Christensen bill would expand weed-free zone

Sen. Mark Christensen said the intent behind his LB751, is to eliminate as many noxious weeds as possible along stream banks.

But he doesn't expect the bill to go anywhere this session, he added, as there is plenty of weed management work going on as it is.

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The bill was introduced in committee Tuesday and would expand the perimeters of eliminating noxious weeds from 100 to 1,320 feet along stream banks.

The Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force was created last year under Legislative LB701 for the removal of invasive weeds that hinder the flow of water in rivers designated fully or over appropriated. It includes a grant program that uses State funds to implement this.

Expanding the distance to 1.320 feet would reach more levels of infestation and create a larger barrier against regrowth in the future, he maintained.

Another one of Christensen's bills, LB1041, will be heard today, he told those at the McCook Chamber of Commerce Conference call.

This bill was drafted to protect certain water purchased or leased for river-flow enhancement purposes from diversions downstream.

"I have a hard time using our tax dollars to buy something and then giving to someone who is suing us," he said.

Christensen also asked for comments about LB609, introduced by Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrge and being heard today in committee.

The bill would create the Nebraska Recruitment Promotion Act and would be implemented through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Communities eligible to apply for the competitive grants would be those that have not experienced significant positive population growth in the past ten years.

"I like the intent of it," Christensen said, as many communities in his district would appear to benefit from it.

Rex Nelson, executive director of the McCook Economic Corp., agreed, but wondered how well it would actually work, if hundreds of communities were competing for the funds.

Christensen also asked for comments concerning LB179, introduced by Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha, which would require the electronic recording of interrogations of suspects of specified felonies by law enforcement officers.

It might make people reluctant to come forward in other instances, was the response from those attending, in addition to courtrooms often limiting the use of audio recordings anyway.

Christensen said these were his concerns as well and remained cautious about the bill.

He also weighed in on LB824, introduced by Sen. DiAnna Schimek of Lincoln, that would require half of the membership of state boards commissions, committees and councils be female. A hearing for the bill is set Feb. 11.

Christensen said it was his personal policy to hire the best person qualified whether it was male or female. Problems arise when the second- or third-best qualified candidate was hired over someone who was better qualified, simply on the basis of gender.

Another reason for the majority of men on state boards is that in many instances, only males apply for open positions, he said.

But he acknowledged the challenges of the "good ol' boy" system and lack of encouragement or educational opportunities for minorities and women.