This bill amends various sections of Nebraska's statutes to enhance access to public benefits for eligible aliens and their dependents. It introduces definitions for terms such as "approved identification document" and "eligible alien," allowing these individuals to receive public benefits related to employment, including retirement benefits and educational financial aid. The bill ensures that family members or dependents of eligible aliens can access the same benefits as other employees, regardless of their lawful presence in the U.S. It also mandates state agencies to verify the lawful presence of applicants for public benefits while providing exceptions for certain emergency services and prenatal care. Key changes include the removal of outdated provisions and the introduction of new language that clarifies eligibility criteria, emphasizing that verification must be conducted without regard to race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or national origin.

Additionally, the bill amends the County Employees Retirement Act and related statutes to clarify eligibility requirements for participation in the retirement system, specifying that employees must be U.S. citizens, lawfully present, or eligible aliens. It requires both the employing member county and the employee to maintain at least one approved identification document. The bill also addresses the responsibilities of the retirement board and affected entities if a governmental entity no longer qualifies as a participating employer under the Internal Revenue Code. Furthermore, it introduces provisions for employees transitioning from other Nebraska governmental plans to receive vesting credit for previous service and mandates immediate enrollment and contribution to the retirement system upon employment. The bill strengthens the obligation for state agencies and political subdivisions to produce requested documents, indicating a more robust compliance requirement.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4-109, 4-108, 4-110, 4-111, 4-112, 4-113, 23-2306, 24-703.01, 48-628.04, 79-915, 81-2016, 84-1307, 84-1504