Legistlature hearing review and update

The Nebraska Legislature wrapped up committee hearings for this session's legislative bills last week. Here's an update on some of the bills the Daily Nebraskan has covered over the past few weeks:

LB198

The Nebraska Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee advanced an amended version of a bill that would reduce fires from unattended cigarettes. The committee used LB198, introduced by Sen. Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center, and combined it with some of Sen. Abbie Cornett of Bellevue’s LB404.

The amended version makes a few changes to the original bill, including:

·         Changing the inspections of cigarettes from once every five years to once every four years

·         Changing the definition of cigarette, cigarette manufacturer and dealer to avoid confusion

·         Requiring that stores selling cigarettes are notified if a batch is found to not be in compliance with the law

“As the bill is right now, we’ve got pretty much everything ironed out,” Stuthman said. “I think it should move along fairly easily.”

The bill is a committee priority and is waiting to be heard before the whole Legislature. Stuthman said it should be heard shortly, although it’s hard to say when the bill will get on the agenda.

“I don’t see any opposition to it whatsoever in my opinion,” Stuthman said. “It’s something we need to address and I’m sure we will address it this year.”

 

LR5CA, 1CA

The Executive Board killed both of Omaha Sen. Mike Friend’s proposed constitutional amendments. One would increase the term limits for legislators to three terms rather than two, and the other would reduce the number of days in a regular legislative session.

The bills were postponed because of another amendment on the ballot, aiming to increase legislator salaries, Friend said.

“They didn’t want to crowd the ballot,” Friend said. “Nobody showed a lot of animosity toward the measure … now’s just not the time”

Friend said he introduced the bills intending to get them passed, but said he was happy that there was at least some discussion about the issues.

“I think we accomplished something with these initiatives,” he said.

Because next year will be a short legislative session, Friend said he probably won’t bring the amendments up again.

 

LB63

After several amendments, Friend’s LB63 is ready to enter the second round of debate before the full Legislature.

The bill, which would strengthen penalties for gang-related activity, will now include harsher penalties, and also create an Office of Violence Prevention under the Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.

Friend said the bill is doing well, and should be on the agenda again some time in the next week. Right now he is working with other senators and law enforcement to find funding for the violence prevention office, he said.

“It’s moving forward,” he said. “Right now it’s just a money issue.”

 

LB440

The Education Committee advanced Sen. Brenda Council of Omaha’s bill that would clarify the Student Diversity Scholarship Program Act to bring the scholarship programs into compliance with the recent constitutional amendment banning affirmative action.

Council requested that senate speaker, Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, make LB440 a priority, which was granted. This makes it more likely that the bill will be heard this year, Council said.

There may be some senators who don’t understand the purpose of the bill, which is only intended to bring the program into compliance with the constitutional amendment, Council said. However, she isn't too worried.

“I’m fairly optimistic that the bill should pass,” she said. “I see no reason that there should be opposition unless there are attempts to distort the purpose of the bill.”

 

LB603

Sen. Tim Gay of Papillion made LB603 a priority bill, and the measure was advanced through the Health and Human Services Committee.

The bill would increase funding for state mental health operations, providing for eight additional psychiatric medical residents for rural care by 2013.

The committee made a few technical changes to the bill, including delaying the addition of training sites until 2011.

The amended bill is in line for the second round of debate before the full Legislature.

 

LB168

Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln’s measure to allow for reverse-auctions is moving quickly through the Legislature. The bill would encourage using online auctions to find the lowest price for public projects.

The bill made it through the second round of debate before the legislature, and is waiting for a final reading.

 

Bills still waiting for decisions out of committee:

LB130 – Create a committee to start a program to get local farmers to provide food for Nebraska schools.

LB228 – Restrict high school participation in programs that don’t allow students to participate in both school and club sports.

LB370 – Increase the amount of people eligible for assistance for family planning services.

LB66 – Ease restrictions for contributions to senators and other elected officials.

LB255 – Require seat belts in all new school buses.
jennagibson@dailynebraskan.com