Legislators Plow Ahead
With the short session, Legislators are challenged to sift through the more than 400 bills and decide which ones would advance to the floor. Below are summaries of two bills that we are monitoring.
Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act
On January 25, the Business and Labor Committee held its hearing on LB709 by Senator Tom White of Omaha. The "Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act" would create a nine-member board to oversee state regulations that might negatively impact small businesses. Regulations with the potential to have an adverse economic impact on small businesses - defined as companies with 500 or fewer full-time employees or gross annual sales of less than $6 million - would be reviewed by the Small Business Regulatory Review Board.
According to Senator White, 44 states have enacted legislation similar to LB709 or are operating under executive orders. Supporters of the bill claim that the legislation would ensure that agencies listen to small business professionals who might know more effective ways to comply with regulations. The directors of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Nebraska Department of Insurance testified in opposition to LB709 due to the bill's costs and additional demands on personnel. They claimed their agencies are already conducting some of the actions the bill would require.
State Chamber Vice President-General Counsel Ron Sedlacek testified in a neutral capacity, informing committee members that while the State Chamber generally supports the concept of LB709, it has concerns regarding the large number of Nebraska businesses that would not be protected by the legislation. Sedlacek noted that the bill, as introduced, would provide a competitive advantage to some companies that would have an easier path to regulatory compliance than their larger competitors.
If you would like to read the bill, click here: LB709
Employer Required Wage Itemized Statement
The committee also heard testimony on LB884 by Senator Amanda McGill of Lincoln. As introduced, LB884 would require employers to furnish an employee with an itemized statement listing the wages earned and the deductions made from the employee's wages for each pay period. The information would need to be disclosed within 10 working days after the request was made by the employee. Employees could bring legal action to ensure the employer complies and would be awarded "reasonable attorney's fees if an injunction is ordered."
If you would like to read the bill, click here: LB884
Our thanks to Nebraska Chamber of Commerce for giving us permission to use their news information.
Paula Siewert