LB702 LB702
2023 2023
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH LEGISLATURE
FIRST SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 702
Introduced by Murman, 38.
Read first time January 18, 2023
Committee: Education
1 A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to education; to amend section 79-1204,
2 Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2022; to change provisions
3 relating to educational service units; and to repeal the original
4 section.
5 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
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1 Section 1. Section 79-1204, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement,
2 2022, is amended to read:
3 79-1204 (1) The role and mission of the educational service units is
4 to serve as educational service providers in the State of Nebraska's
5 state's system of elementary and secondary education.
6 (2) Educational service units shall:
7 (a) Act primarily as service agencies in providing core services and
8 services identified and requested by member school districts;
9 (b) Provide for economy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the
10 cooperative delivery of educational services;
11 (c) Provide educational services through leadership, research, and
12 development in elementary and secondary education;
13 (d) Act in a cooperative and supportive role with the State
14 Department of Education and school districts in development and
15 implementation of long-range plans, strategies, and goals for the
16 enhancement of educational opportunities in elementary and secondary
17 education; and
18 (e) Serve, when appropriate and as funds become available, as a
19 repository, clearinghouse, and administrator of federal, state, and
20 private funds on behalf of school districts which choose to participate
21 in special programs, projects, or grants in order to enhance the quality
22 of education in Nebraska schools.
23 (3) Core services shall be provided by educational service units to
24 all member school districts. Core services shall be defined by each
25 educational service unit as follows:
26 (a) Core services shall be within the following service areas in
27 order of priority: (i) Staff development which shall include access to
28 staff development related to improving the achievement of students in
29 poverty and students with diverse backgrounds; (ii) technology, including
30 distance education services; and (iii) instructional materials services;
31 (b) Core services shall improve teaching and student learning by
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1 focusing on enhancing school improvement efforts, meeting statewide
2 requirements, and achieving statewide goals in the state's system of
3 elementary and secondary education;
4 (c) Core services shall provide schools with access to services
5 that:
6 (i) The educational service unit and its member school districts
7 have identified as necessary services;
8 (ii) Are difficult, if not impossible, for most individual school
9 districts to effectively and efficiently provide with their own personnel
10 and financial resources;
11 (iii) Can be efficiently provided by each educational service unit
12 to its member school districts; and
13 (iv) Can be adequately funded to ensure that the service is provided
14 equitably to the state's public school districts;
15 (d) Core services shall be designed so that the effectiveness and
16 efficiency of the service can be evaluated on a statewide basis; and
17 (e) Core services shall be provided by the educational service unit
18 in a manner that minimizes the costs of administration or service
19 delivery to member school districts.
20 (4) Educational service units shall meet minimum accreditation
21 standards set by the State Board of Education that will:
22 (a) Provide for accountability to taxpayers;
23 (b) Assure that educational service units are assisting and
24 cooperating with school districts to provide for equitable and adequate
25 educational opportunities statewide; and
26 (c) Assure a level of quality in educational programs and services
27 provided to school districts by the educational service units.
28 (5) Educational service units may contract to provide services to:
29 (a) Nonmember public school districts;
30 (b) Nonpublic school systems;
31 (c) Other educational service units; and
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1 (d) Other public agencies, under the Interlocal Cooperation Act and
2 the Joint Public Agency Act.
3 (6) Educational service units shall not regulate school districts
4 unless specifically provided pursuant to another section of law.
5 (7) The board of any educational service unit in this state may pay
6 from its funds an amount to be determined by the board for membership
7 dues in associations of school boards or boards of education.
8 Sec. 2. Original section 79-1204, Revised Statutes Cumulative
9 Supplement, 2022, is repealed.
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Statutes affected: Introduced: 79-1204