This legislative bill amends various sections of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska to improve educational opportunities, particularly for non-resident students. It allows 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, the bill mandates that school boards admit students for part-time enrollment for extracurricular participation under specific criteria. It also requires public and private colleges to report funding received from foreign adversarial sources to the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, enhancing transparency and accountability.

Moreover, the bill expands the authority of the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges regarding student housing and activity facilities, enabling long-term leases and financing contracts that do not utilize state tax funds. It modifies the Nebraska Career Scholarship program by increasing maximum scholarship amounts and expanding eligibility criteria to include first-time freshmen and transfer students, with a focus on specific fields of study. The bill mandates that scholarship recipients secure internships or employment in their field before graduation and requires annual reporting on scholarship data, including enrollment and retention rates, to ensure the effectiveness of the programs. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage, with certain provisions becoming 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