Story by Unicameral Update
LINCOLN, Neb - Senators passed a package of education-related bills June 2, including a measure that updates several postsecondary education laws.
LB306, introduced by the Education Committee, allows the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges to enter into long-term leases or financing agreements to fund or refinance student housing and activity centers.
Additionally, it raises the base amount for capital construction projects to $5 million, which includes new buildings, renovations and acquisitions funded by tax dollars, provided that the minimum capital expenditure is met.
The measure also grants the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education the authority to act as the primary body responsible for overseeing the transition of data collection, grants, programs and related responsibilities from the U.S. Department of Education to the governing boards and administrators of Nebraska’s postsecondary institutions, or to the commission itself.
Additionally, the bill clarifies that individuals who have obtained a GED or a high school diploma equivalent are eligible for the Door to College Scholarship, which provides financial assistance for undergraduate students in Nebraska who graduated from a Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center high school or an approved public, private or parochial high school after being discharged.
LB306 also incorporates provisions from three additional bills considered by the committee this session.
Under amended provisions of LB378, introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Andersen, both public and private postsecondary institutions must report biannually on any funding received from foreign adversarial entities, including contracts, gifts and grants. Institutions must submit such reports to the postsecondary coordinating commission, which will make them publicly available on its website.
Provisions of LB497, introduced by Glenvil Sen. Dave Murman, allow students enrolled in a private, denominational, parochial or nonaccredited school to participate in extracurricular activities in the district closest to where the student’s parent resides that offers the activity if the local district does not.
Murman’s proposal also clarifies that a part-time student wishing to participate in extracurricular activities must be enrolled in at least five credit hours but is not limited to five credit hours.
Amended provisions of LB625, introduced by Norfolk Sen. Robert Dover, require the Department of Administrative Services to create and maintain a public website outlining financial information about Nebraska school districts, including details on revenue sources and expenditures.
LB306 passed on a vote of 41-8 and takes effect immediately.