UNICAMERAL UPDATE Stories published daily at Update.Legislature.ne.gov Vol. 38, Issue 5 / Feb. 2 - 6, 2015 Bill would Meningitis vaccine prohibit job requirement advances discrimination for sexual orientation mployees would be protected from discrimination based on Esexual orientation and gender identity under a bill heard by the Ju- diciary Committee Feb. 4. Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld, LB586 would prohibit employ- ers, employment agencies and labor unions from dis- criminating against individuals based on their sexual ori- Sen. Bob Krist confers with Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks during general file debate on LB18. entation or gender Sen. Adam Morfeld identity. The bill tudents would be required to introduced an amendment that would would apply to employers with 15 receive two meningitis vaccina- have stricken any requirement for or more employees, employers with Stions by a bill advanced from students to receive the vaccine. It also state contracts, the state of Nebraska, general file Feb. 4. would have required public and pri- governmental agencies and political Under LB18, introduced by Oma- vate schools to provide information to subdivisions. ha Sen. Bob Krist, every student would students’ parents or guardians on the Discrimination based on race, receive a meningitis vaccine upon causes and symptoms of meningitis, color, religion, sex, disability, marital entering the seventh grade and again how the disease spreads and where status and national origin currently is at age 16. people can obtain more information prohibited. Krist said that vaccinating adoles- about vaccination. Morfeld said the bill is necessary cents and young adults would have Groene said that the low number because lesbian, gay, bisexual and health benefits for the population at of meningitis cases does not warrant transgender (LGBT) Nebraskans large. a mandatory vaccine program. are being terminated from jobs and “Teen meningitis vaccination can “Over the last 11 years, there have discriminated against based on their also protect high risk individuals only been two cases of meningitis lifestyles, not workplace performance. through reduced carriage of bacteria recorded in the 12- to 17-year-old age “We need to bring meaning to the and herd immunity,” he said. “Keep- range and nine in the 18 to 22 age words ‘equality before the law,’” he ing our teens up-to-date with vaccines group,” he said. “I believe an educa- said. “No one should be fired for who is the best defense.” tion process will be more effective in they are or who they love.” North Platte Sen. Mike Groene alerting the populace to the dangers (continued page 2) (continued page 2) INSIDE: Meet Sen. Stinner • Hearing schedule • Electoral winner-take-all bill advanced February 2 - 6, 2015 Bill would prohibit job discrim- Meningitis ination for sexual orientation (continued from front page) vaccine Morfeld added that a similar ordi- a gay man, his job searches require nance enacted by Omaha in 2012 did an inordinate amount of time spent requirement not yield an increase in discrimination studying prospective employers’ dis- litigation. crimination policies. advances Clark Lauritzen, chairman of the “I have been fired three times in (continued from front page) Greater Omaha Chamber of Com- my life for being who I am,” he said. of [the disease].” merce, testified in support of the Greg Schleppenbach of the Ne- Crete Sen. Laura Ebke supported bill. Discrimination policies have an braska Catholic Conference testified the amendment. economic impact, he said, because in opposition to LB586. He said the “I recognize that this is a danger, inclusivity is increasingly becoming a government should not force employ- but I’m not sure it rises to the level of deciding issue when talented employ- ers to affirm lifestyles and behavior a public health risk at this time,” Ebke ees consider working in Nebraska. they don’t agree with. Those who said. “I’m concerned that for whatever Unwelcoming policies turn away pro- stand up for their own beliefs, he said, reason we may be overstepping our spective workers and create barriers would be subject to litigation. bounds here in requiring that parents for businesses looking for qualified Joe Neuhaus of the Nebraska Fam- do this.” employees, he said. ily Alliance also opposed the bill, say- Omaha Sen. John McCollister op- “We can’t afford to give good ing discrimination against the LGBT posed the amendment. He said the people a reason to leave our state,” community has not been proven to potential public costs of treating men- Lauritzen said. be a problem in Nebraska. Employers ingitis warranted a vaccine mandate, Tom Beckius, chairman of the likely are not aware of their workers’ noting that one of his classmates died Lincoln Young Professionals Group, lifestyles, he said, and would have dif- from the disease. agreed, saying LB586 is critical to ficulty identifying the people the bill “I think it’s worth the cost if we creating a more inclusive and diverse seeks to protect. can save the life of just one person or workforce in the state. Speaking “Many if not most employers here reduce the debilitating aspects of this in favor of the bill, he said it is an in Nebraska do not care what an em- disease,” McCollister said. important step in keeping Nebraska ployee’s sexual orientation is,” he said. The amendment failed on a 19-27 attractive to potential workers. The committee took no immediate vote before senators voted 28-13 to g Lucas Peterson, a Lincoln resident, action on the bill. g advance the bill to select file. also supported the bill, saying that as 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. 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THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1977 PAGE 2 • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • 104TH LEGISLATURE February 2 - 6, 2015 Meet the Senator Banker invests in legislative service en. John Stinner’s path to the Nebraska Legislature numbers and a love for community banking. That passion began in a Pennsylvania household with seven sib- steered the Stinner family—wife Rita, daughter, Cecilia and Slings. son, John—from Lincoln to Gering more than 27 years ago, But growing up in a large family was not as chaotic as where he and a group of investors helped start what is now one would expect, Stinner said, because his father was an Valley Bank & Trust. Army drill sergeant who Growing the bank prioritized exemplary to more than 12 loca- behavior. Those expec- tions, chairing the Ne- tations culminated in braska Bankers Asso- the future senator serv- ciation and serving on ing as an Eagle Scout, numerous civic groups high school class presi- gave Stinner the deeper dent and captain of understanding of com- several sports teams. munity needs necessary A multi-sport stand- to be an advocate for out, Stinner was re- others, he said. cruited to play football Joining the Nebras- for the University of ka Unicameral seemed Nebraska—Lincoln. He to be the appropriate played for two national next step, Stinner said. championship teams “If you want to from 1969 to 1972, two make a positive impact years as a running back on your district, the and two years as a line- Legislature is one of backer. the best ways to do Not being a starter that,” Stinner said. “It’s meant he watched many important to have a games from the bench. strong voice for western “I got to know the Nebraska.” coaches really well,” Stinner said he Stinner said with a hopes to transfer his smile. business skills to his While playing foot- new job as a legisla- ball didn’t make him tor to “get in front of famous, Stinner said his problems” such as eco- scholarship furnished a Sen. Stinner and his wife Rita visited the Muir Woods National Monument in nomic development degree in business ad- California, famous for its giant redwood trees. and property tax relief ministration that led him to start his career and eventually for western Nebraskans. settle in Nebraska. His fellow senators appear to have the same drive to get Stinner started his business career in public accounting things done in their districts, he said. and spent several years revitalizing failing banks in small “I’m impressed with everybody,” Stinner said. “They’re Nebraska and Iowa towns, which developed his passion for friendly, but committed to do the right thing.” g 104TH LEGISLATURE • UNICAMERAL UPDATE • PAGE 3 February 2 - 6, 2015 lationships between neighbors, he said. Nebraska Aquatic Invasive Species “We did not support this [act] Program to prevent and mitigate the when it was passed in the first place,” damage caused by species such as the Hansen said, “for the very same zebra mussel and silver carp.