Military commission amended, advanced

Lawmakers amended and advanced a bill from select file March 17 that would create a commission to protect the state’s military installations, attract new missions and serve Nebraska’s military members and veterans.

LB754, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford, would establish the Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs. The governor-appointed commission would assist the state in attracting and maintaining military missions, Crawford said.

Among other duties, the commission would be authorized to:
• receive and administer funds;
• address matters of military significance in Nebraska;
• conduct activities relating to economic development;
• conduct activities relating to the welfare of veterans; and
• advise the governor, Legislature, Nebraska’s congressional delegation and other governmental officials where appropriate.

Bellevue Sen. Tommy Garrett offered an amendment on select file that would authorize the Nebraska National Guard to utilize the Nebraska Code of Military Justice.

Garrett said the amendment would allow National Guard unit commanders to use non-judicial punishment procedures—also known as Article 15—for situations in which a member is accused of a minor offense.

“The potential punishments are administrative in nature and minor in severity,” he said. “The process is command-directed and handled within the unit.”

Omaha Sen. Bob Krist supported the amendment, saying the option of Article 15 is useful to commanders in bringing unbecoming conduct to a member’s attention and instilling order in a unit.

“It’s a tool that a commander can use on active duty and it is not available currently to our guard members,” Krist said. “It’s good for your troops; it’s good command discipline.”

The amendment was adopted 30-1 and the bill advanced to final reading on a 40-1 vote.