UNICAMERAL UPDATE News published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 42, Issue 5 / Feb. 4 - 8, 2019 Bill to ban conversion therapy considered Testifiers filled the Warner Chamber to address the Judiciary Committee during public hearings Feb. 7. embers of the Judiciary erosexuality as a preferable outcome. Fifteen states and the District of Committee heard testimony LB167, introduced by Omaha Sen. Columbia have banned conversion MFeb. 7 on a bill that would Megan Hunt, would prohibit any per- therapy, Hunt said, because the treat- prohibit conversion therapy for any son credentialed ment has been proven to be ineffectual minor child. under Nebraska’s and harmful. The American Academy of Child Uniform Creden- “There is a growing body of re- and Adolescent Psychiatry defines tialing Act from search that shows that conversion conversion therapy as any intervention advertising or pro- therapy is not rooted in medically purported to alter same-sex attractions viding conversion sound practices, is unethical and or an individual’s gender expression therapy to a child causes substantial harm, especially in Sen. Megan Hunt with the specific aim to promote het- under 18. (continued page 3) Expanded military retirement pay exemption proposed he Revenue Committee heard or her military retirement benefit pay current election options and allow testimony Feb. 7 on a bill for seven consecutive taxable years or an individual to exclude 50 percent T that would expand the state 15 percent for all taxable years begin- of his or her military retirement ben- income tax deduction for military ning when he or efit income to the extent included in retirement pay. she turns 67. federal AGI. Under current law, military retirees LB153, intro- The state Department of Revenue may, within two years of their retire- duced by Gordon estimates the bill would reduce state ment, choose between two options to Sen. Tom Brewer income tax revenue by a total of $42.9 exclude military retirement benefit on behalf of Gov. million over the four fiscal years begin- pay from state income tax. The retiree Pete Ricketts, ning with FY2019-20. may elect to exclude 40 percent of his would replace the Sen. Tom Brewer (continued page 2) INSIDE: Meet Sen. Slama • Caregiver unemployment bill advanced • Committee hearing schedule February 4 - 8, 2019 Expanded military retirement pay exemption proposed (continued from front page) Brewer said Nebraska’s tax system discourages military retirees from settling here. When retirees leave for states that do not tax military retire- ment benefits, he said, Nebraska loses qualified workers who also pay sales, income and property taxes. “Letting our veterans keep more of their military pensions will cause a modest reduction in income tax revenue,” Brewer said, “but I think that the economic benefits of attract- ing highly skilled and trained veter- ans with strong leadership qualities outweigh whatever tax dollars would be lost.” Gov. Pete Ricketts said LB153 would encourage military retirees to stay in Nebraska. Ricketts testified in support of the bill, saying it is part of his effort to the 29 states that do not tax military Renee Fry, executive director of make Nebraska the most military and retirement pay after he retired from OpenSky Policy Institute, gave neutral veteran friendly state in the country. the Navy, but he chose to live in Ne- testimony on the bill, saying that only He described LB153 as a workforce braska to be closer to family. Like most a small number of people are moti- development bill that would help the military retirees he knows, Heyne said, vated to move because of taxes. state retain skilled military retirees, he started a second career and contrib- “What we’re likely to do if this bill many of whom begin a second career utes to the state’s economy. were to pass would be to give a tax after they leave the service. “The compounding economic and credit to people who choose to live in Todd Heyne of Lincoln also testi- social effects of LB153 significantly Nebraska … rather than actually moti- fied in support of LB153 on behalf of outpace the 50 percent exemption and vating people to move here,” she said. the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce missed tax revenue,” he said. “All of No one testified in opposition to Military Affairs Committee. Heyne this economic growth is lost if a service the bill and the committee took no said he could have moved to any of member retires in Texas.” immediate action on it. g 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 1023, 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 • 106TH LEGISLATURE February 4 - 8, 2019 (continuedBill to from frontban page) conversion therapy considered adolescents,” she said. “There is no Barker, Bishop of the Episcopal Dio- dom for all and not interfere with the evidence that people can change their cese of Nebraska. He said concerns counselor and patient relationship,” sexual orientation or gender identity.” that the bill would curtail religious Bowling said. The bill would prohibit advertising freedom are unfounded. Gordon Opp of Lincoln also op- conversion therapy if it proposes to “If this were to pass today, every posed the measure. He experienced change an individual’s sexual orienta- church, mosque and synagogue would unwanted same-sex desires as a young tion or gender identity, eliminate or still be open this weekend,” Barker adult, he said, ultimately seeking out reduce sexual or romantic attraction said. “Faith leaders and parents would a faith-based counselor in California. to people of the same gender or states still be able to teach whatever their “I have no regrets regarding the that such therapy is harmless or with- religious beliefs profess.” decision that I made to work through out risk to patients. A violation of the Opposing the measure was Karen my conflicting sexual orientation,” bill’s provisions would be considered Bowling, executive director of the Opp said. “I have the life I wanted a deceptive trade practice and subject Nebraska Family Alliance. She said all to have. I can’t imagine that the help to penalties under the act. patients should have the freedom to that I longed for and received could LB167 also would prohibit the use direct their own counseling, free from be illegal in Nebraska.” of state funds for conversion therapy. coercion and force. The committee took no immediate Matthew Mims, executive director “The state should encourage free- action on the bill. g of the Nebraska Counseling Associa- tion, supported the bill. The days of using electroshock therapy to reduce Find Your Senator same-sex attraction are gone, he said, If you want to know which legislative district you live in, because society has evolved past it. www.NebraskaLegislature.gov provides an easy tool for locating your “We have eliminated a lot of out- district and senator. dated medical procedures as we’ve become more familiar with the body Enter your full address into the “Find Your Senator” search field located on the right side of the home page. This opens a map that shows your and with the brain,” Mims said. “I legislative district and a picture of your senator, along with a link to that know of no one who is a licensed senator’s web page. This page includes senators’ contact information professional counselor who practices and links to their biography and photos. It also provides a list of [conversion therapy].” committees they serve on and the bills they’ve introduced. Adam Witte of Omaha sought out conversion therapy as a teenager because he was “terrified” of angering his parents and church community by coming out as gay. Witte said he supports LB167 because he knows firsthand how damaging and ineffec- tive conversion therapy is. “While my circumstances are specific to me ... I have yet to encoun- ter anyone whose orientation has changed,” Witte said. “If conversion therapy in any of its forms would be successful in a humane way, I’d be here supporting it for people who choose it, even though I don’t agree with it.” Also supporting the bill was Scott 106TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 3 February 4 - 8, 2019 Meet the Senator Slama trades law school for lawmaking eru Sen. Julie Slama should While there, she had the oppor- come out and help me and I’d do the probably be in class right now.