Fee cap reinstated, bill advanced

After several hours of discussion, lawmakers amended and advanced a bill Feb. 3 that would make a technical change to language regarding certifications by the Nebraska secretary of state.

As introduced by Omaha Sen. Pete Pirsch, LB278 would have made the following changes to procedures at the secretary of state’s office:
• change from “letter” to “certificate” the document electronically transmitted to indicate that a business is properly registered;
• remove a $2,000 fee cap per request for batch requests for images of records accessed over the Internet; and
• clarify language regarding pricing for content and images stored in the Corporations and Uniform Commercial Code databases.

Concerns were raised during general and select file debate regarding the fee cap and clarifying language. A motion to bracket the bill until April 17, 2014, was offered and withdrawn by Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher on Jan. 31.

Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers offered a series of amendments to the measure. The last of the amendments, adopted 26-1, removed all provisions except the change from letter to certificate regarding registering businesses with the secretary of state’s office.

Pirsch supported the amendment, saying retaining the change was the most important aspect of the bill.

“That would be meaningful and that is something that we could achieve in this session without a filibuster,” he said.

Following adoption of the Chambers amendment, the bill advanced to final reading by voice vote.