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UNICAMERAL UPDATE News published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 43, Issue 5 / Feb. 3 - 6, 2020 Funding sought for “once-in-a-generation” project he state would provide match- ing funds to help secure a po- T tential public-private hospital and training center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center under a proposal heard Feb. 6 by the Revenue Committee. Under LB1084, introduced by Seward Sen. Mark Kolterman, certain political subdivisions, including the University of Nebraska, could apply to the state Department of Economic Development for $300 million in matching funds. Sen. Mark Kolterman said state matching funds are needed for a potential medical facility (continued page 2) expansion that could create thousands of jobs in Omaha. HHS Committee offers array of bills aimed at YRTCs he Health and Human Services Committee heard of facilities. testimony Feb. 5 on five bills, all introduced by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services T committee, to address youth rehabilitation and CEO Dannette Smith testified in opposition to LB1140. treatment centers in Nebraska. Many of the provisions in the bill are addressed in current LB1140 would outline a series of requirements for the department policy, she said, including evidence-based state’s YRTCs, including providing: programming and separate placement for boys and girls. • health care and medical services; “Among the many improvements we are implement- • a safe and sanitary space for sleeping, hygiene, ing in the YRTC system is the implementation of applied education, programming, treatment, recreation and behavioral analytics with targeted trauma-informed treat- visitation for each juvenile; ment. Both are evidence-based treatments utilized as best • appropriate physical separation and segregation of practices in the juvenile justice system,” Smith said. juveniles based on gender; LB1141 would require DHHS to develop a five-year • training that is specific to the population being served; operations plan for YRTCs by Nov. 15, 2020, and to sub- • sufficient staffing to comply with state and federal law mit an annual report to the Legislature beginning in 2021 and protect the safety and security of each juvenile; that details operations plans and performance indicators. • an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate Payne Ackerman, a former YRTC resident and family education program for each juvenile; advocate, testified in support of the bill. During his stay at • a case management and coordination process, de- the Kearney facility in 2012-13, Ackerman said there was signed to assure appropriate reintegration of the juve- inadequate staffing, little privacy or security and no griev- nile to his or her family, school and community; and ance process. While there, Ackerman said he was nearly • research-based or evidence-based programming and stabbed by another resident. treatment services. Juliet Summers of Voices for Children in Nebraska testi- Committee chairperson Sen. Sara Howard of Omaha fied in support of LB1140 and LB1141, saying the bills would said the plan is needed because there is nothing in state work well together to improve conditions at the YRTCs. She statute regarding YRTCs beyond designating the location (continued page 3) INSIDE: Flood mitigation task force proposed • Juvenile confinement limitations approved • Hearing schedule February 3 - 6, 2020 Funding sought for “once-in-a-generation” project (continued from front page) If an application is approved and annually after it becomes fully opera- and the treatment of highly infectious the Legislature appropriates those tional, he said. diseases after the Ebola virus outbreak funds, they could be used only for a “I personally believe this is a once- of 2014, it trains National Disaster project in which the applicant would in-a-generation opportunity for us to Medical System personnel and it is invest at least $1 billion to carry out catapult Nebraska into the national near a suitable U.S. Air Force facility the requirements of a certain program and international scene, boost our at Offutt Air Force Base. done in partnership with the federal economy and further position us to He said it is critical to convince the government. be a world leader in infectious disease federal government and the nonprofit Kolterman said the proposed and all-hazards training and response,” sector that the state is a “capable part- matching funds would help Nebraska Kolterman said. ner” in the project. secure a potential project that would Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of UNMC, “It is truly a historic opportunity significantly expand UNMC, grow testified in support of LB1084 on before us,” Gold said. “Let us seize it.” the state’s economy and strengthen behalf of the University of Nebraska. Leslie Andersen testified in sup- existing partnerships with the federal Gold said the project would in- port of the bill on behalf of the Great- government. clude a hospital with approximately er Omaha Chamber and the Lincoln UNMC has demonstrated a suc- 1,200 beds, some of which could be Chamber of Commerce. She said the cessful public-private partnership with used during times of national emer- project would have “profound” eco- the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer gency such as biological, chemical, nomic effects for Omaha and the state. Center, he said, and the potential radiological or nuclear attacks, as well “Perhaps no other project over the project would have even larger eco- as infectious disease outbreaks. A pro- past decade has presented an oppor- nomic effects. posed training center would increase tunity for economic growth and high- Kolterman said the project, called the facility’s capacity to train health wage, high-demand, highly skilled jobs NExT, would have an estimated eco- care professionals and students from than the NExT project,” she said. nomic impact of $7.6 billion over the around the world, he said. No one testified in opposition to next decade, creating nearly 33,000 Gold said UNMC meets many of the bill and the committee took no temporary construction jobs and the federal government’s site selection immediate action on it. n 8,700 permanent jobs. It would add criteria: The center has become known $1.3 billion to the state’s economy for its expertise in biocontainment 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, twitter.com/UnicamUpdate and facebook.com/UnicameralUpdate. Clerk of the Legislature: Patrick J. O’Donnell Editor: Kate Heltzel; Writers: Kyle Harpster, Ami Johnson, Mike Malloy; 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. 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THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1977 PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 3 - 6, 2020 HHS Committee offers array of bills aimed at YRTCs (continued from front page) said the current YRTC transported to, from system was established and between YRTCs. more than 100 years Under the bill, the de- ago and is overdue for partment would have an update. until Oct. 1, 2020, to “We know so much develop the policies. more now about ado- No one testified in lescent development support of the bill. and what works for Mark LaBouchar- young people,” Sum- diere, DHHS facilities mers said. director, testified in Smith testified opposition to LB1145, against LB1141, saying saying it requires poli- it was unnecessary. She cies that already are in said she agreed with place. Only a facility the bill’s objectives but supervisor can order that the department a physical restraint, already is developing a he said, and restraints Sen. Sara Howard said LB1140 would clarify the Legislature’s expectations of what business plan that will YRTCs must provide to the youth in their care. are used only when be updated annually. necessary. “We want to have the flexibility to leading in some cases to assault and “Our existing policy is that restrain- develop the plan,” Smith said. “We’ve injury, including two youth, who re- ing devices are never used for purposes already begun the process. We don’t ceived frequent physical injuries from of punishing [youth],” LaBouchardiere feel it needs to be in legislation.” other residents while being served by said. LB1143 would require DHHS to a YRTC. Finally, LB1142 would require hire an outside consultant to complete “In both cases they were not receiv- DHHS to develop a YRTC emergency a needs assessment and cost analysis ing any recognizable treatment for their plan by Oct. 15, 2020. The bill also of establishing an inpatient adoles- mental health conditions and were would amend current law to allow cent psychiatric unit at the Lincoln traumatized by the very facility that placement of a juvenile at a detention Regional Center. The department was designed to treat them,” Reay said. facility for seven days if there is an would have to submit the consultant’s Katherine Bass of the state Foster emergency—defined in the bill as any findings to the Health and Human Care Review Office also supported the damage to the facility that would cause Services Committee by Oct.