The proposed bill establishes the Nebraska Youth Pre-Apprentice Conservation Program, aimed at providing job training and employment opportunities for Nebraska's "opportunity youth," defined as those who have faced trauma, negative law enforcement contact, or academic challenges. The program will focus on employing these youths in projects that conserve and develop natural resources, while also offering academic and job skills training. The Game and Parks Commission will administer the program starting January 1, 2027, and participants will be compensated at least the minimum wage for a six-week period. The bill emphasizes the importance of creating a self-sustaining program with stable funding, and it mandates that the commission report on the program's progress by December 31, 2027.

To support the program, the bill creates the Nebraska Youth Pre-Apprentice Conservation Program Fund, which will receive transfers from the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund, among other sources. The bill also amends existing law regarding the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund to allow for transfers to the new conservation program fund. The Game and Parks Commission is granted the authority to adopt rules and regulations necessary for the program's implementation, and it is required to collaborate with other state agencies, including the Department of Labor, to ensure the program's success.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 81-407