Committee hears two reappointment candidates for Crime Victims' Reparation Committee

Carolyn Bosin, chair of the Judiciary Committee, opened the hearing and introduced gubernatorial appointees before the committee.

Randall Hansen, reappointed to the Crime Victims' Reparation Committee, told the panel he was first appointed in 2009 and has served as vice chair since about 2011. Hansen said the committee has expanded services and eligibility in recent years but warned that a previously held reserve of about $2,000,000 has been reallocated to other programs, leaving the committee concerned it may run out of funds before year-end. He estimated the program receives roughly 75 applications per quarter.

Senators on the committee asked about program priorities and administrative capacity. Hansen said the state-provided money is restricted to payments to victims and not administrative expenses; the committee recently moved from a shared half-time administrator to two full-time administrators but lacks funds to cover some operational needs.

Kathleen Bauer, a victim-service provider from western Nebraska, said she sought appointment to ensure the committee includes voices from providers serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault across six counties. Bauer described federal funding cuts that have left local programs strained and urged the committee to consider how policy decisions affect front-line service delivery.

Chair Bosin closed the appointment hearings after members had an opportunity to ask questions and noted written comments and exhibits submitted to the official record. No committee action or vote was recorded during the session.