Modification, elimination of state boards and commissions proposed

The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony Feb. 13 on a proposal to modify or eliminate more than three dozen state-established entities.

LB346, introduced by La Vista Sen. John Arch at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen, proposes modification or elimination of 46 boards, commissions, committees and councils.

Arch said such entities, which are created by Legislative action, often arise in reaction to a specific event or crisis and are not revisited to see if they remain relevant. There currently are more than 225 such entities statewide, he said, and LB346 is part of an effort by the governor’s office to create efficiencies in state government.

“Periodic review of these government-created boards, commissions, committees and councils is imperative to ensure that they aren’t performing tasks that can be efficiently absorbed by another entity, aren’t carrying out duplicative functions or are no longer serving a purpose as originally intended,” Arch said.

Kenny Zoeller, director of the Governor’s Policy Research Office, testified in support of the measure. The governor is directly responsible for appointing members to more than 1,300 board and commission positions, he said, and it often is difficult to find individuals who meet the specific appointment criteria.

LB346 would eliminate 400 of those appointments, Zoeller said, resulting in more streamlined and efficient government. He said the governor’s office sees the measure as a starting point and is willing to reconsider any entity’s continued inclusion in it.

“We understood that this legislation would not be perfect and would require input from all stakeholders,” Zoeller said. “Since the introduction of this bill, we have worked to be open with anyone and everyone who has contacted our office. There is no intent to cut people off at the knees.”

Opponents to the measure included Bob Ripley, former Nebraska State Capitol Administrator, who testified against a proposed change to the qualifications for that position included in LB346.

Currently, the Capitol administrator is required to hold a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in architecture from an accredited college or university and have at least five years of administrative experience in historic preservation and planning, design and completion of major construction projects.

LB346 would lower the requirement to either an architectural degree or five years of historic preservation experience.

“The difference of this one word is enormous,” Ripley said, adding that his 40-year career as head of the Capitol Commission involved more than $225 million of work on the Capitol.

He said that work required applying his architectural degree and licensure experience, knowledge of building materials and construction techniques, architectural history, knowledge of city planning and contract administration.

“I ask [you] to uphold a high standard for the long-term care of our landmark Capitol by not changing the existing statute and keeping a licensed architect overseeing the future of the most valuable building in this region of the country,” Ripley said.

Sage Leis of the Nebraska Children’s Commission also opposed the measure.

The 22-member commission was created in 2012 after an investigation by the Legislature discovered gaps in service delivery in the state’s child welfare system, she said, and LB346 would eliminate two subcommittees that are necessary to the commission’s duties and mission.

Leis said members of the Foster Care Reimbursement Rate Committee and the Bridge to Independence Advisory Committee are subject matter experts who are invaluable to the Nebraska Children’s Commission’s work.

“It would be a shame for us to not be able to provide the level of information and detail that we do to you all if we were to lose [those subcommittees],” Leis said.

The committee took no immediate action on LB346.