UNICAMERAL UPDATE Stories published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 38, #17 / Apr. 28-May 1, 2015 Senators advance state budget bills

Sen. (center), chairperson of the Appropriations Committee, confers with committee vice chairperson Sen. (right) and Michael Calvert, director of the Legislative Fiscal Office. awmakers gave first-round approval April 30 to the “No one got everything they wanted in this budget,” state’s $8.6 billion budget package. The state budget he said. “But overall, we funded what we had to fund. We Lis structured on a two-year basis, with the budget said no to some things that were tough to say no to; we enacted during legislative sessions held in odd-numbered put things off that we may very well fund in the future. I years. think, on balance, this is probably a good budget.” As introduced, the Appropriations Committee budget Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha agreed, calling the proposal would result in a financial status at the end of package a sustainable, responsible budget. He said the five fiscal year 2016-17 that is $48.9 million more than the 3 new members on the committee brought a willingness to percent minimum reserve. look at issues and agencies with a fresh perspective. Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, chairperson of the Appro- “The new members brought a lot of great questions priations Committee, said the budget package represents and a willingness to dig in,” he said. a 3.1 percent average growth rate in spending over the biennium. That level is the lowest in 30 years, he said, Mainline budget bill with the exception of 2003 and 2009, when the state was battling significant economic recessions. Introduced by Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley at the request Mello said the budget package would maintain a strong of the governor, LB657 is the mainline budget bill. An cash reserve while focusing on property tax relief, economic Appropriations Committee amendment, adopted 27-0, development, education and public/private partnerships. replaced the bill and contains recommendations for state “The decisions in this budget package recognize the operations and state aid. priorities of this Legislature,” he said. Among other provisions, the amendment includes the Papillion Sen. Bill Kintner spoke in support of the following general fund increases over the biennium: budget package, saying it represents a compromise among • $79.8 million for the Tax Equity and Educational individual committee members with very different per- Opportunities Support Act; spectives. • $75.9 million for the federal Medicaid match rate; (continued page 2)

INSIDE: Meet Sen. Morfeld • State revenue projections raised • Lower wage advanced for young workers April 28 - May 1, 2015 Senators advance state budget bills (continued from front page) • $64.4 million for Medicaid havioral health staff. reimbursement rates; and Debate on the mainline budget • $53.8 million for a 3 percent bill centered on a proposal based on increase in funding to colleges LB584, originally introduced by Ogal- and universities. lala Sen. , which attempts One of the largest increases is $20.3 to address a statewide shortage of oral million—an 11.2 percent increase—to health care providers. the state Department of Correctional The provisions would appropriate Services. The increase would cover $8 million to the Coordinating Com- inmate medical costs, including an mission for Postsecondary Education expensive new Hepatitis C treatment, to develop, award and administer a as well as additional security and be- contract to provide reduced-fee oral health services and oral health workforce development. Under provisions specified in LB661, also part of the budget Sen. package, the commission could criteria established could be met only contract with an entity that by the Creighton University School meets certain criteria to provide of Dentistry. dental services in underserved “The state cannot make a direct areas. appropriation to a private entity,” he Among other restrictions, the said, “so this is making an end-run criteria specify a nonprofit entity around the [state] constitution.” that graduates at least 75 dental Sen. Tanya Cook of Omaha sup- students each year and is part- ported the amendment, saying Creigh- nered with at least five school ton—a Catholic university—accepts districts or federally-qualified extensive private donations and uses health centers. those funds to advocate for anti- Omaha Sen. Ernie Cham- government public policy. bers offered an amendment to “At the same time—with a straight

Sen. strike the provision, saying the face—they are asking the taxpayers 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.

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PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 104TH LEGISLATURE April 28 - May 1, 2015 of Nebraska for a subsidy for expansion of their private, at the University of parochial campus,” Cook said. Nebraska. He said vot- Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell also expressed concerns, ers in his district are saying no Creighton students have utilized an existing interested in tax relief, state program designed to incentivize medical providers not funding public/ to practice in underserved and rural areas. private partnerships Using state funds to directly benefit Creighton could with the university. encourage other private institutions to approach the state “If [Yeutter] wants for additional scholarship assistance, she said. that to exist, he should “I am concerned about the precedent we’re setting for pay for it,” Groene other private schools in the state that may provide medical said. education in some form,” Campbell said. Heartwell Sen. John Schilz opposed the amendment, saying the goal of the Kuehn, who originally provisions was to increase Creighton University’s dental introduced the propos- class size by 30 students per year, which would benefit the al as LB496, opposed Sen. entire state. the amendment. “For three years when we talked about The state’s investment would be Medicaid expansion, I looked out there matched by private funds, he said, which to see what the situation was in my neigh- already have been raised. Funds would borhood, and everywhere I turned it was not be used for bricks and mortar, but to lack of access to health care,” Schilz said. expand research and increase Nebraska “I told myself … that whenever I got an exports, he said. opportunity that makes sense to bring “This is a priority of state govern- more health care to rural Nebraska, I’d ment and it is a priority of the state of pick it up and go with it.” Nebraska,” Kuehn said. Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha Following adoption of a technical also opposed the amendment, saying the amendment offered by Mello, LB657 state currently has several contracts with advanced to select file on a 26-0 vote. Creighton University to provide expertise on public policy issues, including cancer Fund transfers research. Chambers withdrew his amendment Sen. Jeremy Nordquist LB661 would create funds and make when senators agreed to offer a compro- certain fund transfers. An Appropria- mise amendment to tions Committee amendment, adopted 26-1, became the LB661, which would bill. open the contract pro- The amendment includes a $60 million per year in- cess up to both Creigh- crease to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. The transfer ton and the University would increase to $200 million the amount available for of Nebraska College property tax relief, Mello said. This would allow for a credit of Dentistry. equal to $93 per $100,000 of valuation—a $28 increase North Platte Sen. over the current level. offered The committee amendment also would transfer: and later withdrew • $11 million each year from the General Fund to the an amendment to Water Sustainability Fund; strike $2.5 million • $3.3 million each year from the General Fund to in matched funds the Water Resources Cash Fund; and for The Yeutter Insti- • $3 million each year from the Water Sustainability tute for International Fund to the Nebraska Resources Development Fund. Sen. Mike Groene Trade and Finance Mello offered an amendment, as a compromise regard- (continued next page)

104TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 3 April 28 - May 1, 2015 ing funds for expanded low- appropriations and not for ongoing income dental care, to remove tax relief. criteria that otherwise would “This [amendment] generally runs have excluded the University against good fiscal policy,” he said. of Nebraska Dental College. The amendment failed on a 14-20 It also stipulated that if mul- vote. A second Schnoor amendment tiple applicants meet the con- to remove the $8 milion transfer for tract requirements, matching expanded dental care also failed 13-22. funds would be allocated LB662 advanced to select file 39-3. proportionally. The amendment was ad- Additional provisions opted on a vote of 25-4 and LB661 advanced to select file Four additional bills included in 33-2. the committee’s budget package were LB662 would authorize advanced to select file April 30: transfers to and from the • LB658, which would fund Cash Reserve Fund. An Ap- the $12,000 annual salaries of propriations Committee Nebraska’s 49 state senators, amendment, adopted 37-1, advanced 33-0; became the bill. Sen. • LB659, which would fund The amendment would salaries and benefits for judges authorize transfers from the fund of: ment. He said the center would be a and constitutional officers, • $25 million to the Nebraska one-time investment of “seed money” advanced 38-0; Capital Construction Fund on the part of the state that would • LB660, which would appropri- for construction of the Global help UNMC recruit top teachers and ate funds for capital construc- Center for Advanced Inter- researchers. tion and property acquisition, professional Learning at the Mello also opposed the amend- advanced 28-0; and University of Nebraska Medical ment, saying the cash reserve his- • LB656, which would make Center (UNMC); torically has been used for one-time adjustments to appropriations • $17 million to cover payment for the current fiscal year, of federal penalties imposed on advanced 38-0. the state Department of Health Finally, LB663 also was and Human Services; and advanced. As introduced, • up to $5.5 million in the cur- the bill would have increased rent fiscal year to the Republi- salaries for Nebraska judges by can River Compact Litigation 2.25 percent in 2015 and 2.4 Contingency Cash Fund. percent in 2016. Scribner Sen. David Schnoor of- A Judiciary Committee fered an amendment to remove the amendment, adopted 41- $25 million transfer to construct the 3, changed the proposed center at UNMC. Schnoor said the increase to 3.5 percent in state’s cash reserve should be used 2015 and 2016. The amend- to provide tax relief rather than fund ment also would increase construction. Nebraska Supreme Court “This is excess money; I’d like to judges’ salaries from the cur- see it go back to taxpayers,” he said. rent $160,540 to $166,159 in Omaha Sen. Robert Hilkemann, 2015 and $171,974 in 2016. who originally introduced the pro- LB663 advanced to select posal as LB532, opposed the amend- file 42-2. g Sen. Robert Hilkemann

PAGE 4 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 104TH LEGISLATURE April 28 - May 1, 2015 Meet the Senator Morfeld follows his own advice self-described “military brat,” ganization dedicated to strengthen- obstacle to encouraging more young Sen. spent ing civic education and community people to become involved in their A his childhood moving from engagement, readying veterans for jobs state government. California to South Carolina, to and making elections more accessible. “Not many junior associates can get Nebraska and finally to Sioux Falls, After completing law school at six or seven months off to be a legisla- South Dakota. UNL, Morfeld’s passionate advocacy tor. It is really tough to be a working His Lincoln classmates at St. The- with NCR eventually led him to a Nebraskan and serve. Unfortunately, resa’s had a difficult time figuring out life-changing decision. that means that our Legislature is not the new kid from South Carolina with “I realized it was hypocritical of me very representative of young Nebras- a thick southern accent. to encourage other people to become kans,” he said. “I’m not sure they really knew what more engaged in the process and not While free time is hard to come to do with me,” he laughed. take on a more active role myself,” he by, Morfeld makes a concerted effort Being raised by a single mother for said. “We need more young voices at to “go off the grid” when he can as a much of his adolescence instilled a the table.” back country camper. He relishes any strong work ethic in the future senator. The new senator said balancing opportunity to immerse himself in Rather than enrolling in college full his professional commitments with nature—“and not one of those camp- time right after high school, he opted his new role as a lawmaker has been sites by the highway either,” he joked. to work full time and attend night challenging. He worries this is an “Back country camping really classes for two years. makes you appreciate He then returned to what you have and how Nebraska, which he says little you need,” he said. “always felt like home,” “I’d much rather travel and enrolled as a politi- and see the world than cal science major at the have a lot of material University of Nebraska– things.” Lincoln. Although he has a new During his time at title now, Morfeld main- the university, Morfeld tains his mission to help learned a valuable lesson young people become in perseverance when he more civically engaged lost a campaign for UNL and keep elections open student body regent. and honest. Despite his disappoint- “If people don’t un- ment, Morfeld found derstand the importance a renewed passion for of engagement, then helping young people political accountability become more engaged is all for naught,” Mor- in their government. feld says. “It’s important While still an un- for us to remember that dergrad, he founded young, diverse people can Nebraskans for Civic come together and find Reform (NCR), a non- solutions to common partisan, nonprofit or- An avid outdoorsman, Sen. Morfeld takes advantage of every opportunity to problems.” g get away and enjoy back country camping.

104TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 5 April 28 - May 1, 2015

Senators advance business incurred by the department. and tourism development Besides cultivating tourism in Ne- braska, Brasch said, the amendment A bill that would boost business would encourage community organi- and tourism development in Nebraska zations to work with the commission Economic forecasting board advanced to final reading April 28 because funds for the signs would raises revenue projections after senators amended it to allow come from private sources. The result- signage for tourist attractions. ing public and private partnership Greater expectations of individual LB449, introduced by Omaha would give smaller communities the income tax revenues by the Nebraska Sen. Heath Mello, opportunity to promote the unique Economic Forecasting Advisory Board would increase the aspects of their areas, she said. resulted in a higher forecast April 28. maximum amount “I believe these signs will be an The board provides an advisory of microloan funds economic benefit to those communi- forecast of general fund receipts that from $1 million ties,” Brasch said. the Legislature uses to craft the state’s to $2 million that Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers op- budget. The April meeting of the could be awarded posed the amendment, saying it did board provides the last forecast on annually by the Sen. Heath Mello not adequately specify design and which the state budget will be based state Department of Economic De- location standards for the markers. this legislative session. velopment. The department would “We will wind up with ticky-tacky During its February forecast, the be required to increase from $500,000 little signs scattered throughout the board set revenue projections at $4.3 to $1 million the minimum amount state,” Chambers said. “There ought billion for fiscal year 2014-15, $4.4 it awards each year and individual to be some pride taken in the appear- billion for FY2015-16 and $4.6 billion microloan limits would be increased ance of the state.” for FY2016-17. from $50,000 to $100,000. Other provisions of LB449 would The board projected that revenues Additionally, the bill would require increase from $1 million to $4 million over the next three fiscal years would the state Tourism Commission to the maximum amount the department be $22 million greater than their expand the use of tourism promotion may award annually through matching February forecast, mostly due to an funds for marketing assistance grants to federal grant programs for: anticipated $35 million increase in communities and organizations hosting • small business planning; individual income taxes. Sales and events that have the potential to attract • agriculture enterprise develop- use tax revenues and miscellaneous large numbers of out-of-state visitors. ment; revenues curtailed some of the income Bancroft Sen. intro- • companies or individuals want- tax gains. duced an amend- ing to market a product proto- The projection for FY2014-15 was ment on select file type or process; increased by $12 million. That for that would include • companies using Nebraska FY2015-16 was increased by $17 mil- provisions of her public or private college or lion, while the FY2016-17 projection LB571. Adopted 31- university faculty and facilities was reduced by $7 million. 1, the amendment for new product research and Five members of the nine-member would authorize the development; and board are appointed by the Legisla- commission to use Sen. Lydia Brasch • companies or individuals seek- ture’s Executive Board and four are highway markers to identify significant ing to create a product proto- appointed by the governor. Appoin- tourism attractions in the state. The type developed in a Nebraska tees must demonstrate expertise in commission would not be permitted business, or public or private the field of tax policy, economics or to purchase markers until funding is college or university, in which economic forecasting. secured through gifts or other sources. case the grant limit would The next meeting of the board is The state Department of Roads be raised from $50,000 to set for Oct. 30. would be required to locate, install $150,000 per project. and maintain the markers. The com- Senators advanced the amended mission would reimburse expenses bill on a 31-5 vote.

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creased to $8 per hour this year and modify the definition of a young is set to increase again in 2016 to $9 worker to include employees who do per hour, following the approval of not have a high school diploma and Initiative 425 by Nebraska voters last who do not have a dependent child. November. The ballot initiative was Omaha Sen. Burke Harr ques- State claims bill advanced the result of a successful petition drive tioned the legality of the amendment, Claims against the state would that followed the 2014 Legislature’s saying it would place employers at risk be approved by a bill advanced from rejection of a bill to increase the state’s of being sued if they appear to eschew general file May 1. minimum wage. older workers and parents in favor of If a person sues the state of Ne- Ebke said businesses in villages less expensive younger workers who braska, he or she files a claim with the with fewer than 500 inhabitants have have no children. It is illegal for Ne- state claims board. Approved claims a small customer base, making them braska employers to inquire about an exceeding $50,000 must be reviewed more vulnerable to failure than their applicant’s age or parental status, he by the Legislature. counterparts in larger cities. Without said, which would prevent them from LB554, introduced by the Business local commerce, small towns cannot knowing who would be eligible for and Labor Committee and modified survive, she said. the new wage. by a committee amendment adopted Sen. John Kuehn of Heartwell “You can’t ask these questions,” 35-0, would approve such claims spoke in support of the bill, saying Harr said. “This is a law without en- to the tune of $1.2 million for tort the lower wage would give smaller forcement.” claims. Included in the approved tort businesses such as locally-owned Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis sup- claims are settlements for three of the grocery stores in rural Nebraska an ported the bill. He said a grocer in six Nebraskans wrongly convicted for economic incentive to hire young his district estimated that his labor the 1985 murder of Helen Wilson in workers. When these rural businesses cost would increase by $15,000 when Beatrice. fail, he said, unemployment rises and the $9 per hour wage takes effect in The bill also includes $1.2 million residents are forced to drive long dis- 2016. Small town merchants risk los- for miscellaneous claims and $974,000 tances for groceries. ing customers to shops in neighboring in write-offs for fiscal year 2014-15. “It helps keep our stores solvent towns if they raise prices to generate Following the adoption of a tech- and our local communities vibrant,” more revenue, he said. nical amendment, senators advanced Kuehn said. Bellevue Sen. dis- LB554 to select file 38-0. Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld op- puted the alleged benefits of a reduced posed the bill, saying that small busi- youth wage because only one-fourth of nesses should explore other options their wages would be eligible for the Lower wage advanced for for financial support, such as price in- lower rate. young workers creases or tax credits. Rural Nebraska “It’s not that big of a hit to their Young workers could be paid a cannot afford to discriminate against bottom line,” Crawford said. reduced minimum wage under a bill young residents, he said. Omaha Sen. Jeremy Nordquist advanced to final reading April 29 “We are sending the wrong message added that Nebraska statute already after a successful cloture vote. to young Nebraskans who we have a exempts from minimum wage law busi- LB599, introduced by Crete Sen. hard time keeping here to begin with,” nesses with three employees or fewer. Laura Ebke, would Morfeld said. “If paying people less Other groups also are exempt from allow employers to is the key to rural economic develop- being paid a minimum wage, he said, pay workers ages ment, then we need to go back to the such as agricultural workers, employ- 18 and younger drawing board.” ees working for family members and $8 an hour begin- Kuehn introduced an amendment, employees earning a training wage. ning Jan. 1, 2016, adopted 32-13, which would require Creating additional classes of exempt for up to 25 per- that young student workers be paid workers is not necessary, he said. either $8 per hour or 85 percent of “What more do we need than what cent of their hours Sen. Laura Ebke worked. the federal minimum wage, whichever is already on the books?” Nordquist Nebraska’s minimum wage in- is higher. The amendment also would asked.

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After four hours of debate, Ebke does not allow extension of the final he had firsthand experience of the moved to invoke cloture—or cease maturity date of the indebtedness. need for the bill. The district campus debate and force a vote on all pending She said the amendment would was struck by a tornado in May 2004 measures—which senators approved address concerns expressed on general and suffered $35 million in damage, on a 33-14 vote. file and give public entities an oppor- he said. Senators then rejected another tunity to save money. “The most important thing to amendment offered by Nordquist, “It allows refinancing of existing remember here is that after an emer- on a 10-33 vote, which would have bonds as long as there is not an in- gency—after a crisis such as we expe- required that the minimum and young crease in the amount of principal,” rienced—the need to move rapidly is worker wage rates be adjusted by the she said. the most important thing,” Baker said. percentage change in the consumer The bill also specifies election pro- Without an expedited process, he said, price index established by the federal cedures that would be required prior the district likely would not have been Department of Labor. to a JPA issuing a general obligation able to hold classes the following year. Lawmakers advanced the bill from bond paid by a property tax and clari- Baker offered an amendment, select file on a 31-13 vote. Because fies the electorate that would vote on adopted 33-0, which changed the LB599 would amend a law enacted by a bond issue if the participating public word “certificate” to an emergency voter initiative, it requires 33 votes on agencies have overlapping jurisdiction proclamation. He said some smaller final reading for passage. of a geographic area. counties do not use certificates. Following adoption of the Ebke LB283 advanced to select file 32-0. amendment 30-0, the bill was ad- vanced to select file by voice vote. School electronic records bill advanced School emergency expenditure bill advanced Schools would be allowed to keep records in electronic form under a bill Joint public agency bonding Schools would be allowed to make given first-round approval April 29. power change advanced emergency expenditures under a bill LB365, introduced by Sen. Roy advanced from general file April 29. Baker of Lincoln, would allow a school Lawmakers amended and advanced Currently when there is a disaster, district or Educational Service Unit a bill April 28 that would change the emergency or civil defense situation, (ESU) to retain all books, papers, bonding power of any joint public local governments may make expendi- documents, reports, records and min- agency (JPA). tures for emergen- utes of board meetings as electronic LB132, introduced by Crete Sen. cy management records. Laura Ebke, would purposes. LB283, Baker said the bill would clarify the require a JPA to introduced by ability of school districts and ESUs follow the bond is- Lincoln Sen. Roy to comply with public records laws suance procedures Baker, would ex- through electronic means. In addition, required by law for tend that author- he said, it is easier to retrieve data in the participating ity to school dis- Sen. electronic form. public agency from tricts and educational service units “[LB365] reflects the way that which the JPA de- Sen. Laura Ebke (ESUs). school districts operate,” Baker said. rived taxation powers. Prior to making expenditures, “Service units also are moving to a Ebke offered an amendment on a school district or ESU would be paperless era.” select file that would authorize a JPA required to secure a certificate from The bill advanced on a 29-0 vote. to issue refunding bonds that are pay- the emergency management director able from the same security and tax serving the local jurisdiction in which levy authority as bonds being refunded the school or ESU is located. without holding an election if the is- As the former superintendent of suance of the refunding bonds does the Norris School District, Baker said not allow additional principal and

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The pilot program has proven to be an with providers to carry out the pro- important tool in bridging the gap be- gram and would provide oversight. tween screening and treatment, he said, The department also would be and should be available across the state. required to establish a data collection “The real issue at hand is the ef- system and contract with an academic ficacy of this program,” he said. institution to complete an indepen- Extension of behavioral health Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell also dent evaluation of the pilot project’s program removed from bill opposed the amendment, saying the pi- effectiveness. lot program grew out of the state’s safe Bolz offered an amendment during A bill seeking to make a children’s haven “debacle” in 2008. In the years select file debate that added provisions behavioral health screening and refer- following passage of the law, she said, it of LB441, which she sponsored. ral program permanent was amended became clear that Nebraska needed to The amendment would make sev- April 29 to terminate in 2015. do more to identify and treat behavioral eral technical changes to the Bridge In 2013, the Legislature created the health disorders in young people. to Independence Program, designed Behavioral Health Screening and Re- “This is not a new rodeo,” Campbell to assist youth who are aging out of ferral Pilot Program at the University said. “This is an extension of a program the state’s foster care system. of Nebraska Medical Center to de- that has been very successful.” Among other changes, the amend- velop ways to address unmet children’s The Schumacher amendment was ment would: behavioral health needs that could be adopted 26-9. • offer youth a choice between the replicated statewide. Hoskins Sen. of- program or extended guardian- LB240, introduced by Lincoln fered a motion to bracket the bill until ship; Sen. , June 5, saying senators should have • update language referring to would remove the access to more data before making a de- juveniles as children; Sept. 6, 2015, ter- cision on the fate of the pilot program. • include medical care for youth mination date for “The bill would still be alive next in extended guardianships; the program and session when we would have the re- • mandate extended medical as- an existing cap quired information,” he said. sistance services coverage; and on the number of The bracket motion failed 14-31. • add a provision regarding the clinic sites. Sen. Matt Hansen Lawmakers voted 26-14 to advance the final hearing before DHHS Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher amended bill to final reading. jurisdiction is terminated to offered an amendment during select identify available resources. file debate that would retain the 2015 Family finding pilot project Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford sup- termination date. The pilot project amended, advanced ported the amendment, saying it was poorly structured, he said, and too provided needed clarifications to the many questions remain unanswered A bill that would create a pilot Bridges to Independence Program. regarding the success of the program. project to establish family connections “This is a very important program “I think it’s perfectly obvious … for state wards was amended and ad- to make sure that we create a setting that this pilot program is inconclusive vanced from select file April 29. in which our foster youth are able to and hasn’t given us the kind of data As introduced by Lincoln Sen. transition to independence,” she said. we need to make it a permanent pro- , LB243 The amendment was adopted 25-1. gram,” Schumacher said. would create a A second Bolz amendment, ad- Sen. of Ralston sup- four-year statewide opted 26-1, removed “fictive kin” and ported the amendment, saying the pi- pilot program to domestic partner from the bill’s defini- lot program lacked the proper metrics provide family tion of a family member. Instead, the to evaluate its success. finding services amendment would add any individual “As we all know, [once] an item in two or more who is a primary caretaker or trusted or a program is enacted into law, it is service areas. The Sen. Kate Bolz adult in a kinship home. very, very difficult to back out of that state Department of Health and Hu- The amendment defines a kinship situation,” he said. man Services (DHHS) would contract home as a home in which a child Hansen opposed the amendment.

104TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 9 April 28 - May 1, 2015 receives foster care and at least one of • as part of a religious service; 1 percent unless the primary caretakers has previously • in a health care emergency until the plan is 100 lived with or is a trusted adult that has a licensed interpreter could be percent funded. a preexisting, significant relationship obtained; If the plan is com- with the child. • by a student under the direct pletely funded, Bolz said the amendment aligns supervision of a licensed inter- the Nebraska the bill with existing statutes and preter; Public Employ- addressed concerns expressed during • by an educational interpreter ees’ Retirement Sen. Jeremy Nordquist general file debate. working under regulation of Board would have the authority to grant Following adoption of the amend- the state Department of Educa- a supplemental COLA, which would be ments, LB243 was advanced to final tion; or in addition to the 1 percent COLA and reading by voice vote. • by an individual licensed in an- could not exceed 1.5 percent. other state who is awaiting com- The measure also would require Expanded licensure for sign mission approval in Nebraska. that the final retirement benefit be language interpreters advanced LB287 also would create a licensure calculated using an average of the five category for video remote interpreting highest years of salary and that the Lawmakers advanced a bill April 29 services. contribution rate for judges in this tier that would expand licensure require- A Health and Human Services not decrease after 20 years. ments for sign language interpreters. Committee amendment, adopted Nordquist said updating the re- Malcolm Sen. Ken Haar, sponsor 27-0, removed specific references to tirement plan for judges is necessary of LB287, said the American Sign Language from the bill. because it is partially funded by court bill was introduced Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, fees, which have decreased in recent on behalf of the chairperson of the committee, said the years. Attractive retirement benefits are Nebraska Commis- change was introduced at the request critical to retaining employees, he said. sion for the Deaf of the commission. “This is a recruiting tool and a and Hard of Hear- “The amendment is necessary to retention tool,” Nordquist said. “This ing. One percent ensure that we are not limiting [the makes sure we are looking forward and of Nebraskans are Sen. Ken Haar bill] to a particular language,” she said. that the plan is sustainable.” deaf and 9 percent are hard of hearing, LB287 advanced to select file on A Nebraska Retirement Systems Haar said, and expanded licensure of a 27-0 vote. Committee amendment, adopted 33- interpreters would enable the com- 0, would increase the contribution mission to address proficiency and rate to 10 percent for judges who competency issues. become members of the plan on and “The passage of LB287 guarantees after July 1, 2015. It also would: that all Nebraskans receiving sign lan- • redirect specific county court guage interpreting services will obtain fees to the judges’ retirement a higher standard of communication Retirement plan revisions fund that currently are depos- access,” Haar said. amended ited into the state’s General Under the bill, all interpreters Fund; would be required to obtain licensure Senators amended a bill May 1 that • direct $2 each from civil, crimi- by Jan. 1, 2016, and pay a licensure fee would change the retirement plan for nal, traffic and probate case established by the commission. An Nebraska judges. docket fees to the retirement individual or entity providing inter- Introduced by Omaha Sen. Jeremy fund, beginning July 1, 2015; preting services without a license after Nordquist, LB468 would create a new • assess a $6 fee on each partici- that date would be subject to a civil tier of reduced benefits for judges who pant in adult and traffic pre-trial penalty of up to $500 for each offense. become members of the judges’ retire- diversion programs and direct Interpreting services would be ex- ment plan on and after July 1, 2015. the funds to the retirement empt from the licensure requirement The bill would set the maximum fund, beginning Oct. 1, 2015; if conducted: cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) at • direct $3 each from civil, crimi-

PAGE 10 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 104TH LEGISLATURE April 28 - May 1, 2015

nal, traffic and probate case docket fees to the retirement fund, beginning July 1, 2017; Committee • require the county or city trea- surer to forward revenue col- Hearings lected from pre-trial diversion *Current hearing schedules are always available at: participants to the Nebraska nebraskalegislature.gov/calendar Public Employees’ Retirement Tuesday, May 5 Appointment: Hopp, Russell - State System; and Agriculture Board of Health • require each county and city Room 2102 - 12:30 p.m. Appointment: Borcher, Kevin - State attorney who has established Appointment: Joeckel, R.M. (Matt) - Cli- Board of Health a pre-trial diversion program mate Assessment Response Committee Appointment: Vander Broek, Douglas - State Board of Health to inform, within 60 days of Health & Human Services Appointment: Low, Kevin C. - State establishment, the director of Room 1510 - 12:00 p.m. Board of Health the Nebraska Public Employees’ Appointment: Turk, Frank R. - Commis- Retirement System about which sion for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Thursday, May 14 pre-trial diversion programs Appointment: Hogue, John - Commis- Agriculture sion for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing have been established. Room 2102 - 12:30 p.m. Appointment: Teetor, Travis James - Appointment: Hellbusch, Jim - Neb. Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, op- State Board of Health Environmental Trust Board posing the bill and the amendment, Appointment: Fleming, Shane - State Appointment: Krohn, Robert F. - Neb. filed a motion to bracket LB468. It is a Board of Health Environmental Trust Board conflict of interest when court fees are used to pay for or provide retirement benefits to justice system employees, Find Your Senator he said. If you want to know which legislative district you live in, www. “They want to create cash-register NebraskaLegislature.gov provides an easy tool for locating your district or checkbook justice,” Chamber said, and senator. and withdrew the bracket motion. Sen. Jerry Johnson of Wahoo also Clicking on the “Senators” ► “Find your senator” link on the left side of opposed the amendment, saying that the home page will open a map that permits you to enter your address higher fees for pre-trial diversion pro- or click on the area in which you live. grams might dissuade people from When you enter your full address into the search field, a picture of your enrolling. senator is displayed, along with a link to that senator’s Web page. Nordquist disagreed, saying diver- sion programs like Nebraska’s Safety This page contains senators’ contact information and links to their Training Option Program (STOP) is biography and photos. It also provides a list of committees they serve too popular to be affected by a price on and the bills they’ve introduced. increase. “A $6 fee won’t deter people from participating in [Nebraska’s traffic ticket dismissal] STOP program,” he added. “The issue is, do we want to move away from court fee towards general funds?” After adopting the committee amendment, lawmakers adjourned for the weekend before taking further action on the bill. It is scheduled for further debate Monday afternoon. g

104TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 11 Unicameral Information Office PRESRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID P.O. Box 94604 LINCOLN, NE Lincoln, NE 68509 PERMIT NO. 212 03-23-05