Vetoed by Governor Pete Ricketts

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

A vote to pass a bill that appropriates funds for government spending for the biennium ending June 30, 2019.

Highlights:

• Authorizes state agencies to use furloughs at their discretion to address budgetary shortfalls so long as the furlough does not adversely affect the employee and employer health insurance premium contributions (Sec. 8).

• Appropriates $1.2 billion for each year of the biennium to state educational aid programs (Sec. 50).

• Specifies that $13 million will be appropriated to improving the state’s 911 network each year of the biennium (Sec. 64).

• Appropriates $224 million to the property tax credit program for each fiscal year of the biennium (Sec. 74).

• Appropriates $30 million to the upkeep of state airports in FY 2017-2018 and $25 million to the upkeep of state airports in FY 2018-2019 (Sec. 80).

• Appropriates $73 million in behavioral health aid for each fiscal year of the biennium (Sec. 97).

• Establishes that $198 million of combined state and federal funds will be appropriated to providing child welfare aid each fiscal year of the biennium (Sec. 106).

• Authorizes the Department of Roads to spend $441 million in fiscal year 2017-2018, and $448 million in fiscal year 2018-2019 (Sec. 119).

• Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to spend $10 million each fiscal year of the biennium on soil and water conservation programs (Sec. 134).

• Appropriates $230.8 million to the Department of Corrections in fiscal year 2017-2018 and $234.5 million in fiscal year 2018-2019 (Sec. 162).

• Appropriates $66 million in operational funds for the Nebraska State Patrol in 2017-2018 and $67 million in operational funds for 2018-2019 (Sec. 186).

• Requires each state agency in the State Employees Retirement System to provide all similarly situated males and females with equal benefits (Sec. 249).

Full Bill Text