Vol. XXXII, No. 8 UNICAMERAL Feb. 23 - Feb. 27, 2009 THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE’S WEEKLY PUBLICATION Stories published online daily at www.NebraskaLegislature.gov. UPDATE Lawmakers advance illegal immigration proposal awmakers advanced an illegal immigration proposal Feb. 25 L that would require electronic verification of legal status for some employees and applicants for public benefits. LB403, introduced by Wilber Sen. Russ Karpisek at the request of the governor, would prohibit state agen- cies and political subdivisions from providing federal, state or local public benefits to individuals not lawfully present in the United States. A Judiciary Committee amend- ment, adopted 40-2, included provi- sions from two other bills relating to immigration: LB34 and LB335. LB34, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford, would require public employers to verify the legal status of employees by using E-Verify, a federal database operated by the U.S. De- partment of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. Status checks would be conducted after hiring. LB335, introduced by Omaha Sen. continued on page 2 Sen. Russ Karpisek, introducer of LB403, explains that his bill would require electronic checks to verify legal status. Committee releases preliminary budget report he Appropriations Committee tions would result in a financial financial status include revenue fore- released its preliminary budget status that is $36.4 million below the cast revisions, availability and use of Treport Feb. 26, proposing ad- minimum reserve. This likely will be federal stimulus funds, the status of justments that would increase state adjusted in the final budget recom- the state’s defined benefit retirement obligations by $54.8 million over the mendation, as the committee foresees funds and use of cash reserve fund biennium in comparison to Gov. Dave significant alterations to the prelimi- monies. Heineman’s budget plan. nary financial status before April. According to the National Confer- The committee’s recommenda- Factors that likely will alter the ence of State Legislatures, Nebraska’s continued on page 3 INSIDE: Chewing tobacco tax bill amended • Meet Sen. Coash • Bill removes adoption barrier • Priority bills Feb. 23 - Feb. 27, 2009 A CLOSER LOOK Illegal immigration proposal advances continued from front page Mike Friend, would deny tax incentives to employers who do not electronically verify the legal presence of all employees working in Nebraska. Fremont Sen. Charlie Janssen withdrew his amendment that would have repealed the Nebraska Dream Act. Under the act, qualified undocumented immigrant stu- dents are allowed to pay resident tuition at the University of Nebraska and state colleges. Karpisek said Janssen’s amendment to repeal the Dream Act, while an important issue, should be considered as a separate proposal. “I feel that we have way more problems with immigration than just the Dream Act,” he said. In fact, Karpisek offered an amendment to specifically exclude the issue of in-state tuition from the bill. His amendment was adopted on a 36-0 vote. Several senators questioned the necessity of LB403. Lincoln Sen. Danielle Nantkes said the issue had already been addressed Sen. Charlie Janssen, left, explains his withdrawal of his amendment to repeal in-state under federal law. tuition for undocumented students, as Sen. Brad Ashford looks on. “LB403 does not achieve a savings of taxpayer dol- lars,” Nantkes said, citing 1996 federal legislation that prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits. Omaha Sen. Brenda Council agreed, saying the state Department of Labor has been using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program for 25 years for unemployment benefit applicants. “I remain convinced that this legislation is unnec- essary,” Council said. “The system is in place and the system is already working.” But Scottsbluff Sen. John Harms said his constitu- ents expected action from the Legislature on the issue of illegal immigration. “They have spoken to us very honestly and very openly,” he said, referencing the Judiciary Committee’s public hearings held throughout the interim. “I think they would expect for us to go the distance on this.” LB403 advanced to select file on a 45-2 vote. Sen. Danielle Nantkes questioned the necessity of LB403. Page 2 • Unicameral UPdate • 101st legislatUre Feb. 23 - Feb. 27, 2009 A CLOSER LOOK Preliminary budget report released continued from front page share of the federal stimulus package is approximately bill, would appropriate funds for state government $1.2 billion, but important questions remain regarding expenses; how stimulus funds will impact the budget process. Key • LB311 would provide for deficit appropriations and issues include final dollar amounts and disbursement make certain transfers; schedules, what proportion of funds will be distributed • LB312 would provide appropriations for legislative at the state level versus the local level and possible us- salaries; age restrictions. • LB313 would appropriate funds for the salaries of The committee report puts the spending growth constitutional officers; rate at 2.4 percent per year for the biennium, which is • LB314 would appropriate funds for capital con- slightly higher than the governor’s recommendation of struction; 1.8 percent. Both numbers are significantly lower than • LB316 would create and transfer funds; and the pre-session estimate of 4.6 percent. • LB317 would make various transfers from the state’s The difference between the governor’s proposed cash reserve fund. budget and the preliminary budget amounts to approxi- The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board, mately .75 percent of the total general fund budget over whose job is to set annual revenue projections for sales, the two-year period. income, corporate and miscellaneous taxes, met Feb. 27. The differences can be attributed to increases in The board voted to decrease revenue projections for provider rates, increased education funding, increases the current fiscal year by $81 million, most of which is in state employee salaries and health insurance expen- being anticipated from decreased individual income tax ditures and lower base cuts in agency budgets. receipts. Among the significant adjustments from the current For FY2009-10, the board predicts revenues will be biennium recommended by the committee are the fol- $150 million lower than originally thought. The projection lowing: for FY2010-11 was lowered by $131 million. The board • a $100 million increase is state aid to schools; projects revenues for the 2009-11 biennium to total $7.03 • a $35 million increase in state salaries; billion. • a $24.9 million net reduction in homestead exemption reim- bursements; • a $24.3 million increase in uni- versity and state college aid; • a $22.3 million increase in state health insurance; • a $20.9 million base reduction to state agencies; • a $16.8 million increase in spe- cial education funding; • a $15 million increase in BSDC funding; • a $13.3 million increase in capital construction; and • a $6.4 million reduction in children’s health insurance (SCHIP). Several bills comprise the gover- nor’s budget package: Members of the state’s economic forecasting board review the latest fiscal projections Feb. 27. • LB315, the mainline budget From left: Jerome Deichert, Laurence Lanphier and Tonn Ostergard. 101st legislatUre • Unicameral UPdate • Page 3 Feb. 23 - Feb. 27, 2009 ISSUES UPFRONT Banking, Commerce & Insurance Changes in credit report freezes advanced Bill clarifies FDIC coverage of LB293, introduced by Lincoln Sen. public funds Danielle Nantkes, would adopt the Lawmakers advanced a bill to Short-Term Lend- select file Feb. 26 that would change Lawmakers gave final approval ers Act, which provisions relating to credit report Feb. 27 to a bill that clarifies provi- would be admin- security freezes. sions relating to the deposit of public istered by the state LB177, sponsored by Omaha Sen. funds. Department of Steve Lathrop, Current law requires public fund Banking and In- would repeal a deposits in excess of amounts insured surance. The bill requirement that by the Federal Deposit Insurance would establish consumer report- Corporation (FDIC) to be secured the Financial Lit- Sen. Danielle Nantkes ing agencies remove either by pledged securities or a guar- eracy Education a security freeze antee bond. Fund of $250,000, administered by seven years after it LB259, sponsored by Hastings Sen. the department, to support finan- is initiated. Lath- Dennis Utter, clari- cial literacy programs. A statewide Sen. Steve Lathrop rop said consumers fies that references database of borrowers also would be often need at least to amounts insured created under the bill. seven years to clear up a case of iden- by the FDIC also Nantkes said the bill would protect tity theft. include amounts the working poor, the elderly and The bill also defines the term mi- guaranteed by the veterans from payday lenders that nor in relation to the Credit Report FDIC for any law perpetuate debt. Payday lenders pro- Protection Act to make it consistent requiring a bank, vide short-term loans, often charging with other state law. capital stock finan- Sen. Dennis Utter $15 per $100 loaned, she said. Senators adopted a committee cial institution or “Predatory lending and payday amendment 35-0 to reduce to $3 the qualifying mutual financial institu- lending is hurting our communities,” fee that consumer reporting agencies tion to secure the deposit of public Nantkes said. may charge for placing, temporarily funds in excess of amounts insured The bill would set license fees for lifting or removing a security freeze. by the FDIC. short-term lenders, cap annual per- “A security freeze is the strongest The bill passed 49-0. centage rates for short-term lenders tool available to stop identity theft,” at 36 percent, limit loan amounts to Lathrop said. “This bill makes a good Committee considers payday $500 and establish a 35-day limit for tool in the fight against identity theft lending limitations borrowers. Under the bill, the state even better.” Department of Banking and Finance The bill advanced to select file on Short-term lenders would face would develop and implement an on- a 41-0 vote.