UNICAMERAL UPDATE News published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 43, Issue 11/ March 23 - 25, 2020 Legislature advances emergency coronavirus funding awmakers passed a bill March 25 that provides L emergency funding to combat the coronavirus pan- demic in Nebraska. Speaker Jim Scheer of Nor- folk suspended the legislative session March 16 in response to growing public health con- cerns regarding the virus’s spread. He called senators back into session March 23 for the limited purpose of approv- ing emergency funding. Scheer thanked lawmakers for their willingness to put themselves at risk to provide additional resources to the executive branch. “It is truly an historic time in our country and for us to Only lawmakers, essential staff and the media were allowed in the legislative chamber while senators be here, to be able to do some- worked to pass LB1198. thing to help the residents of the state COVID-19, housed within the state’s ing and overtime costs for of Nebraska,” he said. Military Department. the DHHS Division of Public Gering Sen. John Stinner offered an Stinner said using the new program Health; amendment March 23 that replaced the as the single funding source for the • $2.5 million to the University contents of his LB1198, which senators state’s efforts to combat COVID-19, of Nebraska Medical Center previously had advanced to the second rather than making separate appro- for lab equipment, software round of debate. The bill originally priations to individual agencies, will programming and personnel; would have appropriated $41,000 for simplify the process and allow adapt- • $515,000 to UNMC to facilitate restoration of the doors to the George ability and flexibility. COVID-19 testing; and W. Norris Legislative Chamber. Among the funding priorities out- • $344,000 to establish a state- Instead, the amendment appropri- lined in Gov. Pete Ricketts’s request wide communication system ates a total of $83.6 million to bolster to the Legislature are: to share information related to the state’s response to the spread of • $38.2 million for personal pro- response efforts. COVID-19, the disease caused by the tective gear and other supplies Stinner said the amendment also new coronavirus. and support for local health provides $25 million in unobligated Funds will be transferred from departments; funds. The current situation is fluid, the state’s Cash Reserve Fund to the • $13 million to maintain staffing he said, and the additional funds Governor’s Emergency Cash Fund. at veterans’ homes and state De- will be held in reserve for unforeseen Dollars then will be directed to a newly partment of Health and Human needs that may arise. created program to be known as the Services care facilities; “We’ll get through this,” Stinner Governor’s Emergency Program – • $4 million for additional staff- (continued page 2) INSIDE: Legislative session suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic • Senator contact information March 23 - 25, 2020 Legislature advances emergency Legislative session coronavirus funding suspended due to (continued from front page) COVID-19 pandemic said. “But now it’s our turn to lay on a vote of 45-0. down our partisan politics and pass Scheer praised senators for their peaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk this bill for the state to protect the safe- quick and decisive action. announced March 16 that ty and well-being of all Nebraskans.” “I thank you for the passage of the Sthe 2020 legislative session is Lincoln Sen. Kate Bolz said she bill,” he said. “We have provided not suspended indefinitely due to public hoped to see the unobligated resourc- only what the governor has asked, but health concerns regarding the spread es prioritized for vulnerable popula- we have provided [him] with additional of the new coronavirus. tions served by nursing facilities and funds that will help him and the state to In his announcement, Scheer said federally qualified health centers. recover and minimize the damage done the decision was made in accordance Following the 44-0 adoption of to our economy and our residents.” with federal Centers for Disease Con- the amendment, lawmakers advanced LB1198 was signed by the governor trol and Prevention guidelines and in LB1198 to final reading by voice vote March 25 and took effect immedi- consultation with local public health March 23. The bill passed March 25 ately. n officials, Gov. Pete Ricketts and Lin- coln Sen. Mike Hilgers, chairperson of the Executive Board. Scheer said the Legislature will re- main adjourned until the COVID-19 situation has stabilized in Nebraska. “This is a fluid situation and one that changes daily,” he said. “We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.” No date has been set for the 2020 session to reconvene. Updates will be provided on the Legislature’s website as they become available at www. NebraskaLegislature.gov. n Sen. John Stinner said the new COVID-19 response program will be efficient and transparent. 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. 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 NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1977 PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 106TH LEGISLATURE March 23 - 25, 2020 Senator Contact Info Sen. Joni Albrecht Sen. Robert Clements Sen. Ben Hansen Sen. Steve Lathrop Sen. Dan Quick Thurston, District 17 Elmwood, District 2 Blair, District 16 Omaha, District 12 Grand Island, District 35 Room 1404 Room 1120 11th Floor Room 1103 Room 1406 (402) 471-2716 (402) 471-2613 (402) 471-2728 (402) 471-2623 (402) 471-2617 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist17 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist02 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist16 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist12 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist35 Sen. John Arch Sen. Sue Crawford Sen. Matt Hansen Sen. Brett Lindstrom Sen. Jim Scheer La Vista, District 14 Bellevue, District 45 Lincoln, District 26 Omaha, District 18 Norfolk, District 19 Room 1306 Room 1012 Room 2010 Room 2015 Room 2103 (402) 471-2730 (402) 471-2615 (402) 471-2610 (402) 471-2618 (402) 471-2929 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist14 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist45 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist26 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist18 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist19 Sen. Carol Blood Sen. Wendy DeBoer Sen. Mike Hilgers Sen. Lou Ann Linehan Sen. Julie Slama Bellevue, District 3 Bennington, District 10 Lincoln, District 21 Elkhorn, District 39 Peru, District 1 Room 1021 Room 1114 Room 2108 Room 1116 11th Floor (402) 471-2627 (402) 471-2718 (402) 471-2673 (402) 471-2885 (402) 471-2733 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist03 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist10 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist21 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist39 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist01 Sen. Kate Bolz Sen. Myron Dorn Sen. Robert Hilkemann Sen. John Lowe Sen. John Stinner Lincoln, District 29 Adams, District 30 Omaha, District 4 Kearney, District 37 Gering, District 48 Room 1015 11th Floor Room 2028 Room 2011 Room 1004 (402) 471-2734 (402) 471-2620 (402) 471-2621 (402) 471-2726 (402) 471-2802 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist29 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist30 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist04 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist37 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist48 Sen. Bruce Bostelman Sen. Steve Erdman Sen. Sara Howard Sen. John McCollister Sen. Tony Vargas Brainard, District 23 Bayard, District 47 Omaha, District 9 Omaha, District 20 Omaha, District 7 Room 1118 Room 1124 Room 1402 Room 1017 Room 1000 (402) 471-2719 (402) 471-2616 (402) 471-2723 (402) 471-2622 (402) 471-2721 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist23 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist47 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist09 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist20 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist07 Sen. Tom Brandt Sen. Curt Friesen Sen. Dan Hughes Sen. Mike McDonnell Sen. Lynne Walz Plymouth, District 32 Henderson, District 34 Venango, District 44 Omaha, District 5 Fremont, District 15 Room 1528 Room 1110 Room 1117 Room 2107 Room 1403 (402) 471-2711 (402) 471-2630 (402) 471-2805 (402) 471-2710 (402) 471-2625 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] news.legislature.ne.gov/dist32 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist34 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist44 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist05 news.legislature.ne.gov/dist15 Sen.