Racial profiling, victim reparation changes passed

Senators passed a bill May 10 regarding the collection of racial profiling information and Nebraska Crime Victims Reparations Fund requirements.

Omaha Sen. Heath Mello introduced LB99, which removes the sunset date for the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice to collect racial profiling data and adds requirements for the commission and law enforcement.

The bill also eliminates requirements that a victim suffer at least a 10 percent loss of financial resources to qualify for compensation from the Nebraska Crime Victims Reparations Fund and that the Crime Victims Reparations Committee include in its biennial report a listing of the names, description of facts and the amount of compensation awarded to applicants. The committee will be required to electronically submit the biennial report to the Clerk of the Legislature.

The bill passed on a 46-0 vote.