This legislative bill amends various sections of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to improve educational opportunities, particularly for non-resident students. Key provisions allow non-resident students enrolled in private or parochial schools to participate in extracurricular activities without charge if their home district does not offer those activities. Additionally, school boards are mandated to admit students for part-time enrollment for extracurricular participation under specific criteria. The bill also requires public and private colleges to report funding from foreign adversarial sources to the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, enhancing transparency in financial dealings.

Moreover, the bill modifies the powers of the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges, enabling them to engage in long-term leases and financing contracts for student housing and activity facilities, while ensuring that state tax funds are not utilized for these projects. It increases the maximum scholarship amounts for eligible students in the Nebraska Career Scholarship program, with state college students eligible for up to $15,000 and university students up to $25,000 based on academic criteria. The bill also introduces new scholarship eligibility criteria, mandates internship or employment registration for recipients, and requires detailed reporting on scholarship data and outcomes. A new financial information database for all school districts will be established, and the act is set to take effect immediately upon passage, with certain sections operative three months after the legislative session adjourns.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13-518, 85-304, 85-1402, 85-3003, 85-3004, 85-3006, 85-3202
Final Reading: 79-215, 85-304, 85-1402, 85-1412, 85-3003, 85-3004, 85-3006, 85-3202
Slip Law: 79-215, 85-304, 85-1402, 85-1412, 85-3003, 85-3004, 85-3006, 85-3202