Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee hearings

LB388 would allow remote notarization in Nebraska. Currently only two states -Virginia and Montana - have adopted remote notarization. A vendor for remote notary services testified that a document could be scanned or uploaded to a website and signed on a smartphone or by typing into a computer keypad. After verifying the signer's identity over Skype or similar technology, the notary could attach a digital seal that would be locked with the document for electronic recording. The Secretary of State's office testified that a physical presence is one of the hallmarks of notarization and noted that at least one national task force is examining remote notary transactions.

 

Two bills would revise budget calculations for political subdivisions subject to the Nebraska Budget Act. LB431 would limit the maximum cash reserve budgeted to 50 percent of the total amount received from real and personal property taxes. LB432 would eliminate a 5 percent allowance for uncollected property taxes. Both bills were directed at entities that have accumulated sizeable cash reserves.

 

Budget hearings would have to be held on a separate day from other public meetings under LB479. The budget could be adopted no earlier than 30 days after the hearing. Possible amendments to replace the 30 day timeline with a "reasonable" period and allow hearings on the same day as a regular meeting were discussed during the hearing.  

 

The committee has taken no action on these bills.

 

Business and Labor Committee

Law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency responders and others killed in the line of duty would be eligible for $50,000 compensation under LB212. As written, the state would cover the costs. Participants in the NACO life insurance plan already have double indemnity coverage for deaths in the line of duty. The Business and Labor Committee took no action on the bill.

 

Transportation and Telecommunications Committee

Counties in excess of 150,000 would not have to open road and bridge bids in the presence of the county board under an amendment presented to the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on LB86. As introduced, the bill would strike these requirements for all counties. All bids would still be open to the public and decisions on bids would be made at public meetings, but contractors would not have to wait through other agenda items for their bids to be opened during a county board meeting.

 

LB271 would allow the Nebraska Department of Roads to assume responsibility from the U.S. Department of Transportation for environmental and other reviews on proposed transportation projects. Eleven other states have assumed full or partial responsibility for such reviews in exchange for faster timelines and lower project costs. Kyle Schneweis, the Director of the Department of Roads, testified in support of the bill, along with several contractors and public entities.

 

Judiciary Committee

Counties would be responsible for providing counsel to juveniles pursuant to LB158. At the juvenile's first court appearance, the court would inform the juvenile and his or her parents about the right to continued representation. The lack of attorneys in rural areas would present challenges for counties looking for attorneys to represent juveniles. Counties were encouraged by Judiciary Committee members to consider using video arraignments and other technology to fill the gaps.

 

 

Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee

Counties could pay prior service retirement benefits on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis under a bill heard by the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee on Tuesday. Only 12 counties pay the benefits to employees hired prior to 1973. LB32 would eliminate the requirement to issue monthly checks in small amounts and instead allow the amounts to be aggregated before distribution.