Thankful for some good rains across the district as we head into the planting season. Nebraska has been at the forefront of studying drought and ways to lessen the impact of dry spells for 25 years now through the Drought Mitigation Center, and has become known internationally for that work. You have probably seen the drought maps in the media; find more information at https://drought.unl.edu/.

Another Nebraska research facility has led the way in the pandemic, our own University of Nebraska Medical Center. After tackling Ebola a few years ago, UNMC was a natural choice for Covid-19 research as well. Senators and staff receive regular updates, and they advised again this week that we all continue to follow the guidelines for masking, hand washing and distancing as variants of the virus are cropping up in multiple states. However, they are guardedly optimistic about vaccine production and the valiant efforts of our public health system in Nebraska to distribute the shots to all who want them, and keep us from another wave like Europe is now experiencing.

In the past few weeks, I have participated in listening sessions being conducted by Myers and Stauffer, a firm hired by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, to conduct an Adult Facilities Evaluation Project that includes BSDC in Beatrice, and the Norfolk and Lincoln Regional Centers, which are all state operated facilities. The firm specializes in audits and evaluations of health care and social services.

 There is at least one intermediate care facility (ICF) for individuals with intellectual disabilities in every state. States also serve these individuals in home and community based settings. The listening sessions collected feedback from stakeholders on the delivery of care, their perspectives on administration, and how to determine the quality of services at BSDC. 

The population at BSDC has gradually decreased over the years from over a thousand, to less than 90 today. For some of the residents, it has been their only home for decades. With the importance of BSDC to the area and to the parents and guardians of those who reside there, we have had area leaders and local government officials, guardians, parents and advocates for the developmentally disabled all join the online meetings to voice their concerns. I do want the residents of our district to be aware of this study, and watch for the report, which is scheduled to be completed this fall.

Debate this week at the Unicameral again covered a wide range of topics. Juvenile justice, railroads, cattle brands, lotteries and education funding, ethanol and landlord-tenant relations were among those getting attention. 

LB 529 came out of the Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Lynn Walz of Fremont. Every five years a study looks at the distribution of lottery proceeds to education. A number of recommendations were included in the bill from that study. After paying out for prizes and gambling addiction programs, 44.5% of the remaining lottery revenue is used for education funds. The current allocation of specific funds sunsets at the end of 2021 and the bill would extend and create programs going forward. These include the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund, Access College scholarship fund, Behavioral Training, Career Mentoring, Career Readiness and Dual-Credit Education, College Testing, Community College Assistance, Door to College Fund, Excellence in Teaching, Expanded Learning, Mental Health Training, Education Improvement, and programs at the State Department of Education. 

Several amendments to LB 529 were debated at length, some dealing with the ability of teachers to use physical interventions to protect students and themselves. Training on the use of restraints would be funded with lottery revenue, so the amendment was germane. Similar bills have been introduced in recent years dealing with physical restraint, but have not been advanced. The amendment offered by Sen. Murman was determined, in a lengthy discussion of the rules, to be nearly line for line a duplicate of a bill sitting in committee. As a result, the Speaker ruled it would require 30 votes instead of the usual 25, to be amended into the bill; and Sen. Murman eventually withdrew his amendment. This is a complicated issue that generated considerable discussion and will probably come up again in the next round of debate. 

LB 507, introduced by Sen. Bostelman, was also advanced this week. He brought this bill after hearing many concerns from residents around Mead about the environmental hazards and odor issues from ethanol production at a facility that was using treated corn seed. The residue of certain pesticides used to treat seed corn was found in the waste and by-products at the Mead plant, which was unsafe and potentially harmful to livestock and farm land under EPA and State standards.  LB 507 would prohibit the use of treated corn seed in the production of ethanol. The bill has an emergency clause, and will go into effect when signed by the Governor if passed.

If you have any questions about legislation or any issues of concern, please contact my office at 402-471-2620 or email me at mdorn@leg.ne.gov. Find information about bills and the agenda at www.nebraskalegislature.gov.