Fiscal volatility, corrections strategic report bill approved

Lawmakers gave final approval April 7 to a bill that requires the Legislature’s fiscal office to report on revenue volatility.

LB33, introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, requires the fiscal office to produce a revenue volatility report in advance of new biennial budgets.

A strategic plan requirement for the state Department of Correctional Services, originally introduced by Mello as LB32, was amended into the bill during select file debate.

As amended, LB33 requires the state Department of Correctional Services to include a strategic plan in their budget appropriation requests for the biennium ending June 30, 2019, and the biennium ending June 30, 2021. The plan will identify the main purpose of each departmental program and provide key goals as measures of progress.

The plan also will include benchmarks for improving performance on key goals and time frames for meeting them. The department will be required to report to the Judiciary and Appropriations committees by Sept. 15, 2017, and each year after until 2021.

The bill passed 44-0.