Omnibus education package approved

Senators passed an omnibus education bill April 10 aimed at strengthening student protections and updating teacher policies.

Among other provisions, LB937, introduced by the Education Committee, aligns state law with current educational practices and ensures that teachers who become eligible to teach dual enrollment courses qualify for the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act high-need retention grant.

Additionally, the bill requires option enrollment reports to include approved applications, removes obsolete language related to solar and wind energy funding, aligns the College Pathway Program Act with state procurement processes and sets an Oct. 15 deadline for property tax authority requests and annual census reports.

The measure includes provisions of several additional education-related bills.

Under LB1146, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, students may not be considered truant for absences related to medical or mental health needs, pregnancy or parenting responsibilities, disabilities or homelessness if those absences are excused by a parent or guardian and supported by appropriate documentation.

Absences due to physical or mental illness must be documented by a credentialed health professional and are subject to periodic review for students with chronic conditions.

LB1164, sponsored by Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings, establishes statewide guidelines for awarding college credit for prior learning exams. The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education must approve and publish a list of recognized exams and minimum passing scores by Sept. 1.

Provisions of LB1224, introduced by Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, bar individuals convicted of certain felonies from working with students at unaccredited schools. The measure also prohibits a parent, guardian or educational decisionmaker who is the subject of a substantiated child abuse or neglect investigation from transferring or disenrolling their student during the investigation.

The package also includes provisions of LB1241, sponsored by Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil. Those provisions require applicants for school positions involving regular contact with students to disclose seven years of prior employment involving children. The measure also authorizes the release of related records and requires reporting of past child abuse or sexual misconduct investigations, separations or license actions.

Murman’s LB1243 prohibits school boards from requiring students to enroll in more than the minimum district credit hours set by a national or state organization in order to participate in extracurricular activities.

Finally, the package was amended on select file April 7 to include provisions of LB599, introduced by Bennington Sen. Wendy DeBoer. Those provisions adopt the K-12 Education Cybersecurity Act and create a coordinating council.

The measure requires the state Department of Education to purchase or develop a standardized cybersecurity readiness assessment and authorizes up to $250,000 in state lottery funds to support the effort.

Following the 34-0 adoption of the DeBoer amendment and several additional technical amendments, senators advanced LB937 to final reading by voice vote.

The bill passed on a 49-0 vote April 10.