February 22, 2025
Sen. Rita Sanders, Chairperson
Sen. Megan Hunt
Sen. Bob Andersen, Vice Chairperson
Sen. Dan Lonowski
Sen. John Cavanaugh
Sen. Dan McKeon
Sen. Dunixi Guereca
Sen. Dave Wordekemper
Chairperson Sanders and members of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee :
The Lincoln Public Schools appreciates the Urban Affairs Committee’s LR16CA, which proposes a Constitutional Amendment so that the state would not impose financial responsibility for a program or increased level of service for an existing program created after 2026 on any political subdivision unless that subdivision is fully reimbursed by the state for the increased level of service or a new program. Reimbursement by the state would take form in a specific appropriation or an increase in revenue to a political subdivision. Thus, LR1CA would prohibit the imposition of further unfunded mandates.
The LPS Board of Education annually adopted Legislative Guidelines reflect the district’s long held belief that program mandates must have sufficient resources to be operationalized or that they will inevitably compromise the efficacy of existing initiatives due to resource limitations. Specifically, in our third standing Legislative Guideline we assert that mandated state and/or federal programs must have financial resources adequate to fund the requirement, or that they be optional for districts.
We reiterate our proponent stance for LR16CA and thank the Committee for its consideration of this important measure.
Sincerely,
Dr. John Skretta
Interim Superintendent
Lincoln Public Schools
402-440-9092
109A LR16CA LPS Testimony
February 22, 2025
Sen. Rita Sanders, Chairperson
Sen. Megan Hunt
Sen. Bob Andersen, Vice Chairperson
Sen. Dan Lonowski
Sen. John Cavanaugh
Sen. Dan McKeon
Sen. Dunixi Guereca
Sen. Dave Wordekemper
Chairperson Sanders and members of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee :
The Lincoln Public Schools appreciates the Urban Affairs Committee’s LR16CA, which proposes a Constitutional Amendment so that the state would not impose financial responsibility for a program or increased level of service for an existing program created after 2026 on any political subdivision unless that subdivision is fully reimbursed by the state for the increased level of service or a new program. Reimbursement by the state would take form in a specific appropriation or an increase in revenue to a political subdivision. Thus, LR1CA would prohibit the imposition of further unfunded mandates.
The LPS Board of Education annually adopted Legislative Guidelines reflect the district’s long held belief that program mandates must have sufficient resources to be operationalized or that they will inevitably compromise the efficacy of existing initiatives due to resource limitations. Specifically, in our third standing Legislative Guideline we assert that mandated state and/or federal programs must have financial resources adequate to fund the requirement, or that they be optional for districts.
We reiterate our proponent stance for LR16CA and thank the Committee for its consideration of this important measure.
Sincerely,
Dr. John Skretta
Interim Superintendent
Lincoln Public Schools
402-440-9092
Recent LPS testimony for the first session of the 109th legislature
109A LB550
Testimony on LB550 to Require school districts to adopt a policy that excuses students to attend a course for religious instruction by Lincoln Board of Education member, Piyush Srivastav
109A LB528
Testimony on LB528 to Change and eliminate provisions relating to grants from the State Department of Education Improvement Grant Fund by Interim Superintendent, Dr. John Skretta
109A LB497
Testimony on LB497 to Provide for admission of and participation in extracurricular activities by certain students that are not residents of the school district by Interim Superintendent, Dr. John Skretta
109A LB463
Testimony on LB463 to Require school districts to develop a cardiac emergency response plan under the School Safety and Security Reporting Act and provide for grants for such plans from the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund by Director of Health Services, Wendy Rau
109A LB557
Testimony on LB557 to Change provisions relating to the enrollment option program, provide funding to students denied option enrollment, and eliminate provisions relating to open enrollment option students and diversity plans by Interim Superintendent, John Skretta
109A LB549
Testimony on LB549 to Allow a school board to employ a chaplain, including in a volunteer capacity, at a school by Interim Superintendent, John Skretta
