LINCOLN - Future members of the Omaha-area learning community council would not receive per-diem payments for their work under a bill given final approval Tuesday by the Legislature.
Learning community council members now are allowed up to $200 a day in per diem payments, with a maximum of $12,000 per year. Last year, $192,000 in per diems were paid out
Legislative Bill 937, approved 38-8, allows current members to continue receiving per diem payments through the end of their terms.
Other bills given final approval:
• Cities such as Bellevue and La Vista would be helped in redeveloping dilapidated business areas and developing large tourist attractions, such as indoor water parks and destination museums.
The measure, Legislative Bill 1018, is called the Nebraska Advantage Transformational Tourism and Redevelopment Act.
With voter approval, it allows for increased city sales taxes generated by a project to be refunded to aid financing of the project.
Sen. Abbie Cornett of Bellevue mentioned the redevelopment of the Fort Crook Road area of Bellevue and a vacant Walmart Supercenter in La Vista as possible projects.
• Names of state tax cheats who owe more than $20,000 would be published on the Web sites of the Nebraska Departments of Revenue and Labor under LB 879.
The so-called “wall of shame” may help obtain payments, according to state officials.
• Children exploited by pornographers could file civil lawsuits against those who produced, distributed or possessed such materials under LB 728, passed 47-1.
The bill, patterned after a Florida law and pushed by Attorney General Jon Bruning, is viewed as a deterrent to the spread of such pornography over the Internet.
“These images and videos are passed around the world like a virus,” Bruning said. “Every time a photo or video is shared, that child is victimized all over again.”
• More Nebraska college students could qualify for state financial help next school year under LB 956.
The Nebraska Opportunity Grant Act would provide aid to some students whose family income is too high for federal Pell Grants.
Students with an expected family contribution of $6,000 or less could qualify for state grants. The maximum family contribution level would increase each year.
The bill also would increase the maximum amount of aid, raising the cap to 50 percent of tuition and fees for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, up from 25 percent now.
• The Game and Parks Commission would have wider latitude to address deer problems under LB 836, passed 46-1.
The bill also would allow the shooting of mountain lions that are preying on livestock or threatening humans.
The measure would prevent what one lawmaker said was a practice by some landowners to “shoot, shovel and shut up” about predatory mountain lions.
The commission could extend hunting seasons on an emergency basis to increase the number of deer killed.
The extensions would be in addition to special “depredation” deer-hunting seasons allowed in targeted areas.
Contact the writer:
402-473-9583, martha.stoddard@owh.com
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