Senators gave first-round approval March 7 to a bill that would establish a planning commission for the 150th anniversary of Nebraska statehood. Under LB744, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery, the governor would appoint 17 members to the Nebraska Sesquicentennial Commission. The commission would work with state agencies, boards and commissions to develop programs to…
The state Department of Agriculture would provide the Legislature a report about Nebraska’s dairy industry under a bill advanced from general file March 6. LB941, introduced by Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz, would require that the report examine Nebraska’s milk production and processing, marketing and expansion opportunities, productivity comparisons and trends and efforts to recruit dairies…
A partnership established to examine how best to control costs and improve quality in Nebraska’s health care system is continued under a resolution adopted March 7. LR422, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, builds on a resolution adopted by the Legislature in 2013, which designated the Health and Human Services Committee, in cooperation with the…
Lawmakers approved a measure March 7 that establishes a special investigative committee of the Legislature to study the state’s public benefit access system. LR400, introduced by Fullerton Sen. Annette Dubas, establishes the ACCESSNebraska Special Investigative Committee of the Legislature. ACCESSNebraska is an online and call center system developed by the state Department of Health and…
Senators approved a resolution March 7 that will provide ongoing evaluation of the state’s tax incentive programs. LR444, introduced by the Legislative Performance Audit Committee, will create the Tax Incentive Evaluation Committee. The committee will develop a proposal for evaluating the state’s tax incentive programs and report to the Legislature by Dec. 15, 2014. Committee…
A bill that would update a program to provide foster care transition services was amended March 7 to authorize a pilot program for alternative response in certain Nebraska child welfare cases. LB853, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill, would rename, amend and update the Young Adult Voluntary Services and Support Act that was passed by…
More retirees would be eligible for property tax relief under a bill advanced from general file March 6. LB986, introduced by the Revenue Committee, would change the Nebraska homestead exemption program by increasing the maximum eligible income from $28,500 to $46,900 for partial exemptions to married claimants older than 65. The maximum eligible income for…
A bill that would postpone certain proposed Medicaid authorization and payment changes advanced from general file March 7. LB1076, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, would postpone until 2015 changes in Medicaid authorization and payment for medically necessary home health services and reimbursement rates. Campbell said the bill would require the state Department of Health…
A bill intended to provide protections and remedies for victims of wage theft advanced from general file March 6. As introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, LB560 would require employers to provide employees with an itemized statement listing their wages and deductions on each payday and give 30 days’ written notice before altering an employees’…
A bill intended to slow proposed Medicaid changes in Nebraska advanced from general file March 6. LB854, introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, would prohibit the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) from releasing a request for proposals relating to procurement of Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) prior to Sept. 1, 2015….
