LB659 LB659
2021 2021
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH LEGISLATURE
FIRST SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 659
Introduced by McDonnell, 5.
Read first time January 20, 2021
Committee: Executive Board
1 A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to the Legislature; to create the Workforce
2 Development Committee of the Legislature; to provide an operative
3 date; and to declare an emergency.
4 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
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1 Section 1. (1) The Workforce Development Committee of the
2 Legislature is hereby established as a special legislative committee to
3 exercise and perform the duties provided in this section. The committee
4 shall consist of nine members of the Legislature appointed by the
5 Executive Board of the Legislative Council. The executive board shall
6 ensure the membership of the committee includes adequate geographic
7 representation. The committee shall elect a chairperson and vice-
8 chairperson from the membership of the committee. As soon as reasonably
9 possible after the operative date of this act, the initial members of the
10 committee shall be appointed, and thereafter members of the committee
11 shall be appointed at the beginning of each legislative session in odd-
12 numbered years. Members shall serve two-year terms corresponding with the
13 legislative sessions and may be reappointed for consecutive terms. The
14 committee shall meet as needed at the call of the chairperson of the
15 committee. The executive board may provide the committee with legal
16 counsel, a committee clerk, and other staff as required by the committee
17 from existing legislative staff.
18 (2) The committee shall have the following duties: (a) Collect and
19 analyze workforce data about Nebraska, including, but not limited to,
20 data on demographics, workforce, education, wages, challenges, trends,
21 and needs; (b) identify long-term workforce issues significant to the
22 state; (c) set goals and benchmarks; and (d) issue an annual report of
23 its findings and recommendations to the Clerk of the Legislature on or
24 before December 15.
25 (3) In order to fulfill its duties the committee may: (a) Hold
26 public hearings, (b) draft and propose legislation for reference to the
27 appropriate standing committee of the Legislature, (c) obtain data and
28 information from state agencies, the University of Nebraska, and private
29 entities that contract with the state, (d) contract for assistance,
30 including consultants, as approved by the executive board, and (e)
31 exercise any other authority or powers as granted from time to time by
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1 the executive board.
2 Sec. 2. This act becomes operative on May 13, 2021.
3 Sec. 3. Since an emergency exists, this act takes effect when
4 passed and approved according to law.
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