Debate Transcripts

LB 813 (1999)

Final Reading

May 6, 1999

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: The confirmation report is adopted. (visitors introduced.) Members, we'll move to Final Reading. If you could please return to your desks. we are on Final Reading. We are on Final Reading. Mr. Clerk, first bill.

CLERK: Mr. President, Senator Bohlke would move to return the bill.

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: Senator Bohlke, you're recognized on your motion to return to Select File, LB 813.

SENATOR BOHLKE: Thank you, Mr. President, and members. As presented on the floor originally, LB 813 was discussed and I explained to you that there would be some minimal changes, this is to refresh your memory, on moving some of the schools from the standard cost group to the sparse. Senator Baker and Senator Schrock had come to me with examples of schools that, if you looked at them, should be sparse. I agreed with them, and that's how it was presented. Following that, there was a printout. We did not look at a printout prior to that. And the

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printout showed that it would have what I would say very minimal percentage impacts. The standard cost group decreases by less than two-tenths of 1 percent; the sparse cost group increases by five one-hundredths of 1 percent. I'll repeat that. The standard cost group decreases by less than two-tenths of 1 percent. What that. means to some school districts, the largest school district in the state, Omaha, it reduces the ... what they would receive by fourtenths of 1 percent, the Lincoln Public Schools by five-tenths of 1 percent. The Omaha schools, when I presented this to them, said that they realize this was minimal, and recognized that, and recognized that we do not make decisions by printout; that we looked at it, those schools ... we decided those schools were sparse, and the results of the printout showed the percentages. But when you have even minimal percentages, those can have more significant dollar amounts to some of the larger schools. Because of that, some of you may have seen a letter from the greater Nebraska schools, who objected to the minimal amount, to the percentage because it comes out to about $7 per student. When that happened, a large number of the small schools were upset and that's why I thought you deserved to know that we had an ongoing emerging battle. In the end, I think everyone has agreed that the bill should go forward and that these percentages were minimal, and that this will not affect ... the amendments had... the amendment, the way they ran the printout would show that if they did it for the 1999-2000 certification, but that will not affect 1999-2000, but they had to use that because that's what information they had in place. But I felt that I needed to tell you those facts, that it certainly caused mild, no, more than mild disruption by ... within some of the schools, but that I do believe that the percentages show that it was minimal, and I stand by that. And certainly that the schools that were brought to our attention indeed look sparse. This also, I would remind you, has the emergency clause. And so, with that, Mr. President, I withdraw the motion.

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: The motion is withdrawn. Members, pursuant to Rule 6, Section 8, the question is, shall LB 813 be considered for a vote without an at large reading? Those in favor vote aye, those opposed nay. Please record.

CLERK: 37 ayes, 2 nays, Mr. President, to dispense with Final

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Reading.

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: The question is agreed to. Mr. Clerk, please read the title.

CLERK: (Read LB 813 by title.)

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: All provisions of law relative to procedure having been complied with, the question is, shall the bill pass with the emergency clause attached? Those in favor vote aye, those opposed nay. Mr. Clerk, please record.

CLERK: (Read record vote, Legislative Journal page 1900.) 44 ayes, 0 nays 5 excused and not voting, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: The bill is passed. Mr. Clerk, LB 548.

CLERK: (Read LB 548 on Final Reading.)

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: All provisions of law relative to procedure having been complied with, the question is, shall the bill pass? Those in favor vote aye, those opposed nay. Please record.

CLERK: (Read record vote, Legislative Journal pages 1900-1901.) 45 ayes, 0 nays, 4 excused and not voting, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: The bill is passed. LB 548A.

CLERK: (Read LB 548A on Final Reading.)

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: All provisions of law relative to procedure having been complied with, the question is, shall the bill pass? Those in favor vote aye, those opposed nay. Please record.

CLERK: (Read record vote, Legislative Journal page 1901.) 44 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present and not voting, 4 excused and not voting, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MAURSTAD: The bill is passed. Mr. Clerk, LB 530.

CLERK: LB 530, Mr. President. Senator Chambers would move to return the bill.

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