Nebraska prison proposal clears big hurdle in Legislature sfgate.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sfgate.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Julia Bertino
Apr 13, 2021
(Undated) Nebraska lawmakers are divided on how to handle prison overpopulation in the state and what to do with the Nebraska State Penitentiary.
Governor Pete Ricketts says the Nebraska State Penitentiary is nearing the end of its lifetime and action has to be taken, he also says state lawmakers have only two choices: fix the old facility or build a replacement. “At the end of the day, the legislature is going to have to make a decision. Are you going to put money into the current facility which was built in 1869 and really was not designed for modern correctional operations like doing programming to help make sure inmates don’t re-offend and then come back into our system?”
Nebraska lawmakers divided on prison plan msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Nebraska sets stage for new prison, stops short of approval
By GRANT SCHULTEApril 9, 2021 GMT
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Nebraska lawmakers set the stage Friday for a new, $230 million prison even as other states close theirs, but they stopped short of fully endorsing the idea.
Lawmakers gave first-round approval to $14.9 million in state funding that would allow the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services to start designing and planning for a prison to house 1,512 inmates and relieve chronic overcrowding. The measure includes $18 million to add bed space for inmates who are elderly, have mental health issues and those with special needs.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee agreed to set aside $115 million half of the new prison’s cost but members held off on approving the money until they know more about their options.
Senators give initial OK to $9.7B Nebraska budget package
By GRANT SCHULTEApril 9, 2021 GMT
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Nebraska lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday to a $9.7 billion state budget that includes more money for property tax credits and college scholarships while setting aside $115 million for a possible state prison to ease overcrowding.
Lawmakers advanced the measure, 42-0, through the first of three required votes.
The package would cover state expenses for the next two fiscal years, starting on July 1. It came as some lawmakers warned about a possible economic downturn that hit state revenues, which are currently higher than expected despite the coronavirus pandemic.