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
109B LB1243
Testimony on LB1243 to change school board policies and procedures relating to part-time enrollment by Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement, Brad Jacobsen
109B LB742
Testimony on LB742 to provide requirements relating to the participation of seventh and eighth grade students in high school sports by Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement, Brad Jacobsen
109B LB730
Testimony on LB730 to require schools and state agencies to designate restrooms and locker rooms based on sex and require state agencies to define an individual’s sex as either male or female for purposes of rules and regulations, the enforcement of administrative actions, and adjudication of disputes by Korby Gilbertson
109B LB1050
Testimony on LB1050 to amend the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act to limit advancement to grade four by Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement, Brad Jacobsen
109B LB1024
Testimony on LB1024 to require school districts and the State Board of Education to provide for instruction on the history of communism Interim by Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement, Brad Jacobsen
109A LB149
Testimony on LB411 to Eliminate the prohibition on suspending a student in prekindergarten through second grade by Interim Superintendent, Dr. John Skretta
