Education funding study passed

The use of lottery dollars for education funding will be studied under a bill passed by the Legislature May 23.

LB497, introduced by Cedar Rapids Sen. Kate Sullivan, requires the Education Committee to conduct a study of potential uses of lottery funds dedicated to education.

The committee will submit findings to the Legislature by Dec. 31, which will include:
• educational priorities of the state;
• types of educational activities that would be better funded by state lottery funds than state general funds;
• whether state lottery funds should be used for significant projects requiring temporary funding or to sustain ongoing activities; and
• whether periodic reviews of lottery fund use for education should be scheduled.

It also creates the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund. All lottery proceeds earmarked for education after July 1, 2016 will be directed to the fund. Additionally, all funds remaining in the Education Innovation Fund and Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund on June 30, 2016 will be directed to the fund.

The bill passed on a 42-0 vote.