Bills Advanced from General File

A bill to harmonize state and federal appraiser requirements was advanced from the first round of debate this week. LB717 would bring Nebraska into compliance with federal criteria that will become effective on January 1, 2015. In addition, Senator Mike Gloor has offered an interim study resolution, LR499, to examine issues related to real appraisal credentialing legislation introduced on behalf of the Real Property Appraiser Board.

Bills Advanced from Select File

Senators advanced a handful of bills with an impact on counties from the second round of debate this week.

On Tuesday, senators advanced LB464 from Select File with amendments addressing juvenile justice and truancy. One amendment would require that misdemeanors and Class IIIA and IV felonies be initiated in juvenile court. Other provisions include language to help in clarifying the roles of counties, Probation, and the Office of Juvenile Services following the enactment of LB 561 (2013), with respect to costs associated with pre-adjudication, evaluation and transportation of juveniles in the juvenile justice system. The amendment also expresses an intent to provide an additional $5 million to Community-Based Aid for counties. The truancy amendment would require school districts and families to create a plan to address school attendance problems. If a plan is unsuccessful and a student misses 20 days of school, the school could submit a report to the county attorney. Illnesses that result in attendance being impossible or impracticable would not be included when referring cases to the county attorney. 

In addition to liquor and e-cigarette provisions, LB863 would allow counties that have been maintaining an abandoned or neglected pioneer cemetery for at least five years to transfer the management of the cemetery to a cemetery association. The county planning commission, if any, would review the proposed transfer and the county board would hold a public hearing before approving the transfer by resolution.

LB1012 would clarify provisions related to the designation of formerly used defense sites as blighted for tax increment financing.

Counties could see minimal revenue from increased fees charged to car rental customers under LB251. Existing law allows rental companies to charge 4.5 percent on each rental contract lasting less than 31 days to help cover the costs of motor vehicle taxes and fees paid in Nebraska. The bill would increase the amount to 5.75 percent. Collections in excess of taxes and fees due are returned to counties for distribution according to the regular motor vehicle formula of 22 percent to counties, 60 percent to schools, and 18 percent to cities and villages. If the tax district is not in a city, 40 percent is allocated to the county. In counties with a city of the metropolitan class, counties receive 18 percent and cities receive 22 percent.  

LB946 would revise numerous election statutes, including provisions relating to the election of county surveyors.  

LB867 would revise income tax statutes and provide a limited income tax exemption for veterans. An amendment was adopted that contains provisions from LB1043, a measure to eliminate documentary stamp taxes on transfers to 501c3 corporations that are not private foundations.