Legislature advances bill creating Division of Legislative Oversight; members debate information‑sharing timelines and criminal‑investigation notices

Lawmakers moved LB298 forward on the floor after a day of debate and several amendments that clarified the new division's duties, information‑sharing processes with agencies, and how the legislature will be notified about criminal investigations involving state facilities and clients.

Sponsor Senator Mike Arch described LB298 as the vehicle to create a Division of Legislative Oversight that would house the office of performance audit, the offices of inspector general for child welfare and for the Nebraska correctional system, and the Legislative Oversight Committee to replace the Performance Audit Committee. "LB298 creates a new division within the legislature," Arch said, "the office of performance audit, the office of inspector general for child welfare, and the office of inspector general for the Nebraska…