuntary transfer from one budget; Gering Sen. John Stinner, chairper- correctional facility to another. • allows the University of Nebras- son of the Appropriations Committee, The director of Correctional Ser- (continued page 2) (continued page 2) INSIDE: Meet Sen. Brewer • Bill would consolidate veterans’ services • Committee hearing schedule February 13 - 16, 2017 Initial budget cuts Overtime limits proposed for approved after Corrections staff cloture vote (continued from front page) (continued from front page) vices could suspend the overtime provi- not adequately address the root cause said work is being done to address the sions proposed in LB245 in the event of the issue. Legislature’s needs in another deficit of a corrections-related emergency, “[High levels of] overtime is a bill and the regular biennial budget such as a fire, riot or prisoner escape. symptom of the recruitment and reten- process. The suspension could last up to two tion issues faced by the department,” “We’re going to work with the weeks or until the emergency order is Frakes said. “We already are working Legislative Council,” Stinner said. rescinded, whichever occurs first. hard to address those issues through “We are committed to making sure The proposed overtime limits a combination of efforts involving that these projects get done.” would take effect July 1, 2018. the collective bargaining process and Krist’s motion failed on a vote of Jim Maguire, representing the retention initiatives, among others.” 11-30. Nebraska Fraternal Order of Police, The committee took no immediate Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha testified in support of the bill. He said action on the bill. g then filed a motion to bracket the correctional officers he has consulted bill until Feb. 27, which failed on a prioritize concerns about mandatory vote of 2-42. He said senators should overtime ahead of adequate pay and Follow the take more time to find a way to fund safety issues. Unicameral Update the Legislature at a level adequate to “I don’t know whether or not the on Facebook fulfill its lawmaking and oversight magic number is 32 hours, but the responsibilities. amount of forced overtime has to be Find the latest Nebraska Legislature news at “This is a point at which we should addressed,” he said. “I do know that www.facebook.com/ function as the third branch of govern- working four or five days of mandatory UnicameralUpdate ment,” Chambers said. double shifts in a row is absolutely After two hours of debate, Stinner excessive.” offered a motion to invoke cloture and Scott Frakes, director of the de- cease debate on the bill. The motion partment, opposed the measure. was adopted 43-1 and LB22 passed 42- High levels of overtime absolutely is 3. The bill takes effect immediately. g a problem, he said, but LB245 would UNICAMERAL UPDATE The Unicameral Update is a free, weekly newsletter published during the legislative session. It is produced by the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office through the Unicameral Information Office. For print subscriptions, call 402-471-2788 or email [email protected]. Visit us online at Update.Legislature.ne.gov and follow us on Twitter.com/UnicamUpdate. Clerk of the Legislature: Patrick J. O’Donnell Editor: Heidi Uhing; Writers: Kyle Harpster, Kate Heltzel, Ami Johnson; Photographer: Bess Ghormley Printed copies of bills, resolutions and the Legislative Journal are available at the State Capitol room 1104, or by calling 402-471-2709 or 800-742-7456. Status of bills and resolutions can be requested at that number or can be found on NebraskaLegislature.gov. Live video of hearings and floor debate can be viewed on NET2 and at NetNebraska.org/capitol. Senators may be contacted by mail at this address: Senator Name, District #, State Capitol, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604 Assistance provided by the Clerk of the Legislature’s Office, the Legislative Technology Center, committee clerks, legal counsels, journal clerks, pages, transcribers, mail room and bill room staff and the State Print Shop. The Unicameral Update is available as an audio recording from the Nebraska Library Commission’s Talking Book and Braille Service. Call (800) 742-7691 for more information. THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1977 PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 105TH LEGISLATURE February 13 - 16, 2017 Meet the Senator Brewer signs on for a new tour of duty fter spending 36 years in uniform, A and being twice wounded in combat, Sen. Tom Brewer said it would have been easy for him to retire and take life easy. Instead, he chose to run for the Nebraska Legislature. “Sometimes you have a fire in your gut to serve,” he said. Brewer’s military service began when he enlisted in the Army National Guard while still in high school. It ended when he suffered seri- ous wounds from a rocket- propelled grenade attack while deployed on his sixth Sen. Tom Brewer (left) and fellow soldier Erik Herring serving in northern Afghanistan in 2011. tour of duty in Afghanistan different from being a soldier: political they just work in a bigger building,” in 2011. affiliation matters little if you want to he said. “It’s nice to go to work in an Two years and multiple surger- accomplish the mission. environment where you have good ies later, he joined Montana-based “What you have is a group of people wanting to do good things.” Horses and Heroes, leading wounded people trying to get the mission done When he has free time, he enjoys veterans on horse pack trips that teach and help others,” he said. “And that’s riding horses on his ranch in Gordon. teamwork and perseverance. Brewer, really, in the purest sense, the idea A gifted marksman — he coached the who has ridden horses since he was behind the Unicameral.” 1996 U.S. Olympic shooting team a boy, said the summer rides helped Brewer said he is still getting used — he also enjoys gunsmithing and him feel normal again and that he still to the job’s pace, which is faster than competitive shooting. Brewer also could contribute to society. he expected. participates with several programs that “It kind of gave me the idea that “I don’t think when you’re running help wounded veterans. I should at least make a run at the you really have an appreciation for Brewer, who flew attack helicopters Unicameral because I had things that how much work it is,” he said. in the 1980s, also mentors his daugh- I thought needed to be done,” he said. He spends Saturdays in his Capitol ter Kalee, who is training to fly heli- “The idea of being able to do some office, catching up on mail and pre- copters in the army. His son Travis is good was what inspired me.” paring for the coming week. Brewer a teacher in Omaha and serves in the Brewer said serving in the Army, said he has enjoyed meeting the other Army National Guard.