THE  2006 

                              NEBRASKA  TAXPAYERS  FOR FREEDOM

                                           LEGISLATIVE VOTING  RECORD 

                             (THE VOTING RECORD THAT STATE SENATORS DO NOT WANT YOU TO SEE) 

                       WE ASK EVERYONE TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

                                1) if your local newspaper does not publish a news release of our voting record, take         a copy to the news editor;

                                2) take a voting record copy to your state senator’s next town hall meeting and ask him/her  to explain his/her votes;

                                3) make several photocopies of this voting record for your friends and neighbors.  They      also deserve to know how their state senators vote.   

                         Copyright 2006

Resolutions.                                                                                                                           (2006 session)

LR 2CA: Landis.  A Santa Claus resolution to authorize cities, villages, and counties to buy, own, develop, and lease property for use by non-religious nonprofit charities.  Local governments could issue revenue bonds to defray the cost of buying and developing or financing property by construction or purchase.  Groups could access tax-exempt financing through local bonds. Charities could save thousands of $$ in interest when financing new buildings or renovations.  Nonprofits already have tax-exempt status, so this added benefit means higher taxes for everyone else.  These entities could offer bonds at lower interest rates, because bondholders would not have to pay taxes on interest income received.  They will drive down interest rates on municipal bonds, because the larger supply available will create more competition for buyers.  Local government would become the arbitrator and judge among groups in competition for bond issuances, deciding which ones met stated qualifications.  Planned Parenthood would qualify but not a pro-life church.  Alegent Health Center could become eligible for bonds in its competition with private or health and fitness clubs affiliated with a religious denomination.  Nonprofit organizations deserve equal treatment from government.  PASSED/BAD RESOLUTION

LR 272CA: Connealy.  To eliminate the requirement that property be substandard and blighted for rehabilitation, development, or redevelopment through tax increment financing or special property tax treatment.  To permit counties, cities, and villages to use such provisions outside their corporate boundaries.  The legislature can extend this special tax treatment from 15 to 30 years.  This legislation will keep more property off the tax rolls, burdening the rest of us.  PASSED/BAD RESOLUTION

LR 449: Chambers.  To impeach UNL Regent David Hergert for supposedly violating state campaign laws, making him ineligible to hold his regent seat.  To accuse him of committing misdemeanors in office and filing false reports after taking office. Managing the impeachment were liberal Sens. Chambers and Beutler, who also oppose term limits.  PASSED/BAD RESOLUTION. 

Bills.

LB 32: Schrock.  To increase the maximum amount for daily expenditures for natural resource district board members from $2,800 to $3,600 annually.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 57: Foley.  To make intentionally causing serious bodily injury to an unborn child during an assault on a pregnant woman a Class III felony.  2^nd degree assault when someone recklessly causes serious bodily injury to an unborn child with a dangerous instrument is a Class IIIA felony.  3^rd degree assault when someone recklessly causes serious bodily injury to an unborn child is a Class I misdemeanor.  To raise the penalty for assaulting a woman by 1 classification for several criminal offenses, if the victim is pregnant.  Mothers are exempt from prosecution.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 173: Hudkins.  To consider abandoned a gift certificate or card of $100 or more gone unredeemed for 3 yrs. past the issue date or 3 yrs. past the expiration date.  These funds will remit to the State.  A certificate or card for less than $100 having no fees or expiration date would be valid indefinitely.  Businesses could keep the funds if never redeemed.  The cards and certificates must indicate an inactivity fee, amount of the fee, fee frequency, fee begin date, and expiration date.  Those having no expiration date will not need the above information.  The bill thus will discourage expiration dates and fees.  This law will help NE businesses compete with gift cards and encourage people to patronize their establishments.  Consumers will be able to use cards and certificates for a longer period.  Businesses will not have to track which ones people redeemed to know which have reached the 3 yr. limit without use and must go to the State. Because retailers rarely track the names of purchasers or recipients, cards have caused difficulty for the State Treasurer, charged with finding rightful owners of unclaimed property.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 188: Beutler.  To add complexity to the already convoluted state campaign finance law by forcing candidates who do not wish to abide by spending limits to file an affidavit within 2 days of when their campaign expenditures reach 40% of the spending limit for the office sought, an accounting nightmare.  The bill forces such candidates to file a 3^rd pre-election statement no later than the 6^th day before the election.  It sets the maximum amount of public funding an abiding candidate can receive at 3 times the amount of the spending limitation, thus helping candidates more who cannot raise funds on their own merit.  Lower thresholds for gaining public funds for challengers.  More and higher civil penalties for inadvertent noncompliance, like filing campaign statements late. The accountability commission can fine candidates $2,000 or more for underestimating their expenditures by 5% or more.  Candidates cannot accept campaign monies from independent committees, political parties, or businesses that exceed 75% of the spending amount permitted for an office.  The commission will have the legal authority to issue subpoenas, and the district court has jurisdiction to enforce them.   Conservatives believe this law unconstitutional, because it limits the ability of citizens to donate money to candidates of their choice.  Solid platforms and positions merit generous contributions.  The act protects incumbents by limiting the amount of money a challenger can spend, noting the name recognition of incumbents.  Often, overcoming incumbent advantage requires spending more money.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 228: Howard.  To provide property tax levy and state aid increases for all-day kiddiegarden expenses.  Taxes levied for special building funds established for construction, expansion, or alteration of buildings to facilitate all-day kiddiegarden programs are exempt from the tax lid.  GENERAL FILE/BAD BILL

LB 239: Schimek.  To allow illegal aliens who graduate from a NE high school and have lived in NE for 3 yrs. to pay in-state college tuition rates.  They would pay $4,530 instead of $13,440 per year at UNL.   The UNL, state college, and community college administrations, plus the UN Board of Regents, supported the bill in order to gain additional students.    Other supporters were the leftist NE Appleseed Center and NE chapter of the National Assoc. of Social Workers.  In March, bill supporters rallied on the State Capitol steps, waving Mexican flags.  Enrollment declines at NE institutions have occurred, because productive young Nebraskans leave for more economically viable states.  This bill enabled liberals to replace this brain drain with an influx of non-citizens, though many young NE citizens cannot afford college tuition.  Alien graduates will compete with young lawful citizens for the same jobs.  The bill violates federal law and probably will garner a lawsuit.  It will cause further illegal immigration into Nebraska of those seeking cheaper college tuition and rewards lawbreakers at the expense of those awaiting permanent resident status and legal citizenship.  Said liberal State Sen. Jim Jensen, “How they (illegal students) got here doesn’t bother me that much.”  PASSED/BAD BILL  VETOED (See NTF issue paper).

LB 239ov: To override gubernatorial veto of LB 239.  VETO OVERRIDDEN

LB 248: Baker.  To raise fees on some vehicles by 30% by extending the graduated tax table and expand the tax base by adding motorcycles to the same tax categories covering other vehicles.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 287: McDonald.  Those who protest at military and other funerals or memorials must stand at least 300’ from the location of services at cemeteries, mortuaries, or churches.  This bill specifically targeted crazies who picket at funerals of U.S. soldiers killed overseas.  Violators face a Class III misdemeanor.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 366: Retirement Comm.  To increase employee financial contribution to state employee retirement fund.  The state must match employee contributions at a rate of 156%.  Cost: $5.1 million.  PASSED/BAD BILL  VETOED

LB 366 ov: To override gubernatorial veto of LB 366.  VETO OVERRIDDEN

LB 385: Johnson.  To establish a statewide DNA database to locate missing persons and identify skeletons.  Those convicted of burglary and robbery and those awaiting release on probation must submit DNA samples for inclusion in the database.  This stronger testing system will solve more crimes and protect innocent citizens.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 454: Combs.  To establish a right to carry a concealed firearm in Nebraska.  The State Patrol can issue permits for carrying concealed handguns to citizens at least 21, who have completed a handgun safety and training class, have no felony record, not judged mentally ill or dangerous within the last 10 yrs., have no offenses related to guns or illegal drug abuse for the last 10 yrs., are not barred from carrying a gun under federal law, and are not on probation, parole, house arrest, or work release.  A 5-yr. permit costs $100.  Municipalities can pass ordinances banning concealed weapons.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 489: Business Comm.  To increase the maximum fee for a prelim elevator inspection and annual inspection for the first 5 floors from $50 to $150, an additional rate of $5 charged for each additional floor.  A reinspection fee when an elevator does not pass first inspection.  The bill establishes an advisory committee.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 500: Landis.  To increase state dollars to help finance the debt on the Omaha convention center/arena, a baseball stadium in north downtown, community partnership development plans in poor areas, and other entertainment-related projects in NE.  To allow cities or joint jurisdictions to buy property and issue special obligation bonds to finance development projects that promote the establishment and vitality of entertainment and tourism development districts and provide state taxpayer financial aid to accomplish such.  Ventures can spend public money to use eminent domain against property owners.  A county in such district can impose a sales tax of up to 1 ½ % within such district.  SELECT FILE/BAD BILL

LB 500A: Landis.  To appropriate about $22,500 to fund LB 500.  SELECT FILE/BAD BILL

LB 542: Burling.  To create a NE Tax Policy Reform Comm. to identify and review our tax structure and make final recommendations for improvements and for legislation to reform tax policy by 11-07. It will review statutes and evaluate tax incentive programs.  It will examine household and business tax burdens and tax rates compared to the entire U.S. and states with similar demographics. Its 16 members include individuals from the legislature, agriculture, manufacturing, telecommunications, education, finance, and labor fields, an economist, and the state tax commissioner and other government officials. The commission may hold hearings around the state to receive public input.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 548: Jensen.  To allow cities and several electric utilities to place a surcharge on consumer electric bills to pay for mandated improvement project bond financing and retirement costs.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 588: Leg. Audit Comm.  To provide staff of the Legislative Performance Audit Section with access to same confidential and tax information and records now available to state auditor.  The bill limits access to income and sales tax records at Dept. of Revenue.  Current limitations on access to confidential information imposed by state or federal law will remain. Employees who divulge confidential information or records will face a Class II misdemeanor and dismissal.   This bill purposely meant to infringe on the prerogative of State Auditor Kate Witek.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 690: Stuhr.  To create collaboration models between career and academic education, a new school-to-work scheme, develop partnerships between secondary school districts and postsecondary career education institutions, and develop partnerships with business and industry based on workforce development needs.  The state education dept. will use $450,000 in annual grants to fund these unneeded career education initiatives. The legislature has no reason to involve itself in school career education, a school prerogative.  The bill increases bureaucracy and mandates on public schools. School districts already have the resources to develop academic and technical competencies, curriculum, and professional development for teachers.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 690A: Stuhr.  To appropriate $450,000 in FY 2006-2007 and $450,000 in FY 2007-2008 to fund LB 690.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 746: D. Pederson.  To spend $200,000 in each of the next 2 fiscal years for legal services for poor people in landlord-tenant tiffs and domestic violence, divorce, child custody, and illegal immigration matters.  Leftwing Legal Aid offices  would get this funding.  The bill also charges a $1 fee to each criminal court case, except juvenile court proceedings, filed in all courts for violations of state laws or municipal ordinances.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 746A: D. Pederson.  To appropriate $200,000 in FY 2006-07 and $200,000 in FY 2007-08 to fund LB 746.  PASSED/BAD BILL  VETOED

LB 776: Engel.  To allow permit holders to include yard waste in landfills to produce and recover methane gas to use as fuel.  Landfills significantly can reduce gas emissions.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 786: Mines.  To begin a recall petition campaign to remove a NE public official, proponents would have to allege malfeasance, incompetence, or neglect of duty.  Current law allows recall for any reason.  The recall target could file a defense statement, which petitioners would have to incorporate in their recall petitions.  The target also could sue in district court to request a hearing on the petition statement.  If a judge rules that grounds exist for a petition, the court clerk would issue petition papers.  If a judge decides that grounds do not exist for a petition, the clerk would not issue petition papers, depriving aggrieved parties of redress of grievances.  SELECT FILE/BAD BILL

LB 808: Landis.  To redefine ag and horticultural land valuation downward for tax purposes.  To end a requirement that land become zoned for ag use to qualify for greenbelt valuation.  To broaden appeal rights before the Tax Equalization & Review Commission.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 817: Chambers. To raise the pay from $85,000 to $105,000 for governor, from $60,000 to $75,000 for lt.-gov., from $50,000 to $75,000 for public service commissioners, from $75,000 to $95,000 for attorney-general, from $65,000 to $85,000 for secretary of state, from $60,000 to $85,000 for state auditor, and from $60,000 to $85,000 for state treasurer.  The pay hikes range up to 50%!  These salaries increased only 3 years ago.  PASSED/ BAD BILL  VETOED

LB 817A: Chambers.  Appropriation of funds from the General Fund for LB 817.  PASSED/ BAD BILL

LB 817 ov: To override the gubernatorial veto of LB 817.  VETO OVERRIDDEN

LB 817A ov: To override the gubernatorial veto of LB 817A.  VETO OVERRIDDEN

LB 821: Erdman.  To define an exempt student as one enrolled in a private, denominational, or parochial school which decides not to meet state accreditation or approval mandates.  These students will gain part-time access to academic classes in their public school district.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 853: Stuthman.  To suspend, revoke, cancel, or refuse to issue or renew a driver certificate, if the applicant paid for such with a bad check.  Such applicants must return within 3 business days the registration certificate and license plates, or Dept. of Motor Vehicles will notify State Patrol that such person is violating the law.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 856: Kremer.  To set an annual fee of up to $250 for licensing animal breeder, dealer, and care facilities.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 875: Banking Comm.  To require insurers to provide first dollar coverage of extended warranty policy claims on car repairs.  Warranty contracts must include a notice to consumer that their investment in the policy is not guaranteed.  Insurers can offer employers group life insurance products that charge the full cost to an employee.  Insurers can offer employers group life insurance policies for which employees pay part of the premium, though less than 75% of employees participate.  PASSED/ GOOD BILL

LB 876: Banking Comm.  To strengthen the state ID theft law.  Businesses that suffer or believe they suffer compromising or theft of personal information data must conduct an investigation and inform affected customers.  Businesses must determine the scope of the breach and restore reasonable integrity to computerized data systems. PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 887: Landis.  To allow for implementation of a sales tax on Internet purchases, in accordance with a consortium of states, and direct the Revenue Dept. to assist in publicizing local and state sales tax rates.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 898: Preister.  To reform open meetings law by requiring more specific agendas, allowing public meeting attendees to challenge a possible violation following a meeting, and require government bodies to state a reason for a closed session and topic(s) discussed before entering such session.  This bill passed in answer to the secret, closed meetings of the Omaha Public School Board, in which members discussed forcible annexation of adjacent school district territory.  This and other bodies sometimes use closed sessions to discuss matters they wish to secrete from public knowledge and input.

PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 915: Aguilar.  To allow a local public health dept. to charge and collect fees from owners of property contaminated by meth to pay for costs of monitoring the property rehabilitation.  Landlords may cancel a rental agreement, to rehabilitate a property where a meth lab operated.  Owners finding a meth lab on their property must report it to local law enforcement or State Patrol.  Violators face a fine of up to $1,000.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 924: Fischer.  In response to the reprehensible Kelo v. City of New London U.S. Supreme Court decision, this bill will prevent a condemner from taking property through use of eminent domain for economic development purposes, such as for commercial enterprises or for increased tax revenue, tax base, employment, or general economic enhancement.  It will restrict qualifications that developers must meet for eminent domain condemnation.  Eminent domain still could acquire abandoned property or remove harmful uses of property that constitute an immediate threat to human health and safety.  The U.S. Constitution declares that government cannot take private property for public use without adequate compensa- tion, use defined as building public projects like highways and parks.  The bill will protect our right to own private property and live free of government confiscation.  Initially used to offer cities the authority to enlist private developers to clear slum areas, the blighted and substandard designation in tax increment financing public officials have applied to corn fields in rural areas and modest residential urban areas, using eminent domain to condemn land not blighted.  State government already offers grants and tax breaks to encourage business development.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 925: Friend.  To increase penalties to felonies, with up to 5 yrs. in prison, for motor vehicle homicide caused by drunks and for those leaving the scene of vehicle or property damage, injury, and fatal accidents.  Now, a drunken driver who causes an accident has incentive to leave the scene instead of aiding the injured.  Not being present when police arrive enables a drunk to claim that his positive alcohol test is a result of booze imbibed after the accident.  Then, authorities can charge a drunk only with leaving the scene of an accident.  To permit prosecutors to use blood samples obtained for medical purposes in prosecutions for manslaughter or drunken driving resulting in serious bodily injury or motor vehicle homicide.  To require all convicted drunk drivers to receive a chemical dependence assessment from a certified drug and alcohol counselor.  Mandatory 2 days in jail, $500 fine, 1 yr. license revocation, and 120 hrs. of community service for first time offenders having certain intoxication level.  A 1^st offense drunk driver could face 1 yr. in jail, and one who killed someone in an accident could face up to 20 yrs. in prison instead of the present 5 yr. maximum.  Drunken drivers convicted of motor vehicle homicide who have a previous DUI conviction face up to 50 yrs. in prison instead of 20 yrs.  A judge may require someone convicted of a 2^nd or subsequent violation to use a continuous alcohol monitoring device and abstain from alcohol for a period.  No alcohol monitoring device for a person convicted of a 2^nd or subsequent violation unless installation of an ignition interlock device also required.  For third drunk driving offense, the penalty is mandatory license revocation of between 2 and 15 yrs. and from 5 to 15 yrs. for certain intoxication levels, with fine of $1,000 and 60 days-5 yrs. imprisonment.  The bill targeted habitual drunk drivers.  Imposition of a 15-yr. license revocation as part of a felony sentence for driving during suspension.  To increase point assessments for failing to report accident that results in damage to a sitting vehicle or property.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 940: Schimek.  To create an unnecessary state Office of Homeland Security to coordinate efforts with the federal Dept. of Homeland Security on domestic security issues.  The lt.-gov. will direct the office.  The governor will appoint members to a policy group, which will report semiannually to the legislature Exec Board about use of fed homeland security funds.  To prohibit new political parties registered in NE from using the words “partisan” or “independent,” a trampling of citizen prerogatives.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 941: Schimek.  To eliminate the limitation on the salary granted by the Governor to the State Athletic Commissioner.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 956: Leg. Audit Comm.  To create the unneeded position of legislative auditor to oversee staff and operations necessary to handle legislative performance auditing responsibilities, duties rightly managed by the State Auditor.  This legislation passed to circumvent the authority of conservative State Auditor Kate Witek.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 962: Price.  To appropriate $150,000 for a nursing faculty student loan program to encourage nurses to obtain masters and doctoral degrees.  Hospital foundations, nursing education, and private organizations frequently donate to such programs.  Funding a private industry is not a state taxpayer obligation.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 965: Jensen.  To permit taxpayers to establish long-term care accounts with approved financial institutions and deposit up to $2,000 annually for married taxpayers filing jointly and $1,000 per year for other filers.  Persons could save up to $165,000, an amount adjusted for inflation. One could withdraw principal and interest earned in accounts free of state income tax, if used for long-term care costs or long-term care insurance premiums.  Qualified individuals include those 65 or older who need long-term care, disabled persons any age requiring such care, and those 62 or older who pay long-term care insurance premiums.  This bill will restrict the growth of Medicaid spending on the elderly.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 994: Health Comm.  To allow donation of unused anti-rejection drugs for redistribution by transplant centers.  To eliminate the unneeded state Behavioral Health Council established in 2004. To prevent the introduction of counterfeit drugs into pharmaceuticals.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 996: Louden.  To permit the state to match funds raised by cemetery task forces for construction of veteran cemeteries.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1006: Brashear.  To provide $40 million in state funding after 2007 for public education endowments.  Interest will fund grant programs.  This bad legislation will appear on the November ballot.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1019: Retirement Comm.  To lengthen the amortization period for school employee, state patrol, and judge retirement plans from 25 yrs. to 30 yrs., to reduce the level of contributions required for the plans and extend time period over which plan liabilities paid.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1024: Raikes.  To establish a new Omaha-area Learning Community board that will have property taxing authority.  Inflates amount of allowances for calculating state aid, which will increase by $25.83 million in FY 2008-2009.  (See NTF issue paper).  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1024A: Raikes.  To appropriate about $875,546 during the next 2 fiscal years to fund LB 1024.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1060: Brashear.  To increase the budget by $21.4 million for Medicaid programs, $3.9 million for water policy implementation and compact compliance, $1.8 million for increased aid to public health departments, $1.2 million in restored funding for the NE Scholarship Program, $7.8 million for employee health insurance rate hikes, and $75,000 for Douglas County police diversity funding and minority recruitment.  To increase women’s health care funding from $529,000 to $750,000 in FY 2006-2007.  The 2-yr. spending growth rate is 7% for the present biennium and 7.3% for the next biennium, much over the cost of living increase.  The state will have a balance of $61.4 million above the minimum 3% reserve.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1060 ov: To override gubernatorial veto of $218,750 for community health centers.  VETO OVERRIDDEN

LB 1060 ov: To override gubernatorial veto of $325,773 for Dept. of Education to retain 2 Indian consultants.  VETO OVERRIDE FAILED

LB 1069: Byars.  To allow friends or family members to obtain state reimbursement for driving a disabled or elderly person to doctor or on errands, saving state taxpayers about $335,000 annually.  This service will become available to those eligible for Medicaid or other welfare programs.  Cabs and van transportation services have grown very expensive.  Those with disabilities who live in outlying areas have a difficult time finding transportation.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1086: Synowiecki.  To appropriate $750,000 in each of the next 2 fiscal years to educate and treat prostitutes, the money becoming available as grants to participating organizations.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1086A: Synowiecki.  To appropriate $750,000 in each of the next 2 fiscal years to educate and treat prostitutes, the money becoming available as grants to participating organizations.  PASSED/ BAD BILL  VETOED

LB 1105: Landis.  To increase state dollars to help finance the debt on the Omaha convention center/arena, a baseball stadium in north downtown, community partnership development plans in poor areas, and other entertainment-related projects in NE.  SELECT FILE/BAD BILL

LB 1113: Bourne.  To require public access to lakes covering over 150 acres, formed from NRD flood control projects whose total cost included using 20% or more public funds.  To prohibit the harassment of a stalking victim family or household members and provide stronger penalties in specific circumstances.  The penalty for stalking increases from a Class I misdemeanor to a Class IV felony, if a defendant has a prior conviction within the last 7 yrs. involving the same victim.  To institute crimes of sexual assault of a child or vulnerable adult and child porn and child enticement via computer, whereby a county attorney can subpoena evidence before a grand jury or seek a court order for the interception of wire, electronic, or oral communications.   To erase references to Social Security numbers in divorce, domestic relations, paternity, child support, and foreign support orders.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1115: Bourne.  To increase the maximum amount of money or personal property that one may give a minor from $10,000 to $25,000 for tax purposes.  To permit an abstract of marriage to substitute for a certified copy of a marriage license to provide proof of matrimony to courts.  To permit retired clerk magistrates to perform marriage ceremonies.  To include public school district employees in protections afforded emergency services providers who suffer significant exposure to infectious diseases during performance of duties.  To provide procedures for audiovisual appearances in court proceedings.  To periodically increase jurisdictional amounts in small claims courts, later adjusted automatically every 5 yrs., thus avoiding lawyer costs.  To permit foster care parents to share pertinent information about foster child treatment by a biological family, if requested by a judge. Politically-correct senators wedged in a revision to change language in several laws to include female or gender-neutral pronouns. PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1175: Urban Affairs Comm.  To authorize Lincoln to buy property using an installment contract or lease agreement.  To amend community development law to improve tax increment financing and change the effective date of redevelopment proposals.  To allow fire and building inspectors in 2^nd class cities and villages to issue fire, safety, health, and building code citations.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1189: Synowiecki.  To exempt 114 public housing agencies from paying sales tax, saving the Omaha Housing Authority about $500,000 annually but shifting the burden to taxpayers.  Housing authorities will gain $1.09 million in exemptions on purchases in FY 2006-2007.  The bill also exempts fine art purchases by museums.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1199: Bourne.  To allow municipalities to enact ordinances to impose residency restrictions of 500’ from schools and daycare centers for Class III sex offenders who have committed crimes against kids.  To create new offenses with harsher penalties for sexual attack against a child in the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd degrees.  A 1^st offense will carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 yrs. in prison before parole.  Repeat offenses will mean a 25-yr. mandatory minimum and a maximum of life imprisonment.  To increase the penalty for a 2^nd conviction for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements.  To expand the list of offenses that require sex offender registration.  To provide for lifetime community supervision of sex offenders who have more than 1 conviction for a sex offense and 1^st time offenders convicted of raping a child under 12 or of forcibly raping a person older than 12. To require an agency with jurisdiction over a sex offender to inform the attorney-gen. and appropriate county attorneys 90 days before a release.  To establish a new civil commitment standard for sex offenders and mandate conducting of civil commitment evaluations prior to completion of a criminal sentence for violent offenders, repeat offenders, and child predators who refuse treatment.  It will become easier to commit sex offenders to state psychiatric hospitals under new legal standards.  Sexual predators are among the most difficult criminals to rehabilitate.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1208: Raikes.  To establish a Distance Education Council composed of 1 rep from each educational service unit to coordinate course offerings through the distance education network.  Classes provided through the new council in telecommunications and data transmission costs for school districts excluded from budget limitations.  The objective is to establish access by all schools to a high-speed telecommunications network.  In FY 2006-2007, $250,000 for teacher loans that forgive student loans as incentive for teachers to study specific subjects in which there exists a shortage of available teachers, and $1 million for incentives to close small schools.  In FY 2007-2008, $500,000 for teacher loans; in FY 2008-2009, $750,000 for such loans.  For FY 2009 through FY 2016, $1 million for teacher loans.  To prohibit schools from counting alternating classes in math, science, reading, writing, etc. offered every other year towards accreditation in subject areas in which the state has developed content standards, thus removing local control.    PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1208A: Raikes.  To appropriate $3.5 million to fund LB 1208 in FY 2006-2007 and almost $7 million in FY 2007-2008.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1222: Transportation Comm.  To assess a phone surcharge of up to 70c per month for cell phone customers for enhanced 911 services.  The Public Service Commission will collect the surcharges.  Cell phone fees already are high. The infrastructure for statewide 911 service does not exist yet, so the need to tax now does not exist.  Several counties have no cell towers.  Others still rely on analog phone service and have no technology to install 911.  Cable lines also must pay the surcharge.  The bill will force every county to implement enhanced 911 service by 2010.  The 911 fund contains $11 million, making this surcharge now unnecessary. Telecom companies and city and county governments all opposed the bill mandates.  These entities must add personnel, adding costs passed along to consumers.  After implementation of the first phase of enhanced 911, the proposed surcharge will be insufficient to cover the $21 million necessary to sustain the service, threatening more taxpayer costs.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1222A: Baker.  To appropriate $1,586,400 in FY 2006-2007 and $1,665,600 in FY 2007-2008 to fund LB 1222.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1226: Langemeier.  To allow natural resource districts in water-short areas to increase their property tax levies by 3c for FY 2006-07 and 2c for FY 2007-08 and FY 2008-09.  To create a program to fund grant requests from cities forced to develop storm water management programs by federal mandate.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1226A: Schrock:  To appropriate $9.8 million in FY 2006-2007 and $9.8 million in FY 2007-2008 to fund LB 1226.  PASSED/ BAD BILL

LB 1227: Cornett.  To require criminal history checks done before issuing a concealed carry gun permit to include a check of the federal instant criminal background check system within 3 days.  Applicants must indicate their country of citizenship and, if not a U.S. citizen, their birthplace and alien or admission number.  Purchases and sales of antique handguns and pistols are exempt from this permit requirement.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1248: Jensen. To allow Medicaid medical assistance for premium payments, deductibles, and coinsurance for private health insurance, catastrophic health insurance coverage, and long-term care insurance coverage.  Non-mandatory services like dental, physical, speech, and occupational therapy, chiropractic, and optical will continue authorized but not required.  Estimated costs for changes will reach $67,000, with savings estimated at $1.5 million.  $9.9 million in savings during first year of implementation of a separate insurance program for children, coverage limited to comparable coverage of state employee health insurance program, with higher premiums, co-payments, and deductibles for goods and services.  Limits on amounts and duration of services recipients receive.  Medicaid could establish stricter requirements for recipients of medical aid, including participation in care coordination and disease management programs.  The Medicaid defined benefit structure will change or disappear.  The bill authorizes an independent study and actuarial analysis of behavioral health insurance parity legislation.  Medicaid is increasing yearly by 12%, compared to the state increase in revenue of 5.3% annually.  Medicaid soon will consume 18% of the total budget.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1249: Landis.  To allow Metropolitan Utilities District to expand or extend its system within the Omaha city limits, Douglas County, or within 3 miles of Omaha without prior regulatory approval by the NE Public Service Commission.  MUD relies on growth to spread its fixed costs over a larger customer base and to provide additional income needed to maintain its system.  PASSED/GOOD BILL

LB 1256: Brashear.  To appropriate $40 million to create early childhood education endowments and to provide grants for early childhood education programs for kids from birth to 3 in school districts and educational service units.  An additional $1.8 million in general funds required for state aid beginning FY 2009-2010.  PASSED/BAD BILL

LB 1256A: Brashear.  To appropriate $1,978,000 in FY 2006-2007 and $2,242,000 in FY 2007-2008 to fund LB 1256.  PASSED/BAD BILL