Over the Fence

A bi-weekly newsletter from Senator Tom Hansen

thansen@leg.ne.gov

April 1, 2011

Well, it was a week of compromises.  An issue that was sure to create a lot of debate appears to have been worked out.  A compromise plan to overhaul the state’s collective bargaining system for public workers has been offered by Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, chairperson of the Business and Labor Committee.  The plan has been amended into LB 397 and will most likely be on the agenda for debate next week.

Another compromise was reached on a bill that will divert half of the funds from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to help pay for river recovery projects.  LB 229 introduced by Valentine Sen. Deb Fischer was amended by reducing the withdrawals from the Water Resources Cash Fund to $3.3 million per year for three years, with the possibility of extending them for an additional three years.  The bill was advanced to the second round of debate.

Bills that advanced to second round of debate include:

LB 35 – Introduced by Scottsbluff Sen. John Harms would increase the maximum renewal period for an oversize permit for a vehicle transporting sugar beets, grain, or other seasonally harvested products.

LB 204 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Brenda Council would require blood-lead testing of high risk children prior to enrollment in school.

LB 431 – Introduced by Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley adopts the Health Care Quality Improvement Act which revises and updates the laws governing the medical peer review process, by defining the health care providers who may conduct peer review, the activities which constitute peer review and the types of committees that can conduct peer review.

LB 558 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Jeremy Nordquist changes provisions relating to focus schools, focus programs, and magnet schools.

LB 512 – Introduced by Imperial Sen. Mark Christensen would make mental health records accessible when conducting background checks for firearm purchases.

LB 628 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Tanya Cook would allow a county, city, village or public utility to donate any motor vehicle that has reached the end of its useful life to any charitable organization described in the Internal Revenue Code.

LB 112 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash exempts motor carriers engaged in DHHS comprehensive services transport from motor carrier regulations by the Public Service Commission.

LB 305 – Introduced by O’Neill Sen. Tyson Larson, would implement a state meat and poultry inspection program.

LB 286 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist would continue support of the wine and grape industry. The current application fee of $500 for this license will go to the Winery and Grape Producers Promotional Fund indefinitely.

LB 479 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop would allow eighteen year olds who are victims of a sexual assault or domestic violence to be examined and treated by a physician without the consent of or notification of their parent, parents, guardian, or any other person having custody of the victim.

LB 200 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Brenda Council establishes the Nebraska Healthy Food Financing Act which would establish a financing program for public and private entities to increase access to fresh and nutritional food in underserved communities.

LB 176 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery authorizes the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission to order violators to pay hearing costs in contested cases.

Bills that advanced to Final Reading include:

LB 100 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash,  establishes that temporary mental illness induced by voluntary intoxication cannot be the basis of a not responsible by reason of insanity defense. It also eliminates the use of voluntary intoxication to negate state of mind elements such as premeditation or intent which may be required to prove a criminal offense.

LB 387 – Introduced by Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley, at the request of the Governor, creates a new fund, using both new and existing resources to support research, innovation and development in Nebraska small businesses and public and private colleges and universities.  The bill asks for over $5 million from the General Fund.

LB 389 – Introduced by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, at the request of the Governor, adopts the Angel Investment Tax Credit Act.  This bill asks for $145,500 in General Funds the first year and in the second year there is a reduction of $2 million in revenue.

LB 546 – Introduced by Grand Island Sen. Mike Gloor, changes provisions relating to the state building code and local building or construction codes.

LB 421 – Introduced by Louisville Sen. Dave Pankonin, increases the state park entry permit fees $5.00.

Last week the Legislature advanced a bill that directs sales taxes to fund roads projects.  Under LB 84, introduced by Valentine Sen. Deb Fischer, one half percent of the state’s 5.5 percent sales tax would be dedicated to road projects for 20 years.  Estimates from the Department of Revenue indicate that the revenue from the half percent sales tax will equal $125 million in FY13-14 and $144 million in FY14-15.  Several amendments are pending including one that would cap the allocation to $125 million, another one that would eliminate bonding, and also one to reduce the first year allocation amount from $125 million to $75 million.

And finally…if you can…please stop by my Town Hall meeting (sponsored by the Lincoln County Farm Bureau) on Saturday, April 2 at the Holiday Inn in North Platte 9:00 am to 12:00 noon!

###

Over the Fence

A bi-weekly newsletter from Senator Tom Hansen

thansen@leg.ne.gov

March 18, 2011

We are in the last half of the Session and now the really hard work begins with making tough decisions in many areas including balancing the state budget and redistricting legislative and congressional districts.

Floor Debate this week consisted of Senator and Committee Priority Bills: (All bills were advanced to the second round of debate except LB 490)

LB 389A – Introduced by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, appropriates funds to carry out the provisions of the Angel Investment Tax Credit Act.

LB 524 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill, authorizes credit unions to conduct savings promotion raffles.

LB 297 – Introduced by Fullerton Sen. Annette Dubas, expands the use of the Local Civic, Cultural, and Convention Center Financing Act to include rural applicants.      LB 490 – Introduced by Wilbur Sen. Russ Karpisek, changes restrictions on keno by allowing a kiosk, rather than an attendant to dispense keno tickets and reduces the amount of time between games to less than 5 minutes.  Debate began on this bill, but there was no action taken.

LB 544 – Introduced by Boys Town Sen. Rich Pahls, requires instruction in the duties of citizenship in high school civics courses to include active participation in the improvement of a citizen’s community, state, country, and world and the value and practice of civil discourse between opposing interests.

LB 100 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash, would end insanity defense in criminal cases involving drugs or alcohol.

LB 230 – Introduced by Cedar Rapids Sen. Kate Sullivan, changes access to public records and protects sensitive public utility information.

LB 387 – Introduced by Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley, at the request of the Governor, adopts the Business Innovation Act and eliminates economic development programs and funded by $5.5 million in General Funds per year for 5 years.

LB 541 – Introduced by the Health and Human Services Committee, addresses the state’s budget deficit by entering into third-party contracts in the Medicaid program  addressing an accounts receivable problem within the Department of Health and Human Services.

LB 465 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, at the request of the Governor, is a part of the Governor’s biennial budget recommendations.  The bill would repeal the state-option Medicaid and food stamp benefit expansion programs for certain aliens.

LB 385 – Introduced by Hastings Sen. Dennis Utter, at the request of the Governor, would repeal the Low-Income Home Energy Conservation Program.  Sen. Utter contends there is duplication of programs within the state for certain energy-related home improvements for low-income Nebraska residents.

LB 468 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, allows the Department of Health and Human Services to implement copayments for medical goods and services in the Medicaid program.

LB 329 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Tanya Cook, updates the International Energy Conservation Code and changes the Nebraska Energy Code provisions.

Committee highlights this week:

Appropriations:

Department of Health and Human Services agency budget requests

LB 464 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, at the request of the Governor, provides that child care providers would continue to be reimbursed at the current level.

Business and Labor:

LB 348 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, would limit an employer’s liability for medical conditions and disabilities resulting from an accident, to those for which the accident was the prevailing factor in causing both the personal injury and the resulting disability.

Education:

LB 58 – Introduced by York Sen. Greg Adams, provides for a study of  dual-enrollment courses and career academics.

LB 635 – Introduced by York Sen. Greg Adams, changes the Quality Education Accountability Act.

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs:

LB 142 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, changes campaign statement and report filing provisions and repeals the Campaign Finance Limitation Act.

Health and Human Services:

LB 599 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, is intended to allow Nebraska to continue to offer prenatal services to unborn children of low-income women regardless of citizenship status.

LB 433 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, sets parameters for the Department of Health and Human Services as it continues to privatize child welfare services under the Families Matter initiative begun in July 2009.

Judiciary:

LB 671 – Introduced by Norfolk Sen. Mike Flood, prohibits a sex offender from changing his or her name.

LB 508 – Introduced by Hoskins Sen. Dave Bloomfield, amends the Sexual Predator Residency Restriction Act to allow political subdivisions to adopt regulations to restrict sexual predators from living within five hundred feet from a park.

LB 565 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford, requires secure storage of firearms and notice of such requirement by retailers upon sale and creates the offense of improper storage of a firearm.

Redistricting:

LR 102 – Introduced by the Redistricting Committee, adopts criteria for the 2011 redistricting process.

Revenue:

LB 559 – Introduced by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, creates an opportunity to change the “primary” income tax rate, which is currently 3.70%.  The bill does not specify what the new rate would be.

LB 561 – Introduced by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, creates an opportunity to change the sales and use tax rate, which is currently 5.5%.  The bill does not specify what the new rate would be.

Both bills introduced by Sen. Cornett were introduced “just in case” we can’t balance the state’s budget by cutting spending.  The Appropriations Committee is working daily for those cuts and does not intend to use these “just in case” bills.

Committees held their final public hearings this week, and so on Tuesday we will begin full days of floor debate.

###

Over the Fence

A bi-weekly newsletter from Senator Tom Hansen

thansen@leg.ne.gov

March 4, 2011

The Session is nearly half over and we have been moving right along, but the heavy work is still to come.  Here are some highlights of the past week:

Floor debate:

LB 22 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Beau McCoy, adopts the Mandate Opt-Out and Insurance Coverage Clarification Act which would ban private insurers from paying for abortions unless the customer buys a separate rider for the extra coverage.

LB 81 – Introduced by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, provides that a city may tax for revenue any person, occupation or business within the limits of the city by ordinance; and that the city council may require a motor vehicle tax on any individual whose primary residence is within the limits of the city.  The proceeds are to be credited to a street construction/maintenance fund.

LB 165 – Introduced by Valentine Sen. Deb Fischer, limits the maximum occupation tax on telecommunications services and eliminates those taxes on purchases of telecommunications equipment, like cell phones.

LB 284 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, changes the distance under the definition of picketing of a funeral, from the current distance of 300 feet to 500 feet.

LB 471 – Introduced by Wilbur Sen. Russ Karpisek, would expand local sources of revenue that may be used under the Local Option Municipal Development Act.

Committee hearings this week:

Appropriations – Agency Budget Hearings for:

Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

Nebraska State College System

Community Colleges

Educational Telecommunications Commission

University of Nebraska

And Several Other Agencies…

Education:

LB 145 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Ken Haar, provides for school transportation safety committees.

General Affairs:

LB 554 – Introduced by Scottsbluff Sen. John Harms, would prohibit persons from having open containers of alcohol on boats and personal watercraft on waters of the state.

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs:

LB 566 – Introduced by Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher, provides for online petition signatures for recall, initiative and referendum petitions.

LB 610 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Pete Pirsch, provides for the recall of state elective or appointed officers.

Judiciary:

LB 48 – Introduced by Fremont Sen. Charlie Janssen, adopts the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, which will require law enforcement to check the immigration status of a person who has been lawfully stopped, detained or arrested when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is unlawfully present in the United States.

LB 276 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Brenda Council, changes the penalty from death, to life imprisonment without possibility of parole.

LB 569 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash, requires employers to e-verify the immigration status of new employees.

LB 660 – Introduced by Wilbur Sen. Russ Karpisek, creates an offense of providing a bodily fluid sample containing a controlled substance.

LB 667 – Introduced by Norfolk Sen. Mike Flood, would strengthen DUI-laws including making ignition interlock devices mandatory for 1^st and 2^nd DUI offenses, criminalizing the act of Intoxicated Transportation of a Child.

LB 675 – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Pete Pirsch, changes penalties and enforcement relating to driving under the influence and the duty to stop at motor vehicles accidents and create an offense for those driving with illegal drugs in their system.

LB 693 – Introduced by Holdrege Sen. Tom Carlson, known as the dram shop bill, which would creates a cause of action against a bartender or licensee who knowingly serves liquor by the drink to an intoxicated person.

Natural Resources:

LB 655 – Introduced by Imperial Sen. Mark Christensen, allows NRDs a second option for levying an occupation tax upon the activity of irrigation of agricultural land in lieu of the current occupation tax available to eligible NRDs.

LR 40CA – Introduced by Omaha Sen. Pete Pirsch, offers a constitutional protection of all Nebraskans and their right to hunt, fish and trap.

Revenue:

LB 428 – Introduced by Bellevue Sen. Abbie Cornett, creates an income tax credit for property taxes paid on ag-land.  The credit would be available to certain owner operators who own ag-land.

LB 439 – Introduced by Elk Creek Sen. Lavon Heidemann, would reduce the valuation of agriculture and horticultural land for school district taxation purposes from 75% to 65%.

LR 9CA – Introduced by Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz, would allow agricultural and horticultural land to be split into separate and distinct classes of property for purposes of taxation.

Transportation and Telecommunications:

LB 625 – Introduced by Lincoln Sen. Tony Fulton, requires a court to order one convicted of a DUI to obtain an ignition interlock device on his or her vehicle.  This clarifies current law.  The bill also creates an additional penalty in cases in which a driver is under the influence with a child passenger.

LB 659 – Introduced by Wilbur Sen. Russ Karpisek, would make it unlawful to operate or be in the physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of controlled substances found in bodily fluids.

On Monday, the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee will hear four bills that deal with license plates.  LB 182, a bill I introduced, will allow only one license plate instead of two on farm trucks and commercial motor vehicles.

###

Over the Fence

A bi-weekly newsletter from Senator Tom Hansen

thansen@leg.ne.gov

February 4, 2011

This session I have prioritized a bill (LB 181) that will allow a surcharge to be implemented by the Nebraska Brand Committee for the purpose of recouping part of the gas reimbursement for inspectors who drive their personal vehicles to inspect cattle.  With gas prices spiking again, the Brand Committee needs the extra help in compensation.

Discussion on the Legislative floor this week centered on:

LB 81, introduced by Bellevue Senator Abbie Cornett, would stop a city from imposing a wheel tax on nonresidents.  A compromise amendment was added that allowed Omaha to continue to collect the fee when people living within the city’s 3-mile zone register their cars – but would end by January 1, 2013.  LB 81 was advanced to the second stage of debate.

LB 20, introduced by Omaha Senator Beau McCoy, implements a statewide electronic tracking system for purchases of pseudoephedrine at pharmacies and other stores.  The system is designed to stop individuals who are illegally stockpiling precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamine.  The bill was advanced to the second stage of debate.

LB 47, introduced by Valentine Senator Deb Fischer, includes 3^rd party contractors of railroads in the provisions of a wire line crossing agreement process.  The bill clarifies that the telecommunications carrier shall pay the railroad, owner, manager, agent, or representative of the railroad carrier the standard crossing fee when placing a utility line or wire across the railroad right-of-way.  The bill was advanced to the second stage of debate.

LB 163, introduced by Valentine Senator Deb Fischer, will bring efficiency in issuing and accessing handicapped parking permits and tags.  It extends the renewal period for permanent permits from three to six years; computerizes the application process; and authorizes two handicapped permits to be issued.

Last week:

In the Natural Resources Committee, a hearing was held on LB 229, introduced by Valentine Senator Deb Fischer.  This bill provides for a $7 million per year transfer from the Environmental Trust Fund to the Water Resources Cash Fund for ten years.  It would allow funds to be used for studies and grants to facilitate compliance with the Nebraska Groundwater Management and Protection Act.  The Committee has not yet taken action on LB 229.

This week:

The Agriculture Committee, held a hearing on LB 126 (the “Happy Meal” bill), introduced by Lincoln Senator Bill Avery.  The bill creates the Children’s Health and Responsible Corporate Marketing Act and would prohibit toy giveaways in children’s meals if the items exceed prescribed calorie, trans fat, sugar and sodium levels and did not include fruits and/or whole grains.

The Education Committee, held a hearing on LB 148, introduced by Lincoln Senator Bill Avery.  This bill would allow school districts to hire lobbyists, but could not factor lobbying costs into the state aid formula as part of their needs.

The Natural Resources Committee, held a hearing on LR 51CA, introduced by Elk Creek Senator Lavon Heidemann.  LR 51 is a constitutional amendment and would alter the distribution of the state lottery revenue.  Half of the proceeds currently directed to the Environmental Trust would be transferred to the Water Resources Cash Fund and the other half to the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska for the Nebraska Innovation Campus through 2038.  If passed by the Legislature, this amendment would be placed before voters at the general election in November 2012.

Next week:

On Monday, the Business and Labor Committee will hold hearings on eight bills plus a Constitutional Amendment that deal with the Commission of Industrial Relations.  Those bill include:  LB 397, introduced by Omaha Senator Steve Lathrop, LB 482, introduced by Hastings Senator Dennis Utter, LB 555, introduced by Scottsbluff Senator John Harms, LB 564, introduced by Lincoln Senator Tony Fulton, LB 619, introduced by O’Neill Senator Tyson Larson, LB 623 and LB 624, introduced by Omaha Senator Scott Lautenbaugh, LB 664 and LR29CA, introduced by Omaha Senator John Nelson.

On Monday also, the Appropriations Committee will begin hearings on the Governor’s budget bills:  LB’s 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380 and LB 131.  Those bills contain the recommendations Governor Heineman gave in his state of the state address.

Next week, the Appropriations Committee will begin hearings for each state agency where members of the public will be able to provide testimony.

#####

Over the Fence

A bi-weekly newsletter from Senator Tom Hansen

thansen@leg.ne.gov

January 21, 2011

The 102^nd Legislature First Session convened on January 5^th and by the end of the 10^th legislative day a final total of 698 bills had been introduced.

Our highest priority, as always, will be to balance the state’s budget.  We have our work cut out for us since we start out with a $986 million deficit.  The Governor has proposed his budget plan to address the deficit with several bills:  LB 383, 387, 388, and 389.   The proposals contain provisions that reduce funding for many agencies and eliminate several programs.  Most of the rest of the shortfall will be made up with a $260 million transfer from the state’s cash reserve.  The Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, of which I am a member, will use the governor’s proposals as guidance as it forms its budget over the next few months.

I have introduced two bills this year:  LB 181 – which will allow the Nebraska Brand Committee to implement a surcharge to help cover expenses incurred by traveling to perform brand inspections; and LB 182 – which will allow for only one license plate to be issued for farm trucks and commercial motor vehicles.

Bills I think that the citizens of Legislative District 42 may be interested in include:

LB 48 – Introduced by Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont would adopt the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act.

LB 83 – Introduced by Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln would rename and repurpose the Local Civic, Cultural, and Convention Center Financing Act.

LB 84 – Introduced by Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine would adopt the Build Nebraska Act and authorize bonds for the highway system.

LB 101 – Introduced by Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala would eliminate daylight savings time.

LB 123 – Introduced by Sen. Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek would provide for disciplinary actions and policies relating to cyber-bullying.

LB 145 – Introduced by Sen. Ken Haar of Lincoln would provide for school transportation safety committees.

LB 195 – Introduced by Sen. Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids would change the number of members of the Legislature from 49 to 50.

LB 233 – Introduced by Sen. Krist of Omaha would decrease the number of members of the Legislature to 45.

LB 235 – Introduced by Sen. Greg Adams of  York would change provisions relating to state aid to schools.

LB 248 – Introduced by Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton would change provisions relating to burning permits and range-management burning.

LB 276 – Introduced by Sen. Brenda Council of Omaha would change a penalty from death to life imprisonment without possibility of parole and change other penalties as prescribed.

LB 305 – Introduced by Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill would implement a state meat and poultry inspection program.

LB 340 – Introduced by Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton would adopt the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Notification Act.

LB 355 – Introduced by Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege would provide for an agricultural trade representative and funding intent.

LB 433 – Introduced by Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln would provide requirements for contracts for child welfare services between private agencies and the Department of Health and Human Services.

LB 473 – Introduced by Sen. LeRoy Louden of Ellsworth would adopt the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Management Act.

LB 504 – Introduced by Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln would increase the gas tax.

These are just a few measures of what has been introduced.  You can obtain additional information from the Legislature’s website at http://www.leg.ne.gov/.   And as I have encouraged in the past, I would like to hear from you about your thoughts on these or any of the 698 introduced bills.  My email address is: thansen@leg.ne.gov or you can send mail to me at State Capitol, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509.  You may also telephone me at my Capitol office at 402-471-2729.

#####

Over the Fence

A bi-weekly newsletter from Senator Tom Hansen

2010 Legislative Wrap-up

thansen@leg.ne.gov

427 bills and 33 Resolutions were introduced in this short 60-day session.  We accomplished many things.  Here are a few highlights:

IN AGRICULTURE we passed:

LB 865 – Designed to reduce confusion in the law dealing with livestock welfare.  It separates animal welfare laws from animal rights laws.

LB 910 – Increases a pet license by $1.00 that will be used to help fund the state Commercial Dog and Cat Operator Inspection Act.

IN APPROPRIATIONS we passed:

A total budget package of $6.7 Billion for the next two years.  Adjustments were made reducing appropriations a net $11.6 Million, despite having to increase school aid by over $18.2 Million.

IN BUSINESS AND LABOR we passed:

LB 552 – Requires owners to pay contractors within 30 days.

LB 780 – Provides workers compensation coverage for post-traumatic stress disorder for first responders.

IN EDUCATION we passed:

LB 937 – Senator Deb Fischer’s bill – and one that I prioritized, eliminates the per diems of up to $12,000 each per fiscal year.  It frees up $216,000 for other budgetary purposes of the learning community.

LB 1006 – Moves the date in which a student must be 5 years old in order to enter kindergarten from October 15 to July 31 beginning with the 2012-13 school year.

LB 1072 – Gives our 6 Community Colleges until June 30, 2011 to agree to a state-wide plan for funding for the years to come.

IN GENRAL AFFAIRS we passed:

LB 861 –Allows, after a 2/3 vote of the local governing body, a business that  sells alcohol may extend their business hours up to 2 a.m.

LB 1002 – Provides state assistance to the Whiteclay area to address issues arising from alcohol sales to the residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation.

IN GOVERNMENT we passed:

LR 284CA – Abolishes the office of State Treasurer.  This Constitutional Amendment will be placed on November’s election ballot.

IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES we passed:

LB 999 – Was a compromise by the parties involved with Kearney’s hospital construction and placed a building moratorium on all other hospitals.

IN JUDICIARY we passed:

LB 190 – Requires the collection of DNA for all persons convicted of any felony.

LB 258 – Is a series of penalties for minors found guilty of possessing alcohol or drugs.  Judges could decide if a minor should lose their drivers’ license for 60 days or more if they were convicted.

LB 594 – Requires preabortion screenings and counseling.  Doctors must inform a woman of any psychological or medical risk factors.

LB 1103 – Prohibits doctors from performing an abortion upon a woman when the probable gestational age of the woman’s unborn child is twenty or more weeks.

LB 695 – Changes the jurisdictional amount for Small Claims Court from the current $2700 to $3500.

LB 727 – Gives retired judges additional pay for extended service in our county courts.

LB 817- Changes provisions relating to regulation of concealed handguns. Cities and villages shall not have the power to require registration of a concealed handgun owned by a permitholder.

IN NATURAL RESOURCES we passed:

LB 689 – Eliminates the requirement that the corn and grain sorghum excise tax be credited to the Water Resources Cash Fund.  The excise tax is currently credited to the Ethanol Production Incentive Cash (EPIC) Fund and is scheduled to end on December 31, 2012.

LB 836 – Gives the Game and Parks Commission authority to set special depredation seasons on deer.  Landowners can obtain an unlimited free permit during those seasons.  It also allows landowners to obtain permits to kill mountain lions preying on livestock.

LB 862 – Will help tackle the issue of how to pay for solutions to some of Nebraska’s water problems.  NRDs that have integrated water-management plans can levy an occupation tax.

LB 1048 – Allows private developers to develop and operate renewable energy facilities for the export of wind energy from the state.

LB 1057 – Creates the Republican River Basin Water Sustainability Task Force to study how to ensure water use in the basin.

IN REVENUE we passed:

LB 779 – Provides a mechanism for using “turnback” tax revenue to fund the construction of convention facilities, including building a horseracing track in Lincoln to replace State Fair Park.

LB 1081 – Creates family friendly jobs in counties less than 100,000 residents.  Companies that hire people to provide telephone answering services out of their own home would get help for training costs.

IN TRANSPORTATION we passed:

LB 261 – Provides for the use of machine-readable information encoded on drivers’ licenses and state ID cards.

LB 650 – Minitrucks will be allowed on two-laned roads in the state, but must be titled.

LB 945 – Makes texting while driving a secondary offense.

BILLS THAT WERE NOT PASSED:

LB 200 – A repeal of the motorcycle helmet law.

LB 306 – A repeal of the death penalty.

LB 1105 – Funding for a study on costs between the death penalty and life without parole

LB 1021 – A rewrite of the NE School Activities Association law.

LB 1079 – Changing the time for appealing to the TERC Board.

LB 1102 – Allowing historic horse-racing machines.

LB 1110 – Creation of a special children’s health insurance program that covered unborn children.

Over the Fence

A bi-weekly newsletter from Senator Tom Hansen

March 26, 2010

thansen@leg.ne.gov

Heading into the last 10 days of the session we began working late into the night this week which gave us more time to finish the work we needed to complete.

Bills that were advanced to the Second Round of consideration include:

LB 594, introduced by Ewing Senator Cap Dierks, was the first of two abortion-related bills we will discuss this year.  LB 594 would require preabortion screenings and counseling.  Doctors would have to find out if a woman was pressured into having an abortion and inform her of any psychological or medical risk factors.  But they could not deny her an abortion.

LB 780, introduced by Omaha Senator Steve Lathrop, would provide workers compensation coverage for posttraumatic stress disorder for police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians, both volunteer and paid.  With concerns about the potential cost, the bill will sunset after three years, although future legislation could continue it.

LB 862, introduced by Imperial Senator Mark Christensen, will help tackle the issue of how to pay for solutions to some of Nebraska’s water problems.  The bill would allow districts that have developed water-management plans with the state to levy the tax now confined to the Republican River basin.  Some have argued that the tax was unconstitutional because it could only be used in that basin, but the Lancaster County District Court has recently upheld the tax.

LB 950, introduced by Louisville Senator Dave Pankonin, makes technical and clarifying changes to state-administered retirement plans.

LB 1002, introduced by Ellsworth Senator LeRoy Louden, provides state assistance to the Whiteclay area to address issues arising from alcohol sales to the residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Bills that were advanced to the final stage of debate include:

LB 1057, introduced by Holdrege Senator Tom Carlson, creates the Republican River Basin Water Sustainability Task Force to study how to ensure sustainable water use in the basin, maintain compliance with interstate compacts, and avoid water-short years.

LB 1081, introduced by Bellevue Senator Abbie Cornett, will help ease Nebraska’s unemployment rate and create family friendly jobs.  The provisions of this bill apply to applicants who live in counties of less than 100,000 residents.  Companies that hire people to provide telephone answering services out of their own home would get help for training costs.

The budget bills which include adjustments to the $6.7 billion state budget for the biennial period of 2009-2011 were passed into law today.

*

Bills that were debated for several hours, but did not advance and are not going to be back this session, include:

LB 952, introduced by Omaha Senator Tom White, would have eliminated the state and local sales tax on special sewer fees in the Omaha metropolitan area.

LB 1079, introduced by Bellevue Senator Abbie Cornett would have authorized single-commissioner hearings for the Tax Equalization and Review Commission (TERC).  The bill would have lowered the standard property owners would have to meet for TERC to change their property values.  The Commission hears appeals of property-value decisions made by counties.

LB 1105, introduced by Omaha Senator Brenda Council, authorized a $50,000 study of what it would cost to have a death penalty in Nebraska.

#####