WEC worker school issue attached to gang crime bill
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.