Beatrice Daily Sun from Beatrice, Nebraska • 3

Beatrice (Neb.) Daily Sun, Tuesday, January 14, 1992 A-3 Legislature advances landfill plan Legislative Highlights By The Associated Press Here is a look at legislative developments and Capitol high lights on Monday, Jan. 13, 1992, the fourth legislauve day. LEGISLATURE Convened: 9 a.m. CST Adjourned: 4:43 pjn. until 9 a.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1992. Introduced: LBs 1029-1064; LR217CA, LR219CA. Advanced: LBs 858-59, 860-69, LBs870-71. LBs437, 764, i 1 nil He said he sees that as a way to balance the special tax committee proposal that would return business equipment and farm machinery to the tax rolls.

SEN. BRAD Ashford of Omaha offered a bill (LB 1039) that would prohibit the possession of a gun at a school or youth center. The penalty for using a firearm to commit a felony at either location would also be moved up to the next penalty class. Omaha Sen. Jerry Chizek offered a bill (LB 1045) to keep students in school until they are 18 or have a high school diploma.

Nebraska's district courts would be reduced from 21 to 12 under a bill (LB 1059) proposed by Sen. Chris Beutler of Lincoln. Unless action is taken, Nebraska would have only two judicial districts next January. That law was passed as a tactic so legislators would seriously consider a more realistic plan, Beutler said. Beutler's bill also would reduce by attrition the number of judges in Nebraska from 50 to 47.

Nebraska wastes about $500,000 a year paying too many judges, Beutler said. 312, 338, 406, 406A, 543, FLOOR HIGHLIGHTS: Introduced: A bill (LB 1063) backed by Gov. Ben Nelson that would tax income-producing personal property on a depreciation schedule, by Sens. David Landis of Lincoln, Jerome Warner of Waverly and Ron Withem of Papillion. A bill (LB 1055) that would repeal the state's personal property tax, by Sen.

Loran Schmit of Bellwood. A bill (LB 1054) that would provide an income tax credit on investment in new machinery, by Sen. Jerry Conway of Wayne. A bill (LB 1034) that would clarify sections in the state's handgun registration law, including an explanation of what type of investigation is required before a handgun purchase certificate can be issued, by Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha.

A bill (LB 1039) that would prohibit the possession of a gun at a school or youth center, by Sea Brad Ashford of Omaha, A bill (LB 1061) that would allow Douglas County to buy the Ak-Sar-Ben horse racetrack and lease it for operation, by Sen. Eric Will of Omaha. A bill (LB1059) that would reduce Nebraska's court districts from 21 to 12 and by attrition reduce the number of district judges from 50 to 47, by Sen. Chris Beutler of Lincoln. A bill (LB 1049) that would limit recovery in lawsuits brought against the state under the Tort Claims Act to $1 million in claims against one employee arising from one incident and all claims arising from a single occurrence to $5 million, by Sen.

Doug Kristensen of Mindcn. A bill (LB 1050) that would make the Douglas County Treasurer's office responsible for all motor vehicle licensing titles, registration, license plates and renewals, by Sen. John Groundwater fund bill also advances another round By J.L. Schmidt Associated Press writer LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Companies wanting, to import garbage for Nebraska's landfills would be regulated under a measure that received first-round approval in the Legislature.

The bill (LB406) establishes criteria for issuing permits to solid waste importers and the creation of transfer stations and related facilities. Also receiving first-round approval Monday was a measure (LB338) that would create the Ground Water Quality Maintenance Fund. The bill would allow the state's Natural Resources Districts and the state Department of Environmental Control to address groundwater quality issues, said Sea Rod Sutton, chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. ON MONDAY, the 205-page plan from the governor's special tax committee and two other measures aimed at solving the state's personal property tax crisis were introduced. The plan based on the recommendation from Gov.

Ben Nelson's special tax committee was introduced by Sens. David Landis of Lincoln, Jerome Warner of Waverly and Ron Withem of Papillion. The measure (LB 1063) would tax personal property on a depreciated value basis. A proposed constitutional amendment (LR219CA), also introduced Monday, would seek voter approval to allow the Legislature to tax personal property and real estate using 4. 1 Senatorial Call Nebraska Sen.

Spencer Morris-sey of Tecumseh relaxes while taking a phone call in the legislative chambers Monday in Lincoln. Calls for senators while they are in session are transferred to these special phones. AP LASERPHOTO The measure also would eliminate one-judge districts in Nebraska, he said. Omaha Sen. Eric Will's (LB 1061) would allow Douglas County to buy the state's largest horse racetrack and lease it for operation.

Under the proposal, the state Racing Commission would have to approve any contract for operating Ak-Sar-Ben. The company or person hired for operating Ak-Sar-Ben would be able to share a percentage of the money received from betting or admissions. different methods. A plan that would simply repeal the personal property tax was sponsored by Sen. Loran Schmit of Bellwood.

Eight other senators joined Schmit. as co- sponsors of, the measure (LB 1055). Sen. Jerry Conway of Wayne offered a measure to provide an income tax "credit on investment in new machinery (LB 1054). Death penalty repeal losesisome support Lindsay of Omaha.

A bill (LB 1060) that would guarantee that visually impaired people be given the opportunity to learn braille, by Sen. Di Anna Schimek of Lincoln. A bill (LB 1044) that would require instructors at Nebraska colleges and universities to be fluent in the English language, by Sen. Ron Withem of Papillion. A bill (LB 1030) that would require that farmers buy a device to shut off irrigation systems in the event of heavy rain if the irrigation system is applying chemicals, by Sen.

George Coordsen of Hebron. A bill (LB 1043) that orders the University of Nebraska Board of Regents to establish a review committee to monitor the governor's research initiative funds, by Sen. Ron Withem of Papillion. AROUND THE CAPITOL: Four legislators withdrew their jSupport from a bill that would repeal the state's death penalty. Sen.

Ernie Chambers of, Omaha, chief sponsor of the measure (LB327) said he hoped the 5 measure's loss of co-spohsors wouldn't necessarily mean a loss" of votes. The loss of die co-sponsors appeared to leave the bill with 19 co-sponsors. On the lighter side: "It is unwise for the chickens to go to Colonel Sanders to have their interests looked after!" said Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers as he described the relationship between the Legislature and the attorney general. IN OTHER FLOOR ACTION: A 26-6 vote gave first-round approval to a proposed constitutional amendment (LR9CA) that would give local governments control over liquor licenses for retail and bottle club use, and specify that a liquor license is a privilege and not a property right.

Abandoned first-round debate on a proposal (LB228) to let the Legislature hire its own general counsel after opponents I Four supporters jdrop as sponsors of Chambers bill By Ed Howard Associated Press writer row inmate Harold Lamont Otey on Sept. 27, 1990. In the letter, Chambers noted his bill called for life without parole. "The 'without parole' won't mean much in reality because the Pardon Board always will have the power to reduce any sentence the letter says. William Beatty Brown of Amicus Nebraska said the Chambers letter represented an effort to fool Nebraskans and other lawmakers.

Ashford and Will said they had co-sponsored the measure to ensure a debate on the propriety of a death penalty statute that hasn't been used since mass killer Charles Starkweather went to the electric chair in 1959. Ashford said he wanted to sit as a juror in the debate. "I want to be an independent contractor, so to speak, and not committed to a vote going in," Ashford said. as possible. I am not convinced that all of those who have taken their names off as co-sponsors are going to vote against the bill," Chambers said.

The Chambers measure would replace the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment. However, the Pardons Board would retain authority to commute such a sentence to a specific number of years and thus make any prisoner eligible for eventual parole. It would take 25 votes to pass the measure and 30 votes to override a promised veto by Gov. Ben Nelson. The Legislature passed a bill in 1979 to repeal the death penalty, but supporters couldn't override the veto of then-Gov.

Charles Thone. There are 12 men on Nebraska's death row. Amicus Nebraska, a group which favors retaining the death penalty, distributed copies of a letter Chambers wrote to death sponsors appeared to leave the bill with 19 co-sponsors. Withdrawing as co-sponsors were Sens. Brad Ashford and Eric.

Will of Omaha, Arlene Nelson of Grand Island and Jennie Robak of Columbus. Sen. Paul Hartnett of Bellevue withdrew his support of the bill last year. The bill lost another supporter when former Sen. Jacky Smith of Hastings resigned from the Legislature.

Ashford, Will and Nelson each said contacts from their constituents influenced their decisions to withdraw as co-sponsors. "In this instance, for right now, I guess I am saying that I am going along with the inclinations of my constituents rather than my own inclinations," Mrs. Nelson said. Chambers said passage of the bill, not the number of co-sponsors, was important. "I want to get a vote with as many of them (senators) on hand moved to kill the bill.

Sens. Doug Kristensen of Minden and Er LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) The chief sponsor of a measure to repeal the state's death penalty said he hoped the sudden loss of four co-sponsors wouldn't mean the a loss of votes for the bill's advancement. The measure was on the Legislature's agenda today, set- ting the stage for an issue that usually gives rise to intense and sometimes emotional debate. Speaker of the Legislature Dennis Baack of Kimball said it was likely that discussion of the plan to repeal the death penalty (LB327) would begin sometime today.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, chief sponsor of the measure, said the loss of the four nie Chambers of Omaha said the Legislature needs private counsel, particularly when it is at odds with the attorney general's office on policy matters. OLD-FASHIONED VALUES Take up to LB 1058 Provide for emergency medical techniclans-AM and emergency medical technicians-IV. Morrissey, Baack, Rogers. LB1059 Change provisions relating to district court judicial districts.

Beutler. LB 1060 Authorize instruction in Braille reading and writing for visually handicapped children. Schimek, Crosby. LB 1061 Permit agreements for operation and management of racetracks and horseracing facilities. Will.

LB1062 Authorize county attorney to review cases of juveniles placed in out of home placement. Landis, Baack, Bernard-Stevens, et LB 1063 Change provisions relating to revenue and taxation. Warner, Landis, Wiihem, request of governor. LB 1064 Change provisions relating to workers' compensation. Coordsen.

LR2 1 7CA Constitutional amendment to allow Legislature to enact laws upon ratification by the people. Beutler. LR219CA Constitutional amendment to allow Legislature to provide for taxation of tangible property. Warner, Landis, Withem, request of governor. THE SALE PRICE all previously marked down merchandise! Daily Specials LB 1045 Change a provision relating to compulsory school attendance.

Chizek. LB 1046 Change provisions relatingto juvenile detention facilities. Bernard-Stevens. LB 1047 Appropriate funds to Department of Social Services to increase Title XX respite care rates. Lynch.

LB 1048 Change provisions relating to the high-rise building fire code. Wiihem. LB1049 Provide for limit on recovery in actions brought under the State Tort Claims Act Kristensen. LB 1050 Consolidate services relating to motor vehicle registrations, titles and license plates. Lindsay.

LB 105 1 Exclude civilian employees of county sheriff's office from classified service. Robak. LB 1052 Provide for license to sell liquor outside corporate limits of cities and villages. Robak. LB 1053 Establish statute of limitations for civil actions based on childhood sexual -abuse.

WiE LB 1054 Create a tax credit for depreciable personal property. Conway. LB1055 Exempt all personal property other than motor vehicles from taxation. Schmit, Coordsen, Dierks, et LB 1056' Appropriate funds to Department of Social Services for domestic violence programs. Crosby, Ashford, Bernard-Stevens, Robak.

LB1057 -r Change the contribution rate in the county employee's retirement system. Nelson, Chizek, Cudaback, et 20 Off The Sale Price Bills Digest- LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Here are the bills introduced in the Nebraska Legislature on Monday, Jan. 13. Those introduced by Sunland area senators are boldfaced.

LB 1029 Provide registration forms be mailed with challenge to voter registration notice. Coords n. LB10J0 Require a shut-off device on Irrigation distribution systems. Coordsen. LB 1031 Exclude luxury limousine ler-vice from certificate of public convenience requirement.

HalL LB 1032 contractor or repairperson and retail sale or sale at retail for sales tax. Hall. LB1033 Change provisions relating to trust companies. Landis. U31034 Provide additional reasons to deny an application for certificate tQobtain a handgun.

Ashford. LB 1035 Adopt the Heallh Maintenance Organization Authorization Protection Act. Chizek. LB 1036 Change provision for statements required by sanitary and improvement districts. Ashford.

LB 1037 Change the penalty for the offense of false reporting. Ashford. LB1038 Redefine a term relating to the practice of pharmacy. Ashford. LB 1039 Prohibit possession of a gun on the premises of a school or youth center.

LB 1040 Change retirement plan contribution rates for Lancaster County employees. Crosby, Landis, Schimek, Warner, Wesely. LB1041 Change provisions for child custody or visitation determinations. Crosby. LB 1042 Prohibit use of certain titles relating to professional engineers and.

architects. Crosby. LB 1043 Establish the Nebraska Research Initiative Program. Withem. LB 1044 State intent regarding poslsecondary educational instruction.

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