Bill would authorize county solicitor ordinances

Counties could issue ordinances regulating panhandling under a bill advanced by the Legislature May 26.

LB577, introduced by Gretna Sen. John Murante, would authorize counties to regulate the operation and conduct of peddlers, hawkers or solicitors on public or private commercial property through the imposition of fees, issuance of a permit or both. Murante said that currently counties cannot regulate solicitors.

“The challenge we’re having in suburban communities is that counties do not currently have the authority to require permits for peddlers, hawkers or solicitors,” he said. “As a result, the more aggressive solicitors are leaving the cities and going to the outlying areas and there’s no way to regulate them or even know who they are.”

Any ordinance established under the bill would apply to all areas of a county’s jurisdiction, except where a similar city ordinance is in place.

A Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee amendment, adopted 33-0, would prohibit counties from charging a fee for such permits.

Senators advanced the bill to select file on a 32-0 vote.