UNICAMERAL UPDATE Stories published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 40, Issue 17 / Apr. 24 - 27, 2017 Mainline budget bill advanced after cloture cuts of $24.7 million to state agencies, $13 million to the university system and $9 million in foster care contracts with private providers of kinship place- ments for state wards. Stinner said the proposal reflects the committee’s commitment to K-12 education, property tax relief and continuing efforts to fix the state’s corrections system. State boards, com- missions and agencies were committed to making the budget work in difficult circumstances, he said. “To an agency, they expressed a concern about the budget,” Stinner Appropriations Committee chairperson Sen. John Stinner answers a question from Sen. said. “They wanted to be part of the so- Patty Pansing Brooks regarding Title X funding. lution with the budget and the deficit awmakers began debate April 25 from the Cash Reserve Fund to the shortfall, and they are really the ones on the state’s $8.9 billion bud- General Fund. that I want to acknowledge. They have Lget package. The state budget to carry the ball from here. They have is structured on a two-year basis, with Mainline budget bill to make the tough decisions based on a limited amount of resources.” the budget enacted during legislative LB327, introduced by Speaker Jim Debate focused on proposed chang- sessions held in odd-numbered years. Scheer on behalf of the governor, is the es to the Appropriations Committee As introduced, the Appropriations mainline budget bill. An Appropria- amendment. Committee budget proposal would tions Committee amendment replaced Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson, result in a financial status at the end of the bill and contains recommendations chairperson of the Transportation and fiscal year 2018-19 that is $3.5 million for state operations and state aid. Telecommunications Committee, of- above the 3 percent minimum reserve. Among other provisions, the fered an amendment that would have The budget package represents a 1.0 amendment includes the following reduced by $4.4 million in FY2017-18 percent growth rate in spending over increases to baseline appropriations and $2.1 million in FY2018-19 an appro- the biennium. over the biennium: priation from the Highway Cash Fund Gering Sen. John Stinner, chair- • $62.4 million for the Tax Equity to the Roads Operations Cash Fund. person of the Appropriations Com- and Educational Opportunities Friesen said the purpose of the mittee, said the goal of the proposed Support Act (TEEOSA); amendment was to prevent the use package was to return the budget to a • $35.6 million for Medicaid; of motor fuel tax receipts from being positive structural balance and meet • $15.4 million for staffing, pro- diverted for purposes other than roads the minimum reserve requirement in grams and equipment for the infrastructure. the face of a nearly $1 billion projected state Department of Correc- “The amendment properly adjusts budget shortfall. tional Services; and the Highway Cash Fund appropria- This was accomplished, he said, • $11.4 million for the courts un- tion to match program infrastructure by higher than normal transfers to der the Justice Reinvestment Act. projects and roads operations,” he the state’s general fund from agency Among other reductions, the said, adding that he had supported cash funds and a $172 million transfer amendment also includes proposed (continued page 2) INSIDE: Meet Sen. Linehan • Whiteclay public health task force approved • Drug overdose immunity passed April 24 - 27, 2017 (continuedMainline from front page) budget bill advanced after cloture the 2015 bill that increased the state’s roads, all aspects of government need Paul Schumacher was debated April motor fuel tax. to be included in the cuts necessary to 26. It would have removed a provision “I believed then and believe now balance the budget. stating that, to the extent permissible that the increase was good policy and “I don’t know how people can feel under applicable federal regulations, I’ve always been supportive of the con- that they don’t need to be part of the the state Department of Health and cept of the gas tax being used to pay solution,” he said. “We’re all in this Human Services (DHHS) is to pri- for roads and being solely dedicated together. We are slowing down the oritize the use of all funds associated to that purpose,” he said. growth of government with this bill.” with the Federal Title X Program to Friesen said that without the amend- Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln also op- federally qualified health centers, ment – and another pending on LB331 posed the Friesen amendment, saying community health centers, hospitals, that would reduce transfers from the the committee’s proposal makes sig- tribal government entities and state Roads Operation Fund to the General nificant investments in roads funding and local government entities. Fund – the variable gas tax rate would elsewhere in the budget, including Title X funds are used to subsidize need to be set to match the higher adding Amazon sales tax revenue to Pap smears – and treatments and pro- appropriations and transfer levels, re- the State Highway Capital Improve- cedures for the follow-up of abnormal sulting in a higher overall gas tax rate. ment Fund. Brainard Sen. Bruce Bostelman “Highway con- supported the amendment, saying struction [fund- the transfer in LB327 represents a ing] increases by “historic departure” from the policy $45 million for of using gas tax receipts solely for the biennium,” infrastructure needs. she said. “I just “This has the potential to have want everyone to detrimental impacts to various infra- work from the structure projects around the state,” facts.” he said, including the need to expand The amend- U.S. Highway 30 to accommodate ment was defeated agriculture needs and improve safety. on a 20-27 vote. Omaha Sen. Burke Harr opposed An amend- the amendment, saying that although ment brought by Sens. Kate Bolz and Bob Krist discuss the budget during general file he understands the importance of Columbus Sen. debate April 26. 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 April 24 - 27, 2017 bill that would have had a of government works.” focused public hearing, he Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln said. agreed, saying the language that would “A budget should be be stricken by the Schumacher amend- about how we spend money, ment was included in the budget not about how we change bill as introduced. There was public policy on highly sensitive notice, he said, and an opportunity issues,” Schumacher said. for the public to be heard. More im- “This should not have been portantly, he said, the change is good tried this way.” public policy. Omaha Sen. Bob Krist “I think there’s a good case for why agreed, saying the language we would want to prioritize some of appeared to be targeted at a these centers,” Hilgers said, because specific provider of Title X they have a broader range of services services. than those that can be provided at “I think this is a deliber- stand-alone clinics. ate attempt to take funding The amendment was defeated on Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher said stand-alone clinics away from Planned Parent- a vote of 17-19. provide important services for low-income Nebraskans. hood,” he said. “I think it’s Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks Pap smears – as well as the diagnosis a deceitful way to do it.” then said she would offer an amend- and treatment of sexually transmitted Sen. John Murante of Gretna ment to add stand-alone clinics to the diseases, cancer screenings and family opposed the amendment, saying the list of entities that could be prioritized planning services. General funds pro- new language simply would prioritize for Title X funding and remove the vided under Title X cannot be used to how Title X funds are allocated and words “up to” before the amounts ap- perform, facilitate, counsel or refer for would not change the services that are propriated for the program. abortion services. provided or access to those services. She said the change would help en- Schumacher said the omission of In addition, he said, Appropriations sure that stand-alone clinics in Grand stand-alone clinics in the priority list Committee hearings are open to the Island, Kearney, Crete, and North would allow DHHS to de-fund enti- public.