[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6119332,"mediaKeyId","2712537-2718e617822dbab3b94195d2792782f0","parentId",2712537,"title","Crime Commission backs governor recommendation, proposes cut to underused LEAR funds","audioSeconds",789,"startMs",4744715,"endMs",5534290,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2712537-2718e617822dbab3b94195d2792782f0&start=4744&end=5534","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2712537-2718e617822dbab3b94195d2792782f0/thumbnail_4744715.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6119332/Nebraska/Crime-Commission-backs-governor-recommendation-proposes-cut-to-underused-LEAR-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119332-e4c58f268d7d605bb695e6c2935ddded/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523522&Signature=ZMmP09LzQzihK2S6g6cqOdV3CNUQ2Qi48WQa1QLuE2KOE94ZFmwRAR~o48jyiT-gUBm0-hq4GHtyEr4~iAmGQJPPaIRr5Y-4P9hzDe2GvU7euqHu-u3YDpD8lpflUxclzfKRa7PEQCn0PfgfWx26uIIWNn92eKBfuE9YoGj~ltx-U3yp0lmAdYsU~bDKRfORGsX3yzJgWxFMDg1u1z7LF9jyZyIHx1DqVzQ~cXU65qZbJsQ26nXKHozWrWdtNDSrGb~SrX3q-7aP5qoUDic6BfhTpA~8~j7KMIrYUGJv7GF1J9gotBvZBfXke9W5ngYREWDG2b1e7wNcdhgEDHdBEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nebraska Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","Bryant Tuma, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, testified that the commission supports the governor’s budget recommendation and proposed a targeted reduction in one program budget based on under‑utilization.

Tuma said the commission examined expenditures for the Law Enforcement Attraction and Retention (LEAR) Act, found evidence of under‑utilization relative to original allocations, and supports the governor’s recommendation to reduce program 199 expenditures by $2.5 million without affecting LEAR incentives currently projected by the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center.

The commission described a portfolio of federally funded grants and state programs that support juvenile justice, victims services (VOCA), and local law enforcement grants. Tuma also outlined the commission’s role in administering community‑based aid and juvenile justice services: community‑based aid (roughly $6.8 million) is distributed to counties for local juvenile justice plans; the commission runs competitive grant programs to support prevention activities and coordinates inspections and standards for detention facilities.

Committee members asked about federal grant stability and an ongoing integrated juvenile data effort. Tuma said federal grant administrators had not signaled immediate changes to funding and that the commission is operating those programs as usual. He said the agency has reimplemented a juvenile data system and is working with probation and other partners to improve information sharing while protecting juvenile records.

Ending: The commission’s testimony supported the governor’s recommendation, proposed a specific $2.5 million reduction for an under‑used LEAR appropriation line, and emphasized ongoing efforts to improve juvenile data integration and grant administration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations Committee 3/19/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Bryant Tuma, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, told the Appropriations Committee the agency supports the governor's recommendation and proposed reducing unspent funds in the LEAR program by $2.5 million.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NE, Nebraska","taxId",77675,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6119337,"Bill to fund court interpreters (LB15) wins broad support at appropriations hearing",2012,5563205,7575324,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2712537-2718e617822dbab3b94195d2792782f0&start=5563&end=7575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2712537-2718e617822dbab3b94195d2792782f0/thumbnail_5563205.jpg","/articles/6119337/Nebraska/Bill-to-fund-court-interpreters-LB15-wins-broad-support-at-appropriations-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119337-f9c7ba4274d23cca5a947ebd7e46ce09/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523522&Signature=VkFtRT6TKzEZ3bbpOzZoIIhwjsgu7Z6991s0E2pxvlbqy8MInwd~vSoAW2z0OAzFwqD6jNNefZDl0LXrOIwdRSd1Lamt4m0yolRyFx4Tk0WS2vWttmrQCUcDg1diuf4NF3rsphQ8f1mSyYBZSU-P-JPTtA1PRNOgvo9FR-pCLPFrQGDQs~qQ52DeQr4TcuShJBasG9T14um7ECDoensyOrY8j50uC9AvuIbScgi9L8KzXfnjDh5x11yD-1-Of9eETbJDldIN5Sy-8VBJevyYrf9-HHT1qc~dODBokbWFlNBACBTs2SCYznc2aMrgicDzWs7pL6S0NZg0okO2T22UKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. George Dungan (District 26) introduced LB15 to the Appropriations Committee, requesting $600,000 for fiscal 2025–26 and $600,000 for fiscal 2026–27 to the Nebraska Supreme Court to maintain current pay levels for court interpreters.

Dungan told the committee that Nebraska has more than 90,000 residents who meet federal definitions of limited English proficiency and said certified interpreters perform highly technical work across criminal, civil and juvenile matters. He said a 2023 interruption in interpreter availability caused case delays and increased jail costs for some defendants awaiting proceedings.

“Every year that I have been here in the Legislature, I have brought this or similar legislation,” Dungan said, and described recent negotiations that produced a partial pay increase in 2024 that the court cannot sustain without added appropriation.

Nebraska State Court Administrator Corey Steele testified in support and provided spending history showing interpreter expenditures rising from about $1.2 million in fiscal 2020 to a projected $2.5 million in the current year. Steele said the branch increased per‑hour rates after a 2023 work stoppage and that federal law, U.S. Department of Justice guidance and Nebraska Supreme Court rules require meaningful access for limited‑English‑proficient (LEP) parties.

“We were under a DOJ investigation for not adequately providing LEP services in our courts and probation,” Steele told the committee. He said the branch reformed certification pathways and has added certified interpreters this year but needs the appropriation to sustain rates and recruitment.

Proponents included representatives of Omaha Language Solutions and the Nebraska State Bar Association, who said professional interpreters are independent contractors whose work cannot reliably be replaced by machine translation for hearings and evidentiary proceedings. A lobbyist for Omaha Language Solutions said machine and phone interpretation may assist in limited situations but cannot substitute for certified in‑court interpreters in complex hearings.

The hearing produced no formal vote; Senator Dungan waived closing and the bill will proceed through the committee process. Committee members asked for follow‑up information from court administration on expenditures and certification pathways.

Ending: Supporters urged the committee to fund LB15 to avoid disrupting court operations and to preserve access to justice for LEP Nebraskans.","Sen. George Dungan introduced LB15, an appropriation request to sustain increased pay for court interpreters; Supreme Court officials and legal groups testified in support, citing federal obligations and recent staffing disruptions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6119341,"Nebraska Supreme Court warns budget shortfall could close problem‑solving courts and cut juvenile services",4483,181925,4664990,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2712537-2718e617822dbab3b94195d2792782f0&start=181&end=4664","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2712537-2718e617822dbab3b94195d2792782f0/thumbnail_181925.jpg","/articles/6119341/Nebraska/Nebraska-Supreme-Court-warns-budget-shortfall-could-close-problemsolving-courts-and-cut-juvenile-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119341-29318f0a6a63f701baa4f10fa85b1ee7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523522&Signature=hCsNrO4FtTf2dzaRc3IQEPqeWjlLQTWaFy9HZUA-9OoblFn5DGw6mbwLX2qrGVxXXeoBX3bwJDw0G~LUiL6zfuRuDA3zoaYynRviYIEiscy-TicSe5lLEdsnLekHxligJipx~-0MDGZ-GUTRHYmWGpq2Du6rAGoXT9NnNXiWdlDMAo4If9qPIf90tMUkLd-~l0yN85AKeaOFEGOAbo7pRVkwNdoKfZmBfVJY0aaBIkqyOVuuGgHaBPtszmfrOXtq-ivwN7-E5ZrbMa2gptv3sGUfKhgGcnDoOT7lBPvgv2CplSTDIT4-6JYgOECZFXd0bfXkjqyjip~mA5gU4SH36Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Justice Jeffrey Funk told the Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on the record that the judicial branch will exhaust key funds in the next biennium and needs targeted appropriations to avoid program reductions.

Funk said the Supreme Court requested specific general‑fund amounts in its biennial budget submission, including $5,400,000 for fiscal 2026 and $11,100,000 for fiscal 2027 to cover cost‑of‑living salary and health insurance increases; roughly $8,100,000 per year to sustain initiatives approved in earlier legislation; about $1.4 million per year to continue an IT migration; $600,000 per year to sustain recently increased contracted interpreter rates; and approximately $4.6 million in fiscal 2026 and $4.4 million in fiscal 2027 to implement the veterans justice program enacted in 2024.

“The requests are necessary to keep the constitutional and statutory functions of the judicial branch operating,” Funk said in his opening remarks to the committee.

Why it matters: Funk presented multi‑year projections that show the judicial branch ending fiscal 2025 with no unobligated general funds and drawing on cash balances; by the end of fiscal 2026 the branch would have used more than $12 million of cash funds and have under $100,000 in usable cash; by the end of fiscal 2027 the branch projects a general‑fund deficit of about $14.2 million. Funk said those projections require program reductions unless the Legislature provides additional appropriations.

What the court would cut: Funk outlined a contingency plan that would not reduce staff pay or head count but would suspend or scale back non‑statutorily required services. He said two problem‑solving courts established without continuing appropriations — the Veterans Treatment Court in Sarpy County and an adult drug court in Platte County — would end if funds are not provided, saving an estimated $500,000 per year. Two pilot problem‑solving courts (a DUI pilot in Lancaster County and a mental‑health pilot in Sarpy County) are also at risk, with estimated annual savings of $312,000. Transitional living reimbursements for people on post‑release supervision could be discontinued (estimated annual savings $5.3 million), and some juvenile probation services could be reduced (estimated savings $8.6 million), representing “approximately 17% reduction in the juvenile probation services budget,” Funk said.

On juvenile and reentry services, Funk and State Court Administrator Corey Steele told senators that the branch views many of these programs as preventive and cost‑saving: they argued problem‑solving courts and transitional housing reduce recidivism and can be less costly than incarceration. Steele said the judicial branch’s interpreter and limited‑English proficiency obligations also carry federal and state legal requirements.

“We were under a DOJ investigation for not adequately providing LEP services in our courts and probation,” Steele told the committee, describing an investigation in 2013–2014 that required corrective action and led to expanded interpreter services.

Budget history and constraints: Funk summarized prior reductions and transfers to the general fund totaling about $44 million over five years. He said the preliminary recommendation provides only personnel spending limitations (PSL) and not the requested general funds for the other items.

Implementation notes and legislation: Funk asked the committee to consider including judge salary increases and any health‑insurance funding for judges in the package bills that go to the floor, and he urged support for LB216 (a bill to change the administrative model for district court clerks) to enable structural efficiencies.

Committee reaction and follow‑up: Multiple senators pressed for details about how program reductions would be implemented, whether employees would be laid off, and how data sharing and statutory limits affect juvenile probation work. Funk and Steele repeatedly said they would try to shift staff by attrition rather than cutting personnel and that some program reductions are legally permissible while others would require statutory change.

What’s next: The judicial branch’s funding request and the committee’s eventual recommendation will determine if the branch proceeds with the contingency plan outlined by Funk. The chief justice and court administration said they are available to provide additional detail to lawmakers.

Ending: The committee’s hearing on the Supreme Court budget closed after extended questioning; the branch awaits the committee’s final recommendation for the 2025–27 biennium.","Chief Justice Jeffrey Funk told the Appropriations Committee that the judicial branch faces a projected general‑fund deficit and exhausted cash reserves in the next biennium, and outlined specific funding requests and potential program cuts if the Legislature does not act.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Crime Commission backs governor recommendation, proposes cut to underused LEAR funds

Bill to fund court interpreters (LB15) wins broad support at appropriations hearing

Nebraska Supreme Court warns budget shortfall could close problem‑solving courts and cut juvenile services