Economic development measures amended, advanced

Senators advanced a select file bill March 22 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 on general file replaced the provisions with those of three other bills.

The bill includes technical changes from LB1028, introduced by Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln. The provisions would require the state Department of Economic Development to contract with a statewide microenterprise development assistance organization and a statewide venture development organization.

LB1093 also incorporated 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.

The bill contains additional provisions from Omaha Sen. Brett Lindstrom’s LB1017 that would eliminate a residency requirement for student interns under a grant program.

Mello introduced an amendment, adopted 34-0, that would extend the program to eleventh and twelfth grade students.

A Morfeld amendment, adopted 32-0, incorporated provisions of his LB987 that would create a bioscience steering committee made up of five senators. The committee would study bioscience’s impact on the state’s economy and identify ways to stimulate job growth in science, technology and engineering and encourage biotechnology companies to locate in Nebraska.

Senators advanced the bill to final reading on a voice vote.