WEC worker school issue attached to gang crime bill

Thursday, April 23, 2009

A bill to allow offenders or inmates at the Nebraska Department of Corrections Work Ethic Camp in McCook to work at educational facilities has been attached to another bill.

LB 429, originally introduced by Sen. Mark Christensen, would allow the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services to enter into arrangements with school districts and other educational facilities for employment of those committed to the department, with departmental supervision.

Current state law states the Department of Corrections can enter into arrangements with other boards or agencies of the state, except those with educational facilities.

Christensen said his bill is now an amendment attached to another bill, LB 63, which gives law officers and prosecutors several tools to combat and prosecute violent crimes and gang-related offenses.

Inmates and offenders at the WEC had been providing work at area schools and colleges until last year, when corrections officials became aware of a state law that prohibits it.

Christensen said this morning at the Government Affairs Legislature Conference call at the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce that LB 63 is now on Select File, slated for the second stage of legislative debate.

Christensen said he did not anticipate any opposition to the amendment and predicted the bill would be heard next week or after the budget is done,

"We're in good shape with it. I think we'll get 'er done," he said.

Christensen also gave an update on the status of property taxes collected by natural resources districts under LB 701 and later declared illegal by the Nebraska Supreme Court. He said the taxes probably would be refunded as an offset against next year's NRD taxes.

Christensen's priority bill, LB 681, has not advanced out of the Revenue Committee and would have enacted a mechanism providing for the automatic refund of real or personal property taxes, occupation taxes, or assessments that have been declared unconstitutional by final court judgment or order.

In February, the Nebraska Supreme Court found that property taxes collected under LB 701 were unconstitutional as it collected a local tax for state purposes, the Republican River Compact.

Other lawmakers are opposed to his priority bill as they fear it would lead to multiple filings against schools, counties and NRDs that also levy taxes, Christensen said.

Comments
View 4 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • What's the matter with you people? Aren't you aware of the fact that these people are prisoners? Convicted of crimes? And you want them in close proximity to your precious children, and grandchildren? Your inocent babies? What's the matter with your thinking? God forbid!!!

    -- Posted by Mamajo630 on Thu, Apr 23, 2009, at 6:56 PM
  • I would imagine that there would be limitations on when they would be able to work. Summer break for example when the students are not there.

    -- Posted by outsidethebox on Thu, Apr 23, 2009, at 9:48 PM
  • I agree with you Mamajo630.

    Seems some people don't do much thinking!!!!!

    School should be school and a prison a prison!!!!!!!!!!

    -- Posted by Just a reader on Fri, Apr 24, 2009, at 9:23 PM
  • I would agree that it is probably not a good idea to let these inmates into a school based on the nature of their crimes. Most of these inmates are drug offenders, this is a gang related activity, that is what most wannabe gangsters do. However, I have observed drugs changing hands from one high school and junior high kid to the next in McCook. These kids are just inmates that have not been caught yet. So mamajo630, these inmates ARE our precious children and grandchildren. If your precious children and grandchildren are not involved in the illegal activity, they are subjected to it every day by the ones who are, the inmates that have not been caught yet. I dont think the WEC inmates will harm them anymore than their piers, and the WEC does not house sex offenders.

    -- Posted by seentoomuch on Tue, Apr 28, 2009, at 2:53 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: