Ignition interlock bill amended, advanced

Senators amended and advanced a bill from select file March 31 that would reduce penalties for violating ignition interlock device restrictions.

Introduced by Wilber Sen. Russ Karpisek, LB998 would downgrade the penalty for using a vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock device for those restricted to driving only vehicles with the device. Ignition interlock devices prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver has a blood-alcohol level of .03 or higher. The penalty would be reduced from a Class IV felony to a Class I misdemeanor

Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill filed a motion to suspend the rules to permit the consideration of an amendment to the bill, which was approved on a second attempt on a 41-1 vote.

The amendment, adopted 30-0, added to the bill provisions of her LB1034 that would prohibit a person from knowingly photographing, filming, recording or broadcasting images of another person’s intimate areas without that person’s consent, regardless of whether the person is in a public or private place.

Currently, Nebraska statute prohibits photography only in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as restrooms and locker rooms.

An initial violation of the law would be a Class I misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to one year of incarceration. A subsequent violation would be a Class IV felony, punishable by a $10,000 fine and up to five years of incarceration. Sharing images or video made in violation of the proposed law would be a Class III felony, punishable by up to 50 years imprisonment.

Additionally, if an offender is at least 19 years old and the victim is younger than 18, the offender would be required to register as a sex offender.

“These women are victims,” McGill said. “It’s honestly ridiculous we don’t have something in statute addressing this issue right now.”

McGill filed another motion to suspend the rules to consider a second amendment, which succeeded on a 30-0 vote.

The amendment contained provisions of her LB933, which would update current law that prohibits human trafficking. Prohibited actions would include debt bondage, threats of deportation, controlling or threating to control access to controlled substances and exploitation of disabilities. It was adopted 30-0.

Hastings Sen. Les Seiler also filed a motion to suspend the rules to consider adding provisions from his LB441, which was approved on a 32-1 vote.

Seiler’s amendment, adopted 30-0, would update the Nebraska Probate Code by clarifying who may be authorized to organize a funeral.

Senators adopted a technical amendment from Omaha Sen. Burke Harr 27-0 and advanced the bill on a voice vote.