2008 Legislative Bills of Concern: By Al Riskowski, Executive Director of Nebraska Family Council

The lawmaking process in Nebraska officially begins when a senator introduces a bill at the start of each Legislative Session. That bill is then heard by one of the 14 standing committees. About 8 State Senators make up each committee. It is common for a State Senator to sit on at least two committees. Once a committee hears public testimony, has a debate and proposes any amendments to a bill then it votes on moving a bill out of committee. If a bill receives a majority vote of the committee it is moved to general file and then debated by the full legislature. The 2008 session is the second year of a two year cycle. Bills that do not get passed by the end of 2008 session will be terminated and the legislative bill process will start over in 2009.

Bills before the 2008 Legislative Session that Nebraska Family Council is watching:

A Pro-Life Bill, A Ban on Human Cloning

We know that the pro-life effort is a political battle in part but more than anything, it is a spiritual battle. In so many instances we have experienced progress when people have prayed to fortify our political work. We have never made progress without prayer. Please pray and make spiritual sacrifices for the success of our pro-life legislative agenda. With God's help, our human efforts will be magnified many times over and in time, we shall be blessed with victory over the culture of death.

Thank you very much.
Mike Foley

LB 700 (Introduced by Sen. Mark Christensen) Adopt the Human Cloning Prohibition Act. No Human Cloning research would be allowed with the passage of this bill. This bill had a public hearing before the Judiciary Committee in March of 2007. This bill was killed by Judiciary committee. A study on Human Cloning took place last fall.

LB 606 (Introduced by Sen. Brad Ashford)
The Nebraska Legislature moved legislative bill 606 to the final round of debate and probable passage. This bill will ban all human cloning from being preformed in any state facility or with state funds. The Stem Cell Research Act also limits all state facility and state funds be used for research which does not involve the destruction of a human embryo.

This bill does not stop researchers from using federally approved embryonic stem cell lines for research. LB 606 does not put any prohibition on private research however, we are not aware of any private labs doing this type of research in the state.

Sen. Steve Lathrop, who led the compromise between the pro-life community and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, stated this bill will:

• Create a stem cell research cash fund that will provide matching funds up to $500,000 a year to be used for nonembryonic stem cell research.
  
• Prohibit the use of state facilities and funds to create a human embryo and destroy it for research purposes.
  
• Prohibit state facilities and state funds to be used for the creation of a human embryo by somatic cell nuclear transfer or human cloning.
  
  We worked on this bill and are in support of it. We feel it is a step in the right direction for Nebraska.
  
  Sexual Orientation Bill.
  
  LB 475 (Introduced by Sen. Chambers)
  Prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. This bill was given a public hearing before Judiciary Committee. The original bill did not allow for a religious exemption or for para-church ministries. This bill does not contain a definition for sexual orientation. Such a bill could have a major impact on the Christian Community if it would pass. The bill came before the full Legislature last year and Senators voted to indefinitly postpone debate. The bill will not come back to the floor of the Legislature this year. However, we could see Sen. Chambers attempt to attach the bill as an amendment.
  
  LB 571 (Introduced by Sen. Kruse) This bill would allow for the adoption of a child by any two adults, two adults who are not married could then adopt. This could be very hurtful to children. It was heard by Judiciary Committee but has not been voted out of committee.
  
  
  
  Family Related Bills.
  
  LB 1141 (Introduced by Sen. DiAnna Schimek)
  This bill motivated over 1,300 individuals to come to the State Capitol in protest. If passed, this bill would place unnecessary requirements on home school educators.
  
  Sen. Schimek decided not to prioritize the bill nor did the Education Committee. The Education Committee, in which it had a public hearing, has not been willing to vote this bill out and let it have any chance to come before the full legislature. With the legislature set to adjourn on April 17th of 2008, it is very doubtful this bill will be debated this year. Since this is the second year of the legislative cycle all bills that are not passed by the end of the session will be terminated. Sen. Schimek will not return to the legislature because of term limits. Unless another Senator introduces this bill next year it will not come up again.
  
  It is possible Sen. Schimek could call for an "interim study" to be done this summer. An interim study would attempt to come up with reasons for placing more requirements on home school educators and encourage another senator to introduce a bill.
  
  
  LB 696 (Introduced by Sen. Christensen) This bill would encourage individuals to receive 8 hours of marriage education before getting married. A number of states have passed this type of legislation with positive results on marriages. This bill came before Judiciary Committee in March of 2007, it is still stuck in committee. It is doubtful it will be voted out of committee this session.
  
  LB 554 (Introduced by Sen. Flood) This bill would require the courts to rule in regard to the best interests of a child and a parenting plan be developed in a divorce hearing. This bill was heard before Judiciary Committee in March of 2007 and was passed. An amended bill is before the Legislature this year to help clear up some difficultes created in the original bill.
  
  LB 461 (Introduced by Sen. Dubas) This bill would establish rights for Foster Care Parents. This is a step in the right direction for foster care. This was heard before Health and Human Services. This bill passed the first of three rounds of debate. It may not come back on the floor of Legislature. Sen. Dubas may introduce the bill once again in 2009 after some changes have been made.
  
  
  Expanded Gambling Bill
  
  LB 546 (Itroduced by Sen. Synowiecki) This is a bill that we face most every year. It is the horse racing industry's attempt to put slots at the tracks. This bill was heard before the General Affairs Committee but no action has been taken on it yet.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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