Economic development measures advance

Senators advanced a bill March 9 that would change several economic development provisions.

LB1093, introduced by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, initially dealt with cash funds for tobacco prevention and stem cell research. A committee amendment, adopted 32-0, replaced the provisions with those of three other bills.

As amended, the bill incorporates provisions of LB1017, introduced by Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, that would eliminate a residency requirement for student interns under a grant program.

The bill includes technical changes from LB1028, introduced by Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, that would require the state Department of Economic Development to contract with a statewide microenterprise development assistance organization. The department would award between $1.25 million and $2 million in fiscal year 2016-17 and between $1.5 million and $2 million in FY2018-18.

The department also would be required to contract with a statewide venture development organization and award at least $2 million to a product commercialization program.

LB1093 also incorporates provisions from an amendment to LB560, introduced by Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg, that would require the University of Nebraska’s Board of Regents to report annually to the Legislature with benchmarks that lawmakers could use to evaluate the performance of the Nebraska Innovation Campus.

Senators voted 30-0 to advance the bill to select file.