Upcoming Hearings
The county share of motor vehicle registration fees would be reduced by 50 cents in exchange for centralization of the distribution of postcard reminder notices of motor vehicle taxes. LB207, introduced by Sen. Beau McCoy, would decrease processing and mailing costs for counties. The bill would specifically authorize counties to charge a postage and handling fee when vehicle owners request delivery of license plates, registration certificates or decals by mail. The bill will be heard by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m.
County boards would set fees and commissions charged by sheriffs beginning on January 1, 2014 under LB65. The fees are currently set by statute. The bill will be heard by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on Jan. 30. A related bill, LB360, will be heard by the Judiciary Committee at a later date. Under LB 360, the Legislature would revise the rate specified for certain fees.
Committee Hearings
Counties would be allowed to enact a county manager form of government under a proposal heard by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on Jan. 23. LR12CA would place the question of whether a constitutional amendment should be adopted to allow the Legislature to provide for a county to adopt by a majority vote a county manager form of government on the Nov. 2104 ballot. Senators heard from county officials, city managers and others about the history of county government and options for organizing under a county manager form of government. The committee has not taken action on the proposal.
The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on LB123, which would return indigent defense fees collected in Douglas County to the county. Existing law provides for the $3 fee charged on court cases statewide to support the Commission on Public Advocacy, which provides assistance to counties in capital and other serious cases. The Commission was established in 1995 to provide property tax relief to counties.
The Committee also heard testimony on LB3, a bill to require filers of nonconsenual liens to provide a stamped, addressed envelope to the register of deeds to forward a certified copy of the filing to the property owner. Amending the bill to require the filer to give notice to the property owner was suggested by proponents and opponents. Judiciary Committee Chairman Brad Ashford asked stakeholders to provide an amendment within the next few weeks so that the committee can advance the bill.
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