January 11, 2010
Greetings from the Unicameral! Bill introducti0on began last week, and I am proud to announce three new bills that I proposed on the first day of the 2010 “short session”:
- LB 746, which would extend the state’s ban on racial profiling by law enforcement officials. Nebraska, which banned racial profiling in 2001, is one of 25 states to have such a policy. One aspect of the current ban requires state and local law enforcement agencies to report statistics on traffic stops and allegations of racial profiling to the Nebraska Crime Commission, and this requirement would be required through 2012 under LB 746.
- LB 754, which would adopt the Blind Persons Literacy Rights and Education Act. In recent years, many blind or partially blind students in other states have graduated from public school districts without having first been taught how to read and write in Braille. Later in life, when their vision deteriorates further, these well educated students become essentially illiterate. LB 754 would give parents of visually impaired students the opportunity to ensure that their children are being instructed in Braille.
- LB 744, which would allow the State Electrical Board to adopt the latest version of the National Electrical Code through rules and regulations. Currently, the State Electrical Board is required to introduce a new bill in the Legislature updating references to the National Electrical Code in state law every three years (including LB 411, which I introduced last session). LB 744 would save time by not requiring legislaiton to change these references, allowing the Legislature to focus on more pressing issues.
In addition to the introduction of new bills, floor debate will begin anew this week. Among the first bills to be debated will be LB 544, a bill I sponsored last session to require the Secretary of State’s office to publish a uniform elections guide for election workers at the precinct level. This bill would provide county clerks and election commissioners with a valuable tool for training poll workers, and I look forward to advocating on its behalf before the full Legislature.
As always, I would encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or simply have an opinion on legislation before the Unicameral. Fee free to call my office at (402) 471-2716, send me an e-mail at bgiese@leg.ne.gov, or stop by in person any time you’re in Lincoln.
Senator Bob Giese, District 17