Sections 13-201 to 13-208 shall be known and may be cited as the Community Development Assistance Act.

The Legislature hereby finds that areas of chronic economic distress in the State of Nebraska are a detriment to the economic well-being, health, and safety of the citizens of Nebraska. The Legislature further contends that current governmental solutions have not been able to completely resolve certain problems such as overcrowding, unemployment, and poor health and sanitary conditions in a community which lead to further deterioration. Such problems cannot be remedied by the government alone, but can be alleviated through a partnership between the government and private enterprise. It is therefor declared to be public policy in this state to encourage contributions by business firms and individuals that offer and provide community and neighborhood assistance and community services.

For purposes of the Community Development Assistance Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Business firm shall mean any business entity, including a corporation, a fiduciary, a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation having an election in effect under Chapter 1, subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code, as defined in section 49-801.01, subject to the state income tax imposed by section 77-2715 or 77-2734.02, an insurance company paying premium or related retaliatory taxes in this state pursuant to section 44-150 or 77-908, or a financial institution paying the tax imposed pursuant to sections 77-3801 to 77-3807;

(2) Community services shall mean any type of the following in a community development area: (a) Employment training; (b) human services; (c) medical services; (d) physical facility and neighborhood development services; (e) recreational services or activities; (f) educational services; or (g) crime prevention activities, including, but not limited to, (i) the instruction of any individual in the community development area that enables him or her to acquire vocational skills, (ii) counseling and advice, (iii) emergency services, (iv) community, youth, day care, and senior citizen centers, (v) in-home services, (vi) home improvement services and programs, and (vii) any legal enterprise which aids in the prevention or reduction of crime;

(3) Department shall mean the Department of Economic Development;

(4) Director shall mean the Director of Economic Development;

(5) Community development area shall mean any village, city, county, unincorporated area of a county, or census tract which has been designated by the department as an area of chronic economic distress;

(6) Community assistance shall mean furnishing financial assistance, labor, material, or technical advice to aid in the physical improvement of any part or all of a community development area;

(7) Community betterment organization shall mean (a) any organization performing community services or offering community assistance in a community development area and to which contributions are tax deductible under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury and (b) a county, city, or village performing community services or offering community assistance in a community development area; and

(8) Area of chronic economic distress shall mean an area of the state which meets any of the following conditions:

(a) An unemployment rate which exceeds the statewide average unemployment rate;

(b) A per capita income below the statewide average per capita income; or

(c) A population loss between the two most recent federal decennial censuses.

Any community betterment organization which provides community assistance or community services in a community development area may apply any time during the fiscal year to the department to have one or more programs certified for tax credit status as provided in sections 13-205 to 13-208. The proposal shall set forth the program to be conducted, the community development area, the estimated amount to be required for completion of the program or the annual estimated amount required for an ongoing program, the plans for implementing the program, and the amount of contributions committed or anticipated for such activities or services.

If the subdivision of local government has adopted a community development plan for an area which includes the area in which the community betterment organization is providing community assistance or community services, the organization shall submit a copy of the program proposal to the chief executive officer of such subdivision. If the program proposal is consistent with the adopted community development plan, the chief executive officer shall so certify to the department for the department's approval or disapproval. If the program proposal is not consistent with the adopted community development plan of the local subdivision, the chief executive officer shall so indicate and the proposal shall not be approved by the department. If the proposed activities are consistent with the adopted community development plan, but for other reasons they are not viewed as appropriate by the local subdivision, the chief executive officer shall so indicate and the department shall review the program proposal and approve or disapprove it. The local subdivision shall review the proposal within forty-five days from the date of receipt for review. If the subdivision does not issue its finding concerning the proposal within forty-five days after receipt, the proposal shall be deemed approved. The department shall approve or disapprove a program proposal submitted pursuant to section 13-204 within forty-five days of receipt by the department.

(1) The director shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the approval or disapproval of the program proposals submitted pursuant to section 13-205 taking into account the economic need level and the geographic distribution of the population of the community development area. The director shall also adopt and promulgate rules and regulations concerning the amount of the tax credit for which a program shall be certified. The tax credits shall be available for contributions to a certified program which may qualify as a charitable contribution deduction on the federal income tax return filed by the business firm or individual making such contribution. The decision of the department to approve or disapprove all or any portion of a proposal shall be in writing. If the proposal is approved, the maximum tax credit allowance for the certified program shall be stated along with the approval. The maximum tax credit allowance approved by the department shall be final for the fiscal year in which the program is certified. A copy of all decisions shall be transmitted to the Tax Commissioner. A copy of all credits allowed to business firms under sections 44-150 and 77-908 shall be transmitted to the Director of Insurance.

(2) For all business firms and individuals eligible for the credit allowed by section 13-207, except for insurance companies paying premium and related retaliatory taxes in this state pursuant to section 44-150 or 77-908, the Tax Commissioner shall provide for the manner in which the credit allowed by section 13-207 shall be taken and the forms on which such credit shall be allowed. The Tax Commissioner shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the method of providing tax credits. The Director of Insurance shall provide for the manner in which the credit allowed by section 13-207 to insurance companies paying premium and related retaliatory taxes in this state pursuant to sections 44-150 and 77-908 shall be taken and the forms on which such credit shall be allowed. The Director of Insurance may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the method of providing the tax credit. The Tax Commissioner shall allow against any income tax due from the insurance companies paying premium and related retaliatory taxes in this state pursuant to section 44-150 or 77-908 a credit for the credit provided by section 13-207 and allowed by the Director of Insurance.

(1) Any business firm or individual which plans to or which has contributed to a certified program of a community betterment organization may apply to the department for authorization for a tax credit for the contribution to the certified program in an amount up to but not exceeding the maximum tax credit allowed by the department. The maximum tax credit allowed by the department for each approved business firm or individual shall be in an amount which does not exceed forty percent of the total amount contributed by the business firm or individual during its taxable year to any programs certified pursuant to section 13-205. The director shall send a copy of the approved application which includes the amount of the tax credit to be allowed and a certification by the department that the contribution has been paid as proposed by the business firm or individual to the Tax Commissioner who shall grant a tax credit against any tax due under sections 77-2715, 77-2734.02, and 77-3801 to 77-3807 and to the Director of Insurance who shall grant a tax credit against any premium and related retaliatory taxes due under sections 44-150 and 77-908.

(2) No tax credit shall be granted to any business firm or individual in this state pursuant to the Community Development Assistance Act for activities that are a part of its normal course of business. Any tax credit balance may be carried over and applied against the business firm's or individual's tax liability for the next five years immediately succeeding the tax year in which the credit was first allowed.

The total amount of tax credit granted for programs approved and certified under the Community Development Assistance Act by the department for any fiscal year shall not exceed three hundred fifty thousand dollars, except that for fiscal year 2016-17, the total amount of tax credit granted under this section shall be reduced by seventy-five thousand dollars.

Since counties containing larger municipalities are typically experiencing population and economic growth which promotes increased urban and rural land-use conflicts, the county government of a county that contains some or all portions of a city of the first class is strongly encouraged to prepare a comprehensive development plan that meets the requirements of section 23-114.02, adopt zoning and subdivision regulations covering all portions of its regulatory jurisdiction, and begin an organized and staffed program to enforce such zoning and subdivision regulations.

Effective July 1, 1976, a county government, city of the metropolitan class, or city of the primary class that is enforcing zoning and subdivision regulations shall, upon request, provide either directly or through an intergovernmental program all the necessary services and staff to assist villages and cities of the second class that are located wholly or partially within the county with the enforcement of their individual zoning and subdivision regulations, and such assistance may, at the option of the county, city of the metropolitan class, or city of the primary class, also be rendered to cities of the first class upon request. The county or municipality may assess the full costs of such assistance to a municipality served. The county or municipality providing the service may require a one-year notice before beginning or terminating such services.

The county boards of counties and the governing bodies of cities and villages may establish an emergency medical service, including the provision of scheduled and unscheduled ambulance service, as a governmental service either within or without the county or municipality, as the case may be. The county board or governing body may contract with any city, person, firm, or corporation licensed as an emergency medical service for emergency medical care by emergency care providers. Each may enter into an agreement with the other under the Interlocal Cooperation Act or Joint Public Agency Act for the purpose of establishing an emergency medical service or may provide a separate service for itself. Public funds may be expended therefor, and a reasonable service fee may be charged to the user. Before any such service is established under the authority of this section, the county board or the governing bodies of cities and villages shall hold a public hearing after giving at least ten days' notice thereof, which notice shall include a brief summary of the general plan for establishing such service, including an estimate of the initial cost and the possible continuing cost of operating such service. If the board or governing body after such hearing determines that an emergency medical service for emergency medical care by emergency care providers is needed, it may proceed as authorized in this section. The authority granted in this section shall be cumulative and supplementary to any existing powers heretofore granted. Any county board of counties and the governing bodies of cities and villages may pay their cost for such service out of available general funds or may levy a tax for the purpose of providing the service, which levy shall be in addition to all other taxes and shall be in addition to restrictions on the levy of taxes provided by statute, except that when a rural or suburban fire protection district provides the service, the county shall pay the cost for the county service by levying a tax on that property not in the rural or suburban fire protection district providing the service. The levy shall be subject to subsection (10) of section 77-3442 or section 77-3443, as applicable.

Any city, village, school district, township, or county shall have the power to join with any other political or governmental subdivision, with any agency or public corporation, whether federal, state, or local, or with any number or combinations thereof by contract or otherwise in the joint ownership, operation, or performance of any property, facility, power, or function or in agreements containing the provisions that one or more thereof operate or perform for the other or others, this power as set forth in this section to be only for the express purpose of acquiring, holding, improving, and operating any park, playground, swimming pool, recreation center, or other recreational use or facility. Each such political or governmental subdivision shall also individually have power to acquire, hold, improve, and operate any park, playground, swimming pool, recreation center, or other recreational use or facility. For the exercise of the powers set forth in this section, each such political or governmental subdivision shall have the power to levy a tax, to be known as a park and recreation tax, upon all the taxable property in its jurisdiction. This levy may be accumulated as a sinking fund from fiscal year to fiscal year to provide funds for the purpose of acquisition, holding, improvement, and operation of any park, playground, swimming pool, recreation center, or other recreational use or facility.

For the specific purposes set forth in section 13-304, any city, village, school district or county shall have the power to receive (1) any grant or devise of real estate, (2) any grant or gift or bequest of money or other personal property, and (3) any other donation in trust or otherwise.

To carry out the purposes set forth in section 13-304, the county board of any county is authorized to hire such employees as it deems necessary, and to appoint a park and recreation board of not less than three members to serve without compensation and to issue bonds for such purposes; Provided, that no such bonds shall be issued until the question of issuing the same shall have been submitted to the electors of the county at a general election therein, or at a special election called for such purposes, and a majority of electors voting at such election shall have voted in favor of issuing the bonds. Notice of such election shall be given by publication once each week for three successive weeks prior thereto in a legal newspaper published in or of general circulation in such county. Such bonds shall be payable in not less than five nor more than twenty years from the date of issuance thereof, and shall bear interest not exceeding the rate of six percent per annum, payable annually, with interest coupons attached to the bonds.

Whenever five percent of the registered voters voting in the county at the last general election and residing in such county shall file a petition in the office of the county clerk of such county requesting the county board of such county to submit the question of issuing bonds to the electors at the next general election or at a special election; or to submit to such electors the question of levying a park and recreation tax, as authorized by section 13-304, or both such questions, the county clerk shall determine and certify whether such petition has been signed by at least five percent of the registered voters voting in the county in the last general election, and who appear to reside in such county. He shall then present such petition to the county board at its next regular meeting. The county board shall thereupon cause such question of the issuance of bonds or levying such tax or both such questions, according to such petition, to be submitted to the electors of such county at the next general election, or special election called for such purpose if requested in such petition.

If a majority of the electors voting thereon vote in favor of such question or questions submitted, such county board shall proceed accordingly.

To acquire property for the purposes set forth in section 13-304, each county shall have the power of eminent domain which shall be exercised by the county board of each county in the manner provided in sections 76-704 to 76-724.

Any municipal corporation may contract with any person and provide funds for home-delivered meals for the elderly and senior volunteer programs.

For purposes of sections 13-308 and 13-309, municipal corporation shall mean any county, township, city, or village, whether organized and existing under direct provisions of the Constitution of Nebraska or statutes of this state, or by virtue of charters or other corporate articles or instruments executed under authority of the Constitution or statutes of this state.

Before any political subdivision, except any city of the metropolitan class, or special taxing district for public works or public improvements shall be formed, and before any political subdivision or special taxing district, excepting any city of the metropolitan class and school districts, may impose any special assessment for public works or public improvements, a copy of any notice required to be published by law shall be mailed to the last-known address of all nonresident property owners as shown on the current tax rolls at the time such notice is first published.

The county clerk, city clerk, clerk of any political subdivision, except any city of the metropolitan class, or any other person upon whom the duty is imposed by law to publish notice required by law in regard to the formation of a special taxing district for public works or public improvements shall mail by certified mail with return receipt requested a copy of the published notice in regard to the formation of any special taxing district within the county, city, or other political subdivision, except any city of the metropolitan class, to the last-known address as shown on the current tax rolls of each nonresident property owner.

The county clerk, city clerk, clerk of any political subdivision, except any city of the metropolitan class, or any other person upon whom the duty is imposed by law to publish notice required by law in regard to any special assessment by a special taxing district shall mail by certified mail with return receipt requested a copy of such notice to be published to the last-known address as shown on the current tax rolls of each nonresident property owner.

The failure of any county clerk, city clerk, clerk of a political subdivision, except any city of the metropolitan class, or any other person upon whom the duty is imposed by law to mail a copy of a published notice as provided in sections 13-310 to 13-314 shall invalidate the assessment against the property involved while permitting all other assessments and procedures to be lawful.

The term nonresident property owner as used in sections 13-310 to 13-314 shall mean any person or corporation whose residence and mailing address as shown on the current tax rolls is outside the boundaries of the county and who is a record owner of property within the boundaries of the political subdivision, except any city of the metropolitan class, special assessment district, or taxing district involved.

The city commissioners or council of any city, the board of trustees of any village, and the county board of any county in the state shall have the power to appropriate or expend annually from the general funds or from revenue received from any proprietary functions of their respective political subdivision an amount not to exceed four-tenths of one percent of the taxable valuation of the city, village, or county for the purpose of encouraging immigration, new industries, and investment and to conduct and carry on a publicity campaign, including a publicity campaign conducted for the purpose of acquiring from any source a municipal electrical distribution system or exploiting and advertising the various agricultural, horticultural, manufacturing, commercial, and other resources, including utility services, of the city, village, or county. Such sum may be expended directly by the city, village, or county or may be paid to the chamber of commerce or other commercial organization or a similar county organization or multicounty organization or local development corporation to be expended for the purposes enumerated in this section under the direction of the board of directors of the organization. The total amount levied including the appropriation or expenditure made under this section shall not exceed the amount limited by law.

The amount to be expended for the ensuing year or biennial period shall be fixed at the time of making up the annual or biennial budget required by law, and the same shall be included in the budget.

Any municipal corporation may contract with any person and provide funds for juvenile emergency shelter care. For purposes of this section:

(1) Juvenile emergency shelter care shall mean temporary twenty-four-hour physical care and supervision in crisis situations and at times when an appropriate foster care resource is not available to persons eighteen years of age or younger; and

(2) Municipal corporation shall be as defined in section 13-309.

(1) Any county and any municipalities and fire protection districts within the county may provide for the joint financing and operation of public safety services pursuant to an agreement under the Interlocal Cooperation Act or Joint Public Agency Act.

(2) Joint public safety services shall be operated by a public safety commission consisting of at least three members who represent the county and the participating municipalities and fire protection districts as provided in the agreement. Only elected officials are eligible to serve on the commission. In counties with more than one hundred thousand inhabitants, the county and participating municipalities and fire protection districts may appoint a separate fire protection and emergency services commission of at least three members to operate or coordinate fire protection or emergency services in the county and participating municipalities and fire protection districts. If the public safety services to be provided include fire protection, at least one representative of each fire protection district shall be a member of the commission. The commission may employ officers and other employees necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities for public safety services or fire protection or emergency services and may enter into contracts, acquire and dispose of property, and receive funds appropriated to it by the county and any participating municipality or fire protection district, granted or appropriated to it by the state or federal government or an agency thereof, given to it by any individual, or collected from the sales and use tax authorized by section 13-319. If fire protection services or emergency services are to be provided, the commission shall appoint an individual trained in fire protection or emergency services with at least five years of experience in providing such services who shall coordinate fire protection and financing of the services in the county. The individual shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The commission shall have other powers as are granted to the county and any of the participating municipalities or fire protection districts acting independently except as limited by the agreement.

Any county by resolution of the governing body may impose a sales and use tax of one-half percent, one percent, or one and one-half percent upon the same transactions sourced as provided in sections 77-2703.01 to 77-2703.04 within the county, but outside any incorporated municipality which has adopted a local sales tax pursuant to section 77-27,142, on which the state is authorized to impose a tax pursuant to the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967, as amended from time to time. Any sales and use tax imposed pursuant to this section must be used (1) to finance public safety services provided by a public safety commission, (2) to provide the county share of funds required under any other agreement executed under the Interlocal Cooperation Act or Joint Public Agency Act, or (3) to finance public safety services provided by the county. A sales and use tax shall not be imposed pursuant to this section until an election has been held and a majority of the qualified electors have approved the tax pursuant to sections 13-322 and 13-323. A sales and use tax shall not be imposed pursuant to this section if the county is imposing a tax pursuant to section 77-6403.

For purposes of sections 13-318 to 13-326, public safety services means crime prevention, offender detention, and firefighter, police, medical, ambulance, or other emergency services.

The powers granted by section 13-319 shall not be exercised unless and until the question has been submitted at a primary, general, or special election held within the area which would be subject to the tax and in which all registered voters are entitled to vote on such question. The officials of the incorporated municipality or county shall order the submission of the question by submitting a certified copy of the resolution proposing the tax to the election commissioner or county clerk. The question may include any terms and conditions set forth in the resolution proposing the tax, such as a termination date or the specific public safety service for which the revenue received from the tax will be allocated, and shall include the following language: Shall the county impose a sales and use tax upon the same transactions within the county, other than in municipalities which impose a local option sales tax, on which the State of Nebraska is authorized to impose a tax to finance public safety services? If a majority of the votes cast upon the question are in favor of the tax, the governing body may impose the tax. If a majority of those voting on the question are opposed to the tax, the governing body shall not impose the tax. Any election under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures provided in the Election Act.

The election commissioner or county clerk shall give notice of the submission of the question of imposing a tax under section 13-319 not more than thirty days nor less than ten days before the election, by publication one time in one or more newspapers published in or of general circulation in the municipality or county in which the question is to be submitted. This notice is in addition to any other notice required under the Election Act.

(1) The Tax Commissioner shall administer all sales and use taxes adopted under section 13-319. The Tax Commissioner may prescribe forms and adopt and promulgate reasonable rules and regulations in conformity with the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967, as amended, for the making of returns and for the ascertainment, assessment, and collection of taxes. The county shall furnish a certified copy of the adopting or repealing resolution to the Tax Commissioner in accordance with such rules and regulations. The tax shall begin the first day of the next calendar quarter which is at least one hundred twenty days following receipt by the Tax Commissioner of the certified copy of the adopted resolution. The Tax Commissioner shall provide at least sixty days' notice of the adoption of the tax or a change in the rate to retailers. Notice shall be provided to retailers within the county. Notice to retailers may be provided through the website of the Department of Revenue or by other electronic means.

(2) For resolutions containing a termination date, the termination date is the first day of a calendar quarter. The county shall furnish a certified statement to the Tax Commissioner no more than one hundred eighty days and at least one hundred twenty days before the termination date that the termination date stated in the resolution is still valid. If the certified statement is not furnished within the prescribed time, the tax shall remain in effect, and the Tax Commissioner shall continue to collect the tax until the first day of the calendar quarter which is at least one hundred twenty days after receipt of the certified statement notwithstanding the termination date stated in the resolution. The Tax Commissioner shall provide at least sixty days' notice of the termination of the tax to retailers. Notice shall be provided to retailers within the county. Notice to retailers may be provided through the website of the department or other electronic means.

(3) The Tax Commissioner shall collect the sales and use tax concurrently with collection of a state tax in the same manner as the state tax is collected. The Tax Commissioner shall remit monthly the proceeds of the tax to the counties imposing the tax, after deducting the amount of refunds made and three percent of the remainder as an administrative fee necessary to defray the cost of collecting the tax and the expenses incident thereto. The Tax Commissioner shall keep full and accurate records of all money received and distributed. All receipts from the three-percent administrative fee shall be deposited in the state General Fund.

(4) Upon any claim of illegal assessment and collection, the taxpayer has the same remedies provided for claims of illegal assessment and collection of the state tax. It is the intention of the Legislature that the provisions of law which apply to the recovery of state taxes illegally assessed and collected apply to the recovery of sales and use taxes illegally assessed and collected under section 13-319.

(5) Boundary changes or the adoption of a sales and use tax by an incorporated municipality that affects any tax imposed by this section shall be governed as provided in subsections (3) through (10) of section 77-27,143.

The proceeds of the sales and use tax imposed by a county under section 13-319 shall be distributed to the county for deposit in its general fund.

(1) All relevant provisions of the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967, as amended, not inconsistent with sections 13-319, 13-324, and 13-325, shall govern transactions, proceedings, and activities pursuant to any sales and use tax imposed by a county.

(2) For the purposes of the sales and use tax imposed by a county, all retail sales, rentals, and leases, as defined and described in the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967, are sourced as provided in sections 77-2703.01 to 77-2703.04.

(1) The governing body of any city of the first or second class or village may, by majority vote of its members, request that the county board formally cede and transfer to the city or village extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction over land outside the area extending two miles from the corporate boundaries of a city of the first class and one mile from the corporate boundaries of a city of the second class or village. In making its request, the city or village shall describe the territory over which jurisdiction is being sought by metes and bounds or by reference to an official map, except that a village shall not request jurisdiction over any territory that is more than one-quarter mile outside the area extending one mile from the corporate boundaries of a village.

(2) Unless prohibited pursuant to section 13-328, the county board may, by majority vote of its members, grant the request with regard to some or all of the requested territory if:

(a) The county has formally adopted a comprehensive development plan and zoning resolution pursuant to section 23-114 not less than two years immediately preceding the date of the city's or village's request;

(b) The city or village, on the date of the request, is exercising extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction over territory within the boundaries of the county;

(c) The requested territory is within the projected growth pattern of the city or village and would be within the city's or village's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction by reason of annexation within a reasonable period of years;

(d) Not more than a total of twenty-five percent of the territory of the county located outside the corporate boundaries of any city or village within the county shall be ceded to the jurisdiction of one city or village within ten years after the date upon which the initial request for the cession of territory to the city or village was approved by the governing body of the city or village; and

(e) No portion of the territory ceded to the city's or village's jurisdiction by the county lies within an area extending one-half mile from the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of any other city of the first or second class or village on the date the request is approved by the governing body of the city or village unless such other city or village adopts a resolution in support of such request.

(3) If the county board approves the cession and transfer of extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction to a city or village pursuant to this section, such transfer shall take effect on the effective date of the ordinance as provided for in subsection (4) of section 16-902 in the case of a city of the first class or as provided for in subsection (5) of section 17-1002 in the case of a city of the second class or village. Upon the effective date of such transfer, the transferred jurisdiction shall be treated for all purposes as if such land were located within two miles of the corporate boundaries of a city of the first class or within one mile of the corporate boundaries of a city of the second class or village.

A county which encompasses a city of the metropolitan class or city of the primary class shall not cede or transfer extraterritorial jurisdiction over land to a city of the first or second class or village if, on the date the county receives a request pursuant to subsection (1) of section 13-327, such land lies within the area extending three miles from the extraterritorial jurisdiction boundaries of such city of the metropolitan class or city of the primary class.

The governing body of a county, city, village, or public utility may authorize the donation of any motor vehicle that is owned by such county, city, village, or public utility, if the governing body has determined that the motor vehicle has reached the end of its useful life, to any charitable organization described in section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code that is incorporated pursuant to the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation Act unless such donation is prohibited by law. The governing body shall not authorize such donation if any employee of the charitable organization or any proposed recipient of the motor vehicle from the charitable organization is a family member of any member of the governing body. For purposes of this section, family member means a spouse, child, parent, brother, sister, grandchild, or grandparent by blood, marriage, or adoption.

(1) The Legislature finds and declares that the regulation of the ownership, possession, storage, transportation, sale, and transfer of firearms and other weapons is a matter of statewide concern.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any home rule charter, counties, cities, and villages shall not have the power to:

(a) Regulate the ownership, possession, storage, transportation, sale, or transfer of firearms or other weapons, except as expressly provided by state law; or

(b) Require registration of firearms or other weapons.

(3) Any county, city, or village ordinance, permit, or regulation in violation of subsection (2) of this section is declared to be null and void.

The governing board of any political subdivision in the State of Nebraska, may provide its members and employees of the political subdivision, either collectively or individually, with personal liability insurance coverage insuring against any liability and claim arising by reason of any act or omission in any manner relating to the performance, attempted performance, or failure of performance of official duties as such member or employee, and may authorize the payment of the premium, cost, and expense of such insurance from the general fund of such political subdivision.

(1) Any county, city, village, school district, agency of the state government, drainage district, sanitary and improvement district, or other political subdivision of the State of Nebraska is hereby permitted, authorized, and given the power to file a petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court under 11 U.S.C. chapter 9 and any acts amendatory thereto and supplementary thereof and to incur and pay the expenses incident to the consummation of a plan of adjustment of debts as contemplated by such petition.

(2)(a) The authority and power to file a petition provided for in subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any city or village that, at the time of its governing body authorizing the filing of such petition, has its defined benefit retirement plan, if any, with a funded ratio of the actuarial value of assets less than fifty-one and sixty-five hundredths percent for any such petition to be filed during the period between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2023; fifty-four and forty-one hundredths percent for any such petition to be filed during the period between January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2026; fifty-eight and twenty-one hundredths percent for any such petition to be filed during the period between January 1, 2026, and January 1, 2029; sixty-three and forty-one hundredths percent for any such petition to be filed during the period between January 1, 2029, and January 1, 2032; seventy and seventy-one hundredths percent for any such petition to be filed during the period between January 1, 2032, and January 1, 2035; eighty and sixty-one hundredths percent for any such petition to be filed during the period between January 1, 2035, and January 1, 2038; and ninety percent thereafter.

(b) Within ninety days prior to taking action authorizing the filing of such petition, the governing body of any city or village that has a defined benefit retirement plan shall conduct an actuarial valuation to determine the funded ratio of such defined benefit retirement plan. Such determination shall be prima facie evidence in establishing the authority of the city or village to exercise authority under this section.

(c)(i) A city or village that does not have a defined benefit retirement plan may by ordinance declare and affirm that its general obligation bonds, whether existing before, after, or at the time of such ordinance, shall, unless otherwise provided in the related authorizing measure, be equally and ratably secured by a statutory lien on all ad valorem taxes levied and to be levied from year to year by such city or village and on all proceeds derived therefrom. The statutory lien authorized hereunder shall be deemed to attach and be continuously perfected from the time the bonds are issued without further action or authorization by the city or village. The statutory lien is valid and binding from the time the bonds are issued without any physical delivery thereof or further act required. No filing need be made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise to perfect the statutory lien on any ad valorem taxes or proceeds derived therefrom in favor of any general obligation bonds. Bonds so secured shall have a first priority lien on such ad valorem taxes so levied and on all proceeds derived therefrom and shall have priority against all parties having claims of contract or tort or otherwise against the city or village, whether or not the parties have notice thereof. The absence of such declaration or affirmation shall not reduce or degrade the priority or secured status of such bonds otherwise existing under law.

(ii) For purposes of this subdivision, statutory lien shall have the meaning given to that term under 11 U.S.C. 101(53) of the federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994, as it existed on August 24, 2017.

(d) An actuary performing actuarial valuations pursuant to this subsection shall be a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and shall meet the academy's qualification standards to render a statement of actuarial opinion.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no political subdivision shall purchase, lease-purchase, or acquire for consideration real property having an estimated value of one hundred thousand dollars or more unless an appraisal of such property has been performed by a certified real property appraiser.

Every civil office in a political subdivision filled by appointment shall be vacant upon the happening of any one of the events listed in section 32-560 except as provided in section 32-561. The resignation of the incumbent of such a civil office may be made as provided in section 32-562. Vacancies in such a civil office shall be filled as provided in sections 32-567 and 32-574 and shall be subject to section 32-563.

No political subdivision may by rule, regulation, ordinance, resolution, or proclamation define or assign a legal status to an animal or animals that is in any manner inconsistent with the status of animals as personal property.

Sections 13-501 to 13-513 shall be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Budget Act.

(1) The purpose of the Nebraska Budget Act is to require governing bodies of this state to which the act applies to follow prescribed budget practices and procedures and make available to the public pertinent information pertaining to the financial requirements and expectations of such governing bodies so that intelligent and informed support, opposition, criticism, suggestions, or observations can be made by those affected.

(2) The act shall not apply to governing bodies which have a budget of less than five thousand dollars per year.

(3) The act shall not apply to proprietary functions of municipalities for which a separate budget has been approved by the city council or village board as provided in the Municipal Proprietary Function Act.

(4) The Nebraska Budget Act shall not apply to any governing body for any fiscal year in which the governing body will not have a property tax request or receive state aid as defined in section 13-518.

(5) The act shall not apply to any public power district or public power and irrigation district organized pursuant to Chapter 70, article 6, to any rural power district organized pursuant to Chapter 70, article 8, or to any agency created pursuant to sections 18-2426 to 18-2434.

For purposes of the Nebraska Budget Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Governing body means the governing body of any county agricultural society, elected county fair board, joint airport authority formed under the Joint Airport Authorities Act, city or county airport authority, bridge commission created pursuant to section 39-868, cemetery district, city, village, municipal county, community college, community redevelopment authority, county, drainage or levee district, educational service unit, rural or suburban fire protection district, historical society, hospital district, irrigation district, learning community, natural resources district, nonprofit county historical association or society for which a tax is levied under subsection (1) of section 23-355.01, public building commission, railroad transportation safety district, reclamation district, road improvement district, rural water district, school district, sanitary and improvement district, township, offstreet parking district, transit authority, regional metropolitan transit authority, metropolitan utilities district, Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council, political subdivision with the authority to have a property tax request, with the authority to levy a toll, or that receives state aid, and joint entity created pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act that receives tax funds generated under section 2-3226.05;

(2) Levying board means any governing body which has the power or duty to levy a tax;

(3) Fiscal year means the twelve-month period used by each governing body in determining and carrying on its financial and taxing affairs;

(4) Tax means any general or special tax levied against persons, property, or business for public purposes as provided by law but shall not include any special assessment;

(5) Auditor means the Auditor of Public Accounts;

(6) Cash reserve means funds required for the period before revenue would become available for expenditure but shall not include funds held in any special reserve fund;

(7) Public funds means all money, including nontax money, used in the operation and functions of governing bodies. For purposes of a county, city, or village which has a lottery established under the Nebraska County and City Lottery Act, only those net proceeds which are actually received by the county, city, or village from a licensed lottery operator shall be considered public funds, and public funds shall not include amounts awarded as prizes;

(8) Adopted budget statement means a proposed budget statement which has been adopted or amended and adopted as provided in section 13-506. Such term shall include additions, if any, to an adopted budget statement made by a revised budget which has been adopted as provided in section 13-511;

(9) Special reserve fund means any special fund set aside by the governing body for a particular purpose and not available for expenditure for any other purpose. Funds created for (a) the retirement of bonded indebtedness, (b) the funding of employee pension plans, (c) the purposes of the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act, (d) the purposes of the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act, (e) voter-approved sinking funds, or (f) statutorily authorized sinking funds shall be considered special reserve funds;

(10) Biennial period means the two fiscal years comprising a biennium commencing in odd-numbered or even-numbered years used by a city, village, or natural resources district in determining and carrying on its financial and taxing affairs; and

(11) Biennial budget means (a) a budget by a city of the primary or metropolitan class that adopts a charter provision providing for a biennial period to determine and carry on the city's financial and taxing affairs, (b) a budget by a city of the first or second class or village that provides for a biennial period to determine and carry on the city's or village's financial and taxing affairs, or (c) a budget by a natural resources district that provides for a biennial period to determine and carry on the natural resources district's financial and taxing affairs.

(1) Each governing body shall annually or biennially, as the case may be, prepare a proposed budget statement on forms prescribed and furnished by the auditor. The proposed budget statement shall be made available to the public by the political subdivision prior to publication of the notice of the hearing on the proposed budget statement pursuant to section 13-506. A proposed budget statement shall contain the following information, except as provided by state law:

(a) For the immediately preceding fiscal year or biennial period, the revenue from all sources, including motor vehicle taxes, other than revenue received from personal and real property taxation, allocated to the funds and separately stated as to each such source: The unencumbered cash balance at the beginning and end of the year or biennial period; the amount received by taxation of personal and real property; and the amount of actual expenditures;

(b) For the current fiscal year or biennial period, actual and estimated revenue from all sources, including motor vehicle taxes, allocated to the funds and separately stated as to each such source: The actual unencumbered cash balance available at the beginning of the year or biennial period; the amount received from personal and real property taxation; and the amount of actual and estimated expenditures, whichever is applicable. Such statement shall contain the cash reserve for each fiscal year or biennial period and shall note whether or not such reserve is encumbered. Such cash reserve projections shall be based upon the actual experience of prior years or biennial periods. The cash reserve shall not exceed fifty percent of the total budget adopted exclusive of capital outlay items;

(c) For the immediately ensuing fiscal year or biennial period, an estimate of revenue from all sources, including motor vehicle taxes, other than revenue to be received from taxation of personal and real property, separately stated as to each such source: The actual or estimated unencumbered cash balances, whichever is applicable, to be available at the beginning of the year or biennial period; the amounts proposed to be expended during the year or biennial period; and the amount of cash reserve, based on actual experience of prior years or biennial periods, which cash reserve shall not exceed fifty percent of the total budget adopted exclusive of capital outlay items;

(d) A statement setting out separately the amount sought to be raised from the levy of a tax on the taxable value of real property (i) for the purpose of paying the principal or interest on bonds issued or authorized to be issued by the governing body or the legal voters of the political subdivision and (ii) for all other purposes;

(e) A uniform summary of the proposed budget statement, including each proprietary function fund included in a separate proprietary budget statement prepared pursuant to the Municipal Proprietary Function Act, and a grand total of all funds maintained by the governing body;

(f) For municipalities, a list of the proprietary functions which are not included in the budget statement. Such proprietary functions shall have a separate budget statement which is approved by the city council or village board as provided in the Municipal Proprietary Function Act; and

(g) For school districts and educational service units, a separate identification and description of all current and future costs to the school district or educational service unit which are reasonably anticipated as a result of any contract, and any adopted amendments thereto, for superintendent services to be rendered to such school district or administrator services to be rendered to such educational service unit.

(2) The actual or estimated unencumbered cash balance required to be included in the budget statement by this section shall include deposits and investments of the political subdivision as well as any funds held by the county treasurer for the political subdivision and shall be accurately stated on the proposed budget statement.

(3) The political subdivision shall correct any material errors in the budget statement detected by the auditor or by other sources.

The estimated expenditures plus the required cash reserve for the ensuing fiscal year or biennial period less all estimated and actual unencumbered balances at the beginning of the year or biennial period and less the estimated income from all sources, including motor vehicle taxes, other than taxation of personal and real property shall equal the amount to be received from taxes, and such amount shall be shown on the proposed budget statement pursuant to section 13-504. The amount to be raised from taxation of personal and real property, as determined above, plus the estimated revenue from other sources, including motor vehicle taxes, and the unencumbered balances shall equal the estimated expenditures, plus the necessary required cash reserve, for the ensuing year or biennial period.

(1) Each governing body shall each year or biennial period conduct a public hearing on its proposed budget statement. Such hearing shall be held separately from any regularly scheduled meeting of the governing body and shall not be limited by time. Notice of place and time of such hearing, together with a summary of the proposed budget statement, shall be published at least four calendar days prior to the date set for hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the governing body's jurisdiction. For purposes of such notice, the four calendar days shall include the day of publication but not the day of hearing. When the total operating budget, not including reserves, does not exceed ten thousand dollars per year or twenty thousand dollars per biennial period, the proposed budget summary may be posted at the governing body's principal headquarters. At such hearing, the governing body shall make at least three copies of the proposed budget statement available to the public and shall make a presentation outlining key provisions of the proposed budget statement, including, but not limited to, a comparison with the prior year's budget. Any member of the public desiring to speak on the proposed budget statement shall be allowed to address the governing body at the hearing and shall be given a reasonable amount of time to do so. After such hearing, the proposed budget statement shall be adopted, or amended and adopted as amended, and a written record shall be kept of such hearing. The amount to be received from personal and real property taxation shall be certified to the levying board after the proposed budget statement is adopted or is amended and adopted as amended. If the levying board represents more than one county, a member or a representative of the governing board shall, upon the written request of any represented county, appear and present its budget at the hearing of the requesting county. The certification of the amount to be received from personal and real property taxation shall specify separately (a) the amount to be applied to the payment of principal or interest on bonds issued or authorized to be issued by the governing body or the legal voters of the political subdivision and (b) the amount to be received for all other purposes. If the adopted budget statement reflects a change from that shown in the published proposed budget statement, a summary of such changes shall be published within twenty calendar days after its adoption in the manner provided in this section, but without provision for hearing, setting forth the items changed and the reasons for such changes.

(2) Upon approval by the governing body, the budget shall be filed with the auditor. The auditor may review the budget for errors in mathematics, improper accounting, and noncompliance with the Nebraska Budget Act or sections 13-518 to 13-522. If the auditor detects such errors, he or she shall immediately notify the governing body of such errors. The governing body shall correct any such error as provided in section 13-511. Warrants for the payment of expenditures provided in the budget adopted under this section shall be valid notwithstanding any errors or noncompliance for which the auditor has notified the governing body.

(3) Each school district shall include in the notice required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section the following statement: For more information on statewide receipts and expenditures, and to compare cost per pupil and performance to other school districts, go to: [Insert Internet address for the website established pursuant to section 79-302.01]. In addition, each school district shall electronically publish such statement on the school district website. Such electronic publication shall be prominently displayed with an active link to the Internet address for the website established pursuant to section 79-302.01 to allow the public access to the information.

When a levy increase has been authorized by vote of the electors, the adopted budget statement shall indicate the amount of the levy increase.

(1) After publication and hearing thereon and within the time prescribed by law, each governing body shall file with and certify to the levying board or boards on or before September 30 of each year or September 30 of the final year of a biennial period and file with the auditor a copy of the adopted budget statement which complies with sections 13-518 to 13-522 or 79-1023 to 79-1030, together with the amount of the tax required to fund the adopted budget, setting out separately (a) the amount to be levied for the payment of principal or interest on bonds issued or authorized to be issued by the governing body or the legal voters of the political subdivision and (b) the amount to be levied for all other purposes. Proof of publication shall be attached to the statements. For fiscal years prior to fiscal year 2017-18, learning communities shall also file a copy of such adopted budget statement with member school districts on or before September 1 of each year. If the prime rate published by the Federal Reserve Board is ten percent or more at the time of the filing and certification required under this subsection, the governing body, in certifying the amount required, may make allowance for delinquent taxes not exceeding five percent of the amount required plus the actual percentage of delinquent taxes for the preceding tax year or biennial period and for the amount of estimated tax loss from any pending or anticipated litigation which involves taxation and in which tax collections have been or can be withheld or escrowed by court order. For purposes of this section, anticipated litigation shall be limited to the anticipation of an action being filed by a taxpayer who or which filed a similar action for the preceding year or biennial period which is still pending. Except for such allowances, a governing body shall not certify an amount of tax more than one percent greater or lesser than the amount determined under section 13-505.

(2) Each governing body shall use the certified taxable values as provided by the county assessor pursuant to section 13-509 for the current year in setting or certifying the levy. Each governing body may designate one of its members to perform any duty or responsibility required of such body by this section.

(1) On or before August 20 of each year, the county assessor shall certify to each governing body or board empowered to levy or certify a tax levy the current taxable value of the taxable real and personal property subject to the applicable levy. The certification shall be provided to the governing body or board (a) by mail if requested by the governing body or board, (b) electronically, or (c) by listing such certification on the county assessor's website.

(2) Current taxable value for real property shall mean the value established by the county assessor and equalized by the county board of equalization and the Tax Equalization and Review Commission. Current taxable value for tangible personal property shall mean the net book value reported by the taxpayer and certified by the county assessor.

(3) If a political subdivision annexes property since the last time taxable values were certified under subsection (1) of this section, the governing body of such political subdivision shall file and record a certified copy of the annexation ordinance, petition, or resolution in the office of the register of deeds or, if none, the county clerk and the county assessor of the county in which the annexed property is located. The annexation ordinance, petition, or resolution shall include a full legal description of the annexed property. If the register of deeds or county clerk receives and records such ordinance, petition, or resolution prior to July 1 or, for annexations by a city of the metropolitan class, prior to August 1, the valuation of the real and personal property annexed shall be considered in the taxable valuation of the annexing political subdivision for the current year. If the register of deeds or county clerk receives and records such ordinance, petition, or resolution on or after July 1 or, for annexations by a city of the metropolitan class, on or after August 1, the valuation of the real and personal property annexed shall be considered in the taxable valuation of the annexing political subdivision for the following year.

(4) If the legal voters of a political subdivision have approved a bond since the last time taxable values were certified under subsection (1) of this section, the governing body of such political subdivision shall file a copy of the bond language approved by the legal voters of the political subdivision and a full legal description of the property subject to the bond with the county assessor of the county or counties in which such political subdivision is located. If the county assessor receives such copy and full legal description prior to July 1 or, for bonds of a city of the metropolitan class, prior to August 1, the valuation of the real and personal property subject to the bond shall be included in the value certified by the county assessor pursuant to subsection (1) of this section for the current year. If the county assessor receives such copy and full legal description on or after July 1 or, for bonds of a city of the metropolitan class, on or after August 1, the valuation of the real and personal property subject to the bond shall be included in the value certified by the county assessor pursuant to subsection (1) of this section for the following year.

On and after the first day of its fiscal year in 1993 and of each succeeding year or on or after the first day of its biennial period and until the adoption of the budget by a governing body in September, the governing body may expend any balance of cash on hand for the current expenses of the political subdivision governed by the governing body. Except as provided in section 13-509.02, such expenditures shall not exceed an amount equivalent to the total amount expended under the last budget in the equivalent period of the prior budget year or biennial period. Such expenditures shall be charged against the appropriations for each individual fund or purpose as provided in the budget when adopted.

The restriction on expenditures in section 13-509.01 may be exceeded upon the express finding of the governing body of the political subdivision that expenditures beyond the amount authorized are necessary to enable the political subdivision to meet its statutory duties and responsibilities. The finding and approval of the expenditures in excess of the statutory authorization shall be adopted by the governing body of the political subdivision in open public session of the governing body. Expenditures authorized by this section shall be charged against appropriations for each individual fund or purpose as provided in the budget when adopted, and nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize expenditures by the political subdivision in excess of that authorized by any other statutory provision.

Whenever during the current fiscal year or biennial period it becomes apparent to a governing body that due to unforeseen emergencies there is temporarily insufficient money in a particular fund to meet the requirements of the adopted budget of expenditures for that fund, the governing body may by a majority vote, unless otherwise provided by state law, transfer money from other funds to such fund. No expenditure during any fiscal year or biennial period shall be made in excess of the amounts indicated in the adopted budget statement, except as authorized in section 13-511, or by state law. Any officer or officers of any governing body who obligates funds contrary to the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class V misdemeanor.

(1) Unless otherwise provided by law, whenever during the current fiscal year or biennial period it becomes apparent to a governing body that (a) there are circumstances which could not reasonably have been anticipated at the time the budget for the current year or biennial period was adopted, (b) the budget adopted violated sections 13-518 to 13-522, such that the revenue of the current fiscal year or biennial period for any fund thereof will be insufficient, additional expenses will be necessarily incurred, or there is a need to reduce the budget requirements to comply with sections 13-518 to 13-522, or (c) the governing body has been notified by the auditor of a mathematical or accounting error or noncompliance with the Nebraska Budget Act, such governing body may propose to revise the previously adopted budget statement and shall conduct a public hearing on such proposal. The public hearing requirement shall not apply to emergency expenditures pursuant to section 81-829.51.

(2) Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published at least four calendar days prior to the date set for hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the governing body's jurisdiction. For purposes of such notice, the four calendar days shall include the day of publication but not the day of hearing. Such published notice shall set forth (a) the time and place of the hearing, (b) the amount in dollars of additional or reduced money required and for what purpose, (c) a statement setting forth the nature of the unanticipated circumstances and, if the budget requirements are to be increased, the reasons why the previously adopted budget of expenditures cannot be reduced during the remainder of the current year or biennial period to meet the need for additional money in that manner, (d) a copy of the summary of the originally adopted budget previously published, and (e) a copy of the summary of the proposed revised budget.

(3) At such hearing any taxpayer may appear or file a written statement protesting any application for additional money. A written record shall be kept of all such hearings.

(4) Upon conclusion of the public hearing on the proposed revised budget and approval of the proposed revised budget by the governing body, the governing body shall file with the county clerk of the county or counties in which such governing body is located, with the learning community coordinating council for fiscal years prior to fiscal year 2017-18 for school districts that are members of learning communities, and with the auditor, a copy of the revised budget, as adopted. The governing body may then issue warrants in payment for expenditures authorized by the adopted revised budget. Such warrants shall be referred to as registered warrants and shall be repaid during the next fiscal year or biennial period from funds derived from taxes levied therefor.

(5) Within thirty calendar days after the adoption of the budget under section 13-506, a governing body may, or within thirty calendar days after notification of an error by the auditor, a governing body shall, correct an adopted budget which contains a clerical, mathematical, or accounting error which does not affect the total amount budgeted by more than one percent or increase the amount required from property taxes. No public hearing shall be required for such a correction. After correction, the governing body shall file a copy of the corrected budget with the county clerk of the county or counties in which such governing body is located and with the auditor. The governing body may then issue warrants in payment for expenditures authorized by the budget.

A taxpayer upon whom a tax will be imposed as a result of the action of a governing body in adopting a budget statement may contest the validity of the budget statement adopted by the governing body by filing an action in the district court of the county in which the governing body is situated. Such action shall be based either upon a violation of or a failure to comply with the provisions and requirements of the Nebraska Budget Act by the governing body. In response to such action, the governing body shall be required to show cause why the budget statement should not be ordered set aside, modified, or changed. The action shall be tried to the court without a jury and shall be given priority by the district court over other pending civil litigation, and by the appellate court on appeal, to the extent possible and feasible to expedite a decision. Such action shall be filed within thirty days after the adopted budget statement is required to be filed by the governing body with the levying board. If the district court finds that the governing body has violated or failed to comply with the requirements of the act, the court shall, in whole or in part, set aside, modify, or change the adopted budget statement or tax levy as the justice of the case may require. The district court's decision may be appealed to the Court of Appeals.

The remedy provided in this section shall not be exclusive but shall be in addition to any other remedy provided by law.

(1) The auditor shall, on or before August 1 each year, request information from each governing body in a form prescribed by the auditor regarding (a) trade names, corporate names, or other business names under which the governing body operates and (b) agreements to which the governing body is a party under the Interlocal Cooperation Act and the Joint Public Agency Act. Each governing body shall provide such information to the auditor on or before September 30.

(2) Information requested pursuant to this section that is not received by the auditor on or before September 30 shall be delinquent. The auditor shall notify the political subdivision by facsimile transmission, email, or first-class mail of such delinquency. Beginning on the day that such notification is sent, the auditor may assess the political subdivision a late fee of twenty dollars per day for each calendar day the requested information remains delinquent. The total late fee assessed to a political subdivision under this section shall not exceed two thousand dollars per delinquency.

(3) The auditor shall remit to the State Treasurer for credit to the Auditor of Public Accounts Cash Fund a remedial fee sufficient to reimburse the direct costs of administering and enforcing this section, but such remedial fee shall not exceed one hundred dollars from any late fee received under this section. The auditor shall remit any late fee amount in excess of one hundred dollars received under this section to the State Treasurer to be distributed in accordance with Article VII, section 5, of the Constitution of Nebraska.

(4) If a political subdivision fails to provide the information requested under this section on or before September 30, the auditor may, at his or her discretion, audit such political subdivision. The expense of such audit shall be paid by the political subdivision.

A public power district or public power and irrigation district organized pursuant to Chapter 70, article 6, a rural power district organized pursuant to Chapter 70, article 8, or any agency created pursuant to sections 18-2426 to 18-2434 shall prepare in writing each year a proposed budget which shall include at a minimum: Revenue from all sources separately stated as to each source and expenditures from the prior two years; estimates of the current year's revenue from all sources separately stated as to each source and expenditures; and a summary which outlines the fiscal policy of the district or agency for the period covered by the budget. Such proposed budget shall be available for inspection by the general public at each district's or agency's principal headquarters at least seven days prior to the meeting of the board of directors at which such budget is to be adopted. The budget shall be in a form approved by the Nebraska Power Review Board.

Notice of the place and time of such meeting of the board of directors shall be published at least seven days prior to the date set for such meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the district or agency. The notice shall include a statement that the proposed budget is available for public inspection and the location where it is available. Any changes to the proposed budget made between the date the proposed budget is made available for public inspection and the date of the board meeting shall be added to the proposed budget at the principal headquarters of the district or agency prior to the board meeting. At such meeting the public shall have an opportunity to testify before the proposed budget is adopted, and a written record shall be kept of such meeting. If the adopted budget reflects a change from that shown in the proposed budget a summary of such changes shall be available for inspection at the principal headquarters of such district or agency.

The annual budget of all school districts and educational service units shall be subject to the Nebraska Budget Act.

For purposes of sections 13-518 to 13-522:

(1) Allowable growth means (a) for governmental units other than community colleges, the percentage increase in taxable valuation in excess of the base limitation established under section 77-3446, if any, due to improvements to real property as a result of new construction, additions to existing buildings, any improvements to real property which increase the value of such property, and any increase in valuation due to annexation and any personal property valuation over the prior year and (b) for community colleges, the percentage increase in excess of the base limitation, if any, in full-time equivalent students from the second year to the first year preceding the year for which the budget is being determined;

(2) Capital improvements means (a) acquisition of real property or (b) acquisition, construction, or extension of any improvements on real property;

(3) Governing body has the same meaning as in section 13-503;

(4) Governmental unit means every political subdivision which has authority to levy a property tax or authority to request levy authority under section 77-3443 except sanitary and improvement districts which have been in existence for five years or less and school districts;

(5) Qualified sinking fund means a fund or funds maintained separately from the general fund to pay for acquisition or replacement of tangible personal property with a useful life of five years or more which is to be undertaken in the future but is to be paid for in part or in total in advance using periodic payments into the fund. The term includes sinking funds under subdivision (13) of section 35-508 for firefighting and rescue equipment or apparatus;

(6) Restricted funds means (a) property tax, excluding any amounts refunded to taxpayers, (b) payments in lieu of property taxes, (c) local option sales taxes, (d) motor vehicle taxes, (e) state aid, (f) transfers of surpluses from any user fee, permit fee, or regulatory fee if the fee surplus is transferred to fund a service or function not directly related to the fee and the costs of the activity funded from the fee, (g) any funds excluded from restricted funds for the prior year because they were budgeted for capital improvements but which were not spent and are not expected to be spent for capital improvements, (h) the tax provided in sections 77-27,223 to 77-27,227 beginning in the second fiscal year in which the county will receive a full year of receipts, and (i) any excess tax collections returned to the county under section 77-1776. Funds received pursuant to the nameplate capacity tax levied under section 77-6203 for the first five years after a renewable energy generation facility has been commissioned are nonrestricted funds; and

(7) State aid means:

(a) For all governmental units, state aid paid pursuant to sections 60-3,202 and 77-3523 and reimbursement provided pursuant to section 77-1239;

(b) For municipalities, state aid to municipalities paid pursuant to sections 39-2501 to 39-2520, 60-3,190, and 77-27,139.04 and insurance premium tax paid to municipalities;

(c) For counties, state aid to counties paid pursuant to sections 60-3,184 to 60-3,190, insurance premium tax paid to counties, and reimbursements to counties from funds appropriated pursuant to section 29-3933;

(d) For community colleges, state aid to community colleges paid pursuant to the Community College Aid Act;

(e) For educational service units, state aid appropriated under sections 79-1241.01 and 79-1241.03; and

(f) For local public health departments as defined in section 71-1626, state aid as distributed under section 71-1628.08.

(1)(a) Subject to subdivisions (1)(b) and (c) of this section, for all fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 1998, no governmental unit shall adopt a budget containing a total of budgeted restricted funds more than the last prior year's total of budgeted restricted funds plus allowable growth plus the basic allowable growth percentage of the base limitation established under section 77-3446. For the second fiscal year in which a county will receive a full year of receipts from the tax imposed in sections 77-27,223 to 77-27,227, the prior year's total of restricted funds shall be the prior year's total of restricted funds plus the total receipts from the tax imposed in sections 77-27,223 to 77-27,227 in the prior year. If a governmental unit transfers the financial responsibility of providing a service financed in whole or in part with restricted funds to another governmental unit or the state, the amount of restricted funds associated with providing the service shall be subtracted from the last prior year's total of budgeted restricted funds for the previous provider and may be added to the last prior year's total of restricted funds for the new provider. For governmental units that have consolidated, the calculations made under this section for consolidating units shall be made based on the combined total of restricted funds, population, or full-time equivalent students of each governmental unit.

(b) For all fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2008, educational service units may exceed the limitations of subdivision (1)(a) of this section to the extent that one hundred ten percent of the needs for the educational service unit calculated pursuant to section 79-1241.03 exceeds the budgeted restricted funds allowed pursuant to subdivision (1)(a) of this section.

(c) For fiscal year 2017-18, the last prior year’s total of restricted funds for counties shall be the last prior year’s total of restricted funds less the last prior year’s restricted funds budgeted by counties under sections 39-2501 to 39-2520, plus the last prior year’s amount of restricted funds budgeted by counties under sections 39-2501 to 39-2520 to be used for capital improvements.

(d) The limitations of subdivision (1)(a) of this section shall not apply to the budget or budget statement adopted by a regional metropolitan transit authority for the first five fiscal years commencing on the January 1 that follows the effective date of the conversion of the transit authority established under the Transit Authority Law into a regional metropolitan transit authority.

(2) A governmental unit may exceed the limit provided in subdivision (1)(a) of this section for a fiscal year by up to an additional one percent upon the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent of the governing body.

(3) A governmental unit may exceed the applicable allowable growth percentage otherwise prescribed in this section by an amount approved by a majority of legal voters voting on the issue at a special election called for such purpose upon the recommendation of the governing body or upon the receipt by the county clerk or election commissioner of a petition requesting an election signed by at least five percent of the legal voters of the governmental unit. The recommendation of the governing body or the petition of the legal voters shall include the amount and percentage by which the governing body would increase its budgeted restricted funds for the ensuing year over and above the current year's budgeted restricted funds. The county clerk or election commissioner shall call for a special election on the issue within thirty days after the receipt of such governing body recommendation or legal voter petition. The election shall be held pursuant to the Election Act, and all costs shall be paid by the governing body. The issue may be approved on the same question as a vote to exceed the levy limits provided in section 77-3444.

(4) In lieu of the election procedures in subsection (3) of this section, any governmental unit may, for a period of one year, exceed the allowable growth percentage otherwise prescribed in this section by an amount approved by a majority of legal voters voting at a meeting of the residents of the governmental unit, called after notice is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the governmental unit at least twenty days prior to the meeting. At least ten percent of the registered voters residing in the governmental unit shall constitute a quorum for purposes of taking action to exceed the allowable growth percentage. If a majority of the registered voters present at the meeting vote in favor of exceeding the allowable growth percentage, a copy of the record of that action shall be forwarded to the Auditor of Public Accounts along with the budget documents. The issue to exceed the allowable growth percentage may be approved at the same meeting as a vote to exceed the limits or final levy allocation provided in section 77-3444.

The limitations in section 13-519 shall not apply to (1) restricted funds budgeted for capital improvements, (2) restricted funds expended from a qualified sinking fund for acquisition or replacement of tangible personal property with a useful life of five years or more, (3) restricted funds pledged to retire bonds as defined in subdivision (1) of section 10-134 and approved according to law, (4) restricted funds used by a public airport to retire interest-free loans from the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation in lieu of bonded indebtedness at a lower cost to the public airport, (5) restricted funds budgeted in support of a service which is the subject of an agreement or a modification of an existing agreement whether operated by one of the parties to the agreement or by an independent joint entity or joint public agency, (6) restricted funds budgeted to pay for repairs to infrastructure damaged by a natural disaster which is declared a disaster emergency pursuant to the Emergency Management Act, (7) restricted funds budgeted to pay for judgments, except judgments or orders from the Commission of Industrial Relations, obtained against a governmental unit which require or obligate a governmental unit to pay such judgment, to the extent such judgment is not paid by liability insurance coverage of a governmental unit, (8) restricted funds budgeted to pay benefits under the Firefighter Cancer Benefits Act, or (9) the dollar amount by which restricted funds budgeted by a natural resources district to administer and implement ground water management activities and integrated management activities under the Nebraska Ground Water Management and Protection Act exceed its restricted funds budgeted to administer and implement ground water management activities and integrated management activities for FY2003-04.

A governmental unit may choose not to increase its total of restricted funds by the full amount allowed by law in a particular year. In such cases, the governmental unit may carry forward to future budget years the amount of unused restricted funds authority. The governmental unit shall calculate its unused restricted funds authority and submit an accounting of such amount with the budget documents for that year. Such unused restricted funds authority may then be used in later years for increases in the total of restricted funds allowed by law. Any unused budget authority existing on April 8, 1998, by reason of any prior law may be used for increases in restricted funds authority.

The Auditor of Public Accounts shall prepare budget documents to be submitted by governmental units which calculate the restricted funds authority for each governmental unit. Each governmental unit shall submit its calculated restricted funds authority with its budget documents at the time the budgets are due to the Auditor of Public Accounts. If the Auditor of Public Accounts determines from the budget documents that a governmental unit is not complying with the budget limits provided in sections 13-518 to 13-522, he or she shall notify the governing body of his or her determination and notify the State Treasurer of the noncompliance. The State Treasurer shall then suspend distribution of state aid allocated to the governmental unit until such sections are complied with. The funds shall be held for six months until the governmental unit complies, and if the governmental unit complies within the six-month period, it shall receive the suspended funds, but after six months, if the governmental unit fails to comply, the suspended funds shall be forfeited and shall be redistributed to other recipients of the state aid or, in the case of homestead exemption reimbursement, returned to the General Fund.

It shall be lawful for any unit of local government of the State of Nebraska to receive funds from the United States Government pursuant to Title I of the federal State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, Public Law 92-512, 92nd Congress, Second Session, 31 U.S.C. 1221 and following, or any successor act thereto. Such local government may use local assistance and other available resources for any purpose for which other revenue may be lawfully expended including the following:

(1) Ordinary and necessary maintenance and operating expenses for (a) public safety, including law enforcement, fire protection, and building code enforcement, (b) environmental protection, including sewage disposal, sanitation, and pollution abatement, (c) public transportation, including transit systems and streets and roads, (d) health, (e) recreation, (f) libraries, (g) social services as defined in section 68-1202, and (h) financial administration; and

(2) Ordinary and necessary capital expenditures authorized by law.

It is the intent of the Legislature that in construing section 13-601 the courts will be guided by the interpretations given by the Office of Revenue Sharing, U.S. Department of Treasury and by the federal courts to section 103 of the State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, 31 U.S.C. 1222, as from time to time amended.

The provisions of sections 13-601 to 13-603 are supplementary to existing laws relating to any unit of local government and confer upon such units of local government powers not previously granted by state law to permit those governmental subdivisions to use such funds and other available resources for the purposes of sections 13-601 to 13-603, and any unit of local government shall have the power to join with any other governmental subdivision, or with any agency or nonprofit corporation, whether federal, state, or local, or with any number or combinations thereof, by contract or otherwise, in joint ownership, operation of any function, or exercise of any power pursuant to the provisions of sections 13-601 to 13-603, or in agreements containing the provision that one or more operate or perform for the other or others.

It shall be lawful for any municipality and for any county to spend its own revenue and other available resources, including funds received under Title I of the federal State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-512, 23 U.S.C. chapter 24), or any successor act thereto, for any purpose for which other revenue may be lawfully expended including the following:

(1) Ordinary and necessary maintenance and operating expenses for (a) public safety, including law enforcement, fire protection, and building code enforcement; (b) environmental protection, including sewage disposal, sanitation and pollution abatement; (c) public transportation, including transit systems for streets and roads; (d) health; (e) recreation; (f) libraries; (g) social services as defined in section 68-1202; and (h) financial administration; and

(2) Ordinary and necessary capital expenditures authorized by law.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the problems relating to the critical social, economic, and environmental problems of the nation's cities, towns, and smaller urban communities which are found and declared to exist by the Congress of the United States in the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended through the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1981 exist within this state and that it is in the public interest for the state, cities of all classes, villages, or counties to be authorized to apply for, receive, or expend federal funds for the eligible activities under such act or to administer such programs. The Legislature hereby declares such activities to be a public purpose within this state. Money received from the federal government for such activities shall be placed in a distinct and separate fund and shall not be commingled with other money of the state, city, village, or county.

Every governing body of any political subdivision that is required by law to submit to an audit of its accounts shall provide and file with its secretary or clerk, in the year of its organization and each year thereafter, not later than August 1 of each year, financial statements showing its actual and budgeted figures for the most recently completed fiscal year.

(1) Any county treasurer, county official, or political subdivision official may accept credit cards, charge cards, or debit cards, whether presented in person or electronically, or electronic funds transfers as a method of cash payment of any tax, levy, excise, duty, custom, toll, interest, penalty, fine, license, fee, or assessment of whatever kind or nature, whether general or special, as provided by section 77-1702.

(2) The total amount of such taxes, levies, excises, duties, customs, tolls, interest, penalties, fines, licenses, fees, or assessments of whatever kind or nature, whether general or special, paid for by credit card, charge card, debit card, or electronic funds transfer shall be collected by the county treasurer, county official, or political subdivision official.

(3) Any political subdivision operating a facility in a proprietary capacity may choose to accept credit cards, charge cards, or debit cards, whether presented in person or electronically, or electronic funds transfers as a means of cash payment and may adjust the price for services to reflect the handling and payment costs.

(4) The county treasurer, county official, or political subdivision official shall obtain, for each transaction, authorization for use of any credit card, charge card, or debit card used pursuant to this section from the financial institution, vending service company, credit card or charge card company, or third-party merchant bank providing such service.

(5) The types of credit cards, charge cards, or debit cards accepted and the payment services provided shall be determined by the State Treasurer and the Director of Administrative Services with the advice of a committee convened by the State Treasurer and the director. The committee shall consist of the State Treasurer, the Tax Commissioner, the director, and representatives from counties, cities, and other political subdivisions as may be appropriate. The committee shall develop recommendations for the contracting of such services. The State Treasurer and the director shall contract with one or more credit card, charge card, or debit card companies or third-party merchant banks for services on behalf of the state and those counties, cities, and political subdivisions that choose to participate in the state contract for such services. The State Treasurer and the director shall consider, for purposes of this section, any negotiated discount, processing, or transaction fee imposed by a credit card, charge card, or debit card company or third-party merchant bank as an administrative expense. Counties, cities, and other political subdivisions that choose not to participate in the state contract may choose types of credit cards, charge cards, and debit cards and may negotiate and contract independently or collectively as a governmental entity with one or more financial institutions, vending service companies, credit card, charge card, or debit card companies, or third-party merchant banks for the provision of such services. All county officials within each county choosing to accept credit cards, charge cards, and debit cards shall contract for services through the same financial institutions, vending service companies, credit card, charge card, or debit card companies, or third-party merchant banks for the provision of such services. County officials who accept credit cards, charge cards, and debit cards shall notify the county board of such decision and the discount or administrative fees charged for such service.

(6) A county treasurer, county official, or political subdivision official authorizing acceptance of credit card or charge card payments shall be authorized but not required to impose a surcharge or convenience fee upon the person making a payment by credit card or charge card so as to wholly or partially offset the amount of any discount or administrative fees charged to the political subdivision, but the surcharge or convenience fee shall not exceed the surcharge or convenience fee imposed by the credit card or charge card companies or third-party merchant banks which have contracted under subsection (5) of this section. The surcharge or convenience fee shall be applied only when allowed by the operating rules and regulations of the credit card or charge card involved or when authorized in writing by the credit card or charge card company involved. When a person elects to make a payment to a political subdivision by credit card or charge card and such a surcharge or convenience fee is imposed, the payment of such surcharge or convenience fee shall be deemed voluntary by such person and shall be in no case refundable. If a payment is made electronically by credit card, charge card, debit card, or electronic funds transfer as part of a system for providing or retrieving information electronically, the county treasurer, county official, or political subdivision official shall be authorized but not required to impose an additional surcharge or convenience fee upon the person making a payment.

(7) For purposes of this section, electronic funds transfer means the movement of funds by nonpaper means, usually through a payment system, including, but not limited to, an automated clearinghouse or the Federal Reserve's Fedwire system.

(1) A political subdivision, through its governing body, may create its own purchasing card program. The governing body shall determine the type of purchasing card or cards utilized in the purchasing card program and shall approve or disapprove those persons who will be assigned a purchasing card. Under the direction of its governing body, any political subdivision may contract with one or more financial institutions, card-issuing banks, credit card companies, charge card companies, debit card companies, or third-party merchant banks capable of operating the purchasing card program on behalf of the political subdivision. Expenses associated with the political subdivision's purchasing card program shall be considered, for purposes of this section, as an administrative or operational expense.

(2) Any political subdivision may utilize its purchasing card program for the purchase of goods and services for and on behalf of the political subdivision.

(3) Vendors accepting a political subdivision's purchasing card shall obtain authorization for all transactions. Authorization shall be from the financial institution, card-issuing bank, credit card company, charge card company, debit card company, or third-party merchant bank contracted to provide such service to the political subdivision. Each transaction shall be authorized in accordance with the instructions provided by the political subdivision.

(4) An itemized receipt for purposes of tracking expenditures shall accompany all purchasing card purchases. In the event that a receipt does not accompany such a purchase, purchasing card privileges shall be temporarily or permanently suspended in accordance with rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the political subdivision.

(5) Upon the termination or suspension of employment of an individual using a purchasing card, such individual's purchasing card account shall be immediately closed and he or she shall return the purchasing card to the political subdivision.

(6) No officer or employee of a political subdivision shall use a political subdivision purchasing card for any unauthorized use as determined by the governing body.

Sections 13-701 to 13-706 shall be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Emergency Seat of Local Government Act.

As used in sections 13-701 to 13-706, and unless otherwise clearly required by the context, the following terms have the respective meanings and connotations shown:

(1) An attack means any action or series of actions by an enemy of the United States, causing, or which may cause, substantial injury or damage to civilian persons or property in the United States in any manner, whether by sabotage, or by the use of bombs, missiles, or shellfire, or by atomic, radiological, chemical, bacteriological, or biological means, or by other weapons or processes;

(2) The term political subdivisions includes counties, townships, cities, villages, districts, authorities, and other public corporations and entities, whether organized and existing under direct provisions of the Constitution of Nebraska or statutes of this state, or by virtue of charters or other corporate articles or instruments executed under authority of such Constitution or laws; and

(3) The term seat of local government, when applied to a political subdivision, usually means the place fixed by law, charter, etc., as the situs of its separate government; as, for example, the county seat of a county. But in any instance where the law, charter, etc., does not fix a specific place therefor, then the term seat of local government means the place at which the separate government of the subdivision usually is maintained in accordance with tradition or custom.

Whenever, due to an emergency resulting from the effects of any enemy attack upon the United States, or the immediate threat thereof, it becomes imprudent, inexpedient, or impossible to conduct the affairs of the government of any political subdivision at the permanent seat of local government, the governing body thereof shall meet at such place, within or without the territorial limits of the subdivision, as the presiding officer or any two members may fix, and then shall proceed to establish and designate, by ordinance, resolution, resolve, or other appropriate manner, a temporary location or locations for an emergency local seat of government. Such location or locations shall be a site or sites which, in the judgment of the governing body, is or are proper and appropriate, under the conditions and circumstances then prevailing, and may be within or without the territorial limits of the political subdivision, or within or without this state. Thereafter, such governing body shall take such action and shall issue such orders and directives as may be necessary for the prompt and orderly transition of the affairs of the local government to such temporary location or locations. Such temporary location or locations shall be and remain the emergency local seat of government until another temporary location or locations shall be designated in the same manner, or until the Governor, by proclamation, or the Legislature, by resolution approved by the Governor, shall declare the emergency to be ended, at which time the seat of local government shall be returned to its permanent location, or shall be removed to a new permanent seat of local government established in accordance with the Constitution of Nebraska and general laws of this state.

During such time as such temporary location or locations shall remain the emergency seat of local government of any such political subdivision, all official acts done or performed thereat by or on the part of any officer, office, council, board, court, department, or division, or any other agency or authority of such political subdivision, shall be as valid, effective and binding as if regularly done or performed at the permanent seat of local government.

(1) The official designation of the location or locations of an emergency seat of local government, and the removal thereto of the government of the political subdivision concerned, shall be subject to such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the then Governor; and shall in no instance precede: (a) The inception of an attack; or (b) the inception of a strategic or tactical warning period duly proclaimed by the President of the United States, the Governor of Nebraska, or both such officials and based on the imminence of an attack.

(2) Prior to any such attack or warning period, any political subdivision is hereby authorized and empowered to make such preliminary plans and preparations as may be deemed necessary and advisable to facilitate the subsequent accomplishment, during such emergency, of the actions provided in sections 13-701 to 13-706. Such plans and preparations, which likewise shall be subject to such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the then Governor, may include any or all of the following steps, but shall not necessarily be limited thereto: (a) Selection, by the governing body as mentioned in section 13-703, of a tentative location or locations for an emergency local seat of government, in the event that as provided in subsection (1) of this section, it subsequently becomes necessary and advisable to designate such tentative location or locations as the official location or locations of the emergency local seat of government; (b) negotiation with local authorities, property owners, and other proper persons, for the possible use and occupancy of specific buildings, areas, or buildings and areas, at or near such tentative location or locations, for the purposes mentioned in sections 13-701 to 13-706 during a subsequent emergency; and (c) storing and stockpiling, at or near the tentative location or locations, of essential supplies and equipment, or vital records or duplicates thereof which would be necessary to permit the continuity of the governmental operation of the political subdivision concerned in an emergency.

(3) Prior to an attack or warning period, as set out in subsection (1) of this section, neither any political subdivision, nor any official or agency of or on behalf thereof, shall, except only for the storage and safeguarding of vital records or duplicates thereof, purchase, contract for the purchase of, or obligate funds of the state or of such political subdivision for the purchase of any real estate or appurtenance thereto, for subsequent use as an emergency local seat of government; Provided, that no political subdivision, nor any official or agency of or on behalf thereof, shall be prevented from constructing an emergency local seat of government on any property owned by such political subdivision or owned jointly with some other political subdivision, and such local seat of government may be constructed as a part of a joint city and county jail authorized under sections 47-302 to 47-308.

The provisions of sections 13-701 to 13-706, in the event they shall be employed, shall control and take precedence over any provision of any other law, charter, ordinance, or regulation to the contrary or in conflict therewith; Provided, that nothing herein shall be construed as contravening, suspending, or otherwise affecting any provision of the Constitution of Nebraska or laws of this state, or of any local charter or other corporate articles or instrument of the political subdivision concerned, relating to the permanent relocation of any local seat of government.

Sections 13-801 to 13-827 shall be known and may be cited as the Interlocal Cooperation Act.

It is the purpose of the Interlocal Cooperation Act to permit local governmental units to make the most efficient use of their taxing authority and other powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population, and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities.

For purposes of the Interlocal Cooperation Act:

(1) Joint entity shall mean an entity created by agreement pursuant to section 13-804;

(2) Public agency shall mean any county, city, village, school district, or agency of the state government or of the United States, any drainage district, sanitary and improvement district, or other municipal corporation or political subdivision of this state, and any political subdivision of another state;

(3) Public safety services shall mean public services for the protection of persons or property. Public safety services shall include law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency response services; and

(4) State shall mean a state of the United States and the District of Columbia.

(1) Any power or powers, privileges, or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges, and authority conferred by the Interlocal Cooperation Act upon a public agency.

(2) Any two or more public agencies may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution, or otherwise pursuant to law of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.

(3) Any such agreement shall specify the following:

(a) Its duration;

(b) The general organization, composition, and nature of any separate legal or administrative entity created by the agreement together with the powers delegated to the entity;

(c) Its purpose or purposes;

(d) The manner of financing the joint or cooperative undertaking and of establishing and maintaining a budget;

(e) The permissible method or methods to be employed in accomplishing the partial or complete termination of the agreement and for disposing of property upon such partial or complete termination;

(f) The manner of levying, collecting, and accounting for any tax authorized under sections 13-318 to 13-326 or 13-2813 to 13-2816; and

(g) Any other necessary and proper matters.

(4) In the event that the agreement does not establish a separate legal entity to conduct the joint or cooperative undertaking, the agreement shall, in addition to items enumerated in subsection (3) of this section, contain the following:

(a) Provision for an administrator or a joint board responsible for administering the joint or cooperative undertaking. In the case of a joint board, the public agencies party to the agreement shall be represented; and

(b) The manner of acquiring, holding, and disposing of real and personal property used in the joint or cooperative undertaking.

(5) No agreement made pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act shall relieve any public agency of any obligation or responsibility imposed upon it by law except to the extent of actual and timely performance by a joint board or other legal or administrative entity created by an agreement made pursuant to the act, which performance may be offered in satisfaction of the obligation or responsibility.

(6) In the event that an agreement made pursuant to this section creates a joint entity, such joint entity shall be subject to control by its members in accordance with the terms of the agreement; shall constitute a separate public body corporate and politic of this state, exercising public powers and acting on behalf of the public agencies which are parties to such agreement; and shall have power (a) to sue and be sued, (b) to have a seal and alter the same at pleasure or to dispense with its necessity, (c) to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers, and (d) from time to time, to make, amend, and repeal bylaws, rules, and regulations, not inconsistent with the Interlocal Cooperation Act and the agreement providing for its creation, to carry out and effectuate its powers and purposes.

(7) No entity created by local public agencies pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act shall be considered a state agency, and no employee of such an entity shall be considered a state employee.

(8) Any governing body as defined in section 13-503 which is a party to an agreement made pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act shall provide information to the Auditor of Public Accounts regarding such agreements as required in section 13-513.

In the event that an agreement made pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act deals in whole or in part with the provision of services or facilities with regard to which an officer or agency of the state government has constitutional or statutory powers of control, the agreement shall, as a condition precedent to its entry into force, be submitted to the state officer or agency having such power of control and shall be approved or disapproved by the officer or agency as to all matters within the officer's or agency's jurisdiction.

Any public agency entering into an agreement pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act may appropriate funds and may sell, lease, give, or otherwise supply the administrative joint board, joint entity, or other legal or administrative entity created to operate the joint or cooperative undertaking by providing such personnel or services therefor as may be within its legal power to furnish.

Any one or more public agencies may contract with any one or more other public agencies to perform any governmental service, activity, or undertaking which at least one of the public agencies entering into the contract is authorized by law to perform. Such contract shall be authorized by the governing body of each party to the contract. Such contract shall set forth fully as provided in the Interlocal Cooperation Act the purposes, powers, rights, objectives, and responsibilities of the contracting parties.

(1) Any joint entity may issue such types of bonds as its governing body may determine subject only to any agreement with the holders of outstanding bonds, including bonds as to which the principal and interest are payable exclusively from all or a portion of the revenue from one or more projects, from one or more revenue-producing contracts, including securities acquired from any person, bonds issued by any qualified public agency under the Public Facilities Construction and Finance Act, or leases made by the joint entity with any person, including any of those public agencies which are parties to the agreement creating the joint entity, or from its revenue generally or which may be additionally secured by a pledge of any grant, subsidy, or contribution from any person or a pledge of any income or revenue, funds, or money of the joint entity from any source whatsoever or a mortgage or security interest in any real or personal property, commodity, product, or service or interest therein.

(2) Any bonds issued by such joint entity shall be issued on behalf of those public agencies which are parties to the agreement creating such joint entity and shall be authorized to be issued for the specific purpose or purposes for which the joint entity has been created. Such specific purposes may include, but shall not be limited to, joint projects authorized by the Public Facilities Construction and Finance Act; solid waste collection, management, and disposal; waste recycling; sanitary sewage treatment and disposal; public safety communications; correctional facilities; water treatment plants and distribution systems; drainage systems; flood control projects; fire protection services; ground water quality management and control; river-flow enhancement; education and postsecondary education; hospital and other health care services; bridges, roads, and streets; and law enforcement.

(3) As an alternative to issuing bonds for financing public safety communication projects, any joint entity may enter into a financing agreement with the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority for such purpose.

(4) Any joint entity formed for purposes of providing or assisting with the provision of public safety communications may enter into an agreement with any other joint entity relating to (a) the operation, maintenance, or management of the property or facilities of such joint entity or (b) the operation, maintenance, or management of the property or facilities of such other joint entity.

Any joint entity may from time to time issue its bonds in such principal amounts as its governing body shall deem necessary to provide sufficient funds to carry out any of the joint entity's purposes and powers, including the establishment or increase of reserves, the payment of interest accrued during construction of a project and for such period thereafter as the governing body may determine, and the payment of all other costs or expenses of the joint entity incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and powers. Bonds issued on or after April 18, 2018, for purposes of the Public Facilities Construction and Finance Act shall be subject to a vote prior to issuance as provided in the act.

(1) Neither the members of a joint entity's governing body nor any person executing the bonds shall be liable personally on such bonds by reason of the issuance thereof.

(2) The bonds shall not be a debt of any political subdivision or of this state and neither this state nor any political subdivision shall be liable thereon. Bonds shall be payable only out of any funds or properties of the issuing joint entity. Such limitations shall be plainly stated upon the face of the bonds.

Bonds shall be authorized by resolution of the issuing joint entity's governing body and may be issued under a resolution or under a trust indenture or other security instrument in one or more series and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form, either coupon or registered, carry such conversion or registration privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption, with or without premium, as such resolution, trust indenture, or other security instrument may provide and without limitation by any other law limiting amounts, maturities, or interest rates. Any officer authorized or designated to sign, countersign, execute, or attest any bond or any coupon may utilize a facsimile signature in lieu of his or her manual signature.

(1) Except as the issuing joint entity's governing body may otherwise provide, any bond and any interest coupons thereto attached shall be fully negotiable within the meaning of and for all purposes of article 8, Uniform Commercial Code.

(2) The bonds may be sold at public or private sale as the issuing joint entity's governing body may provide and at such price or prices as such governing body shall determine.

If any of the officers whose signatures appear on any bonds or coupons cease to be such officers before the delivery of such obligations, such signatures shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes to the same extent as if such officers had remained in office until such delivery.

Any joint entity may in connection with the issuance of its bonds:

(1) Covenant as to the use of any or all of its property, real or personal;

(2) Redeem the bonds, covenant for their redemption, and provide the terms and conditions thereof;

(3) Covenant to charge or seek necessary approvals to charge rates, fees, and charges sufficient to meet operating and maintenance expenses of the agency, costs of renewals and replacements to a project, interest and principal payments, whether at maturity or upon sinking-fund redemption, on any outstanding bonds or other indebtedness of the joint entity, and creation and maintenance of any reasonable reserves therefor and to provide for any margins or coverages over and above debt service on the bonds deemed desirable for the marketability or security of the bonds;

(4) Covenant and prescribe as to events of default and terms and conditions upon which any or all of its bonds shall become or may be declared due before maturity, as to the terms and conditions upon which such declaration and its consequences may be waived, and as to the consequences of default and the remedies of bondholders;

(5) Covenant as to the mortgage or pledge of or the grant of any other security interest in any real or personal property and all or any part of the revenue from any project or projects or any revenue-producing contract or contracts made by the joint entity with any person to secure the payment of bonds, subject to such agreements with the holders of outstanding bonds as may then exist;

(6) Covenant as to the custody, collection, securing, investment, and payment of any revenue, assets, money, funds, or property with respect to which the joint entity may have any rights or interest;

(7) Covenant as to the purposes to which the proceeds from the sale of any bonds then or thereafter to be issued may be applied and the pledge of such proceeds to secure the payment of the bonds;

(8) Covenant as to limitations on the issuance of any additional bonds, the terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the refunding of outstanding bonds;

(9) Covenant as to the rank or priority of any bonds with respect to any lien or security;

(10) Covenant as to the procedure by which the terms of any contract with or for the benefit of the holders of bonds may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given;

(11) Covenant as to the custody, safekeeping, and insurance of any of its properties or investments and the use and disposition of insurance proceeds;

(12) Covenant as to the vesting in a trustee or trustees, within or outside the state, of such properties, rights, powers, and duties in trust as the joint entity may determine;

(13) Covenant as to the appointing and providing for the duties and obligations of a paying agent or paying agents or other fiduciaries within or outside the state;

(14) Make all other covenants and do any and all such acts and things as may be necessary, convenient, or desirable in order to secure its bonds or in the absolute discretion of the joint entity tend to make the bonds more marketable, notwithstanding that such covenants, acts, or things may not be enumerated in this section; and

(15) Execute all instruments necessary or convenient in the exercise of the powers in the Interlocal Cooperation Act granted or in the performance of covenants or duties, which instruments may contain such covenants and provisions as any purchaser of bonds may reasonably require.

Any joint entity may issue and sell refunding bonds for the purpose of paying or providing for the payment of any of its bonds at or prior to maturity or upon acceleration or redemption. Refunding bonds may be issued at any time prior to or at the maturity or redemption of the refunded bonds as the joint entity's governing body deems appropriate. The refunding bonds may be issued in principal amount not exceeding an amount sufficient to pay or to provide for the payment of (1) the principal of the bonds being refunded, (2) any redemption premium thereon, (3) interest accrued or to accrue to the first or any subsequent redemption date or dates selected by the joint entity's governing body in its discretion or to the date or dates of maturity, whichever is determined to be most advantageous or convenient for the joint entity, (4) the expenses of issuing the refunding bonds, including bond discount, and redeeming the bonds being refunded, and (5) such reserves for debt service or other capital or current expenses from the proceeds of such refunding bonds as may be deemed necessary or convenient by the governing body of the issuing joint entity. A determination by the governing body that any refinancing is advantageous or necessary to the joint entity, that any of the amounts provided in this section should be included in such refinancing, or that any of the bonds to be refinanced should be called for redemption on the first or any subsequent redemption date or permitted to remain outstanding until their respective dates of maturity shall be conclusive.

Refunding bonds may be exchanged for and in payment and discharge of any of the outstanding obligations being refunded. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for a like, greater, or smaller principal amount of the bonds being refunded as the issuing joint entity's governing body may determine in its discretion. The holder or holders of the bonds being refunded need not pay accrued interest on the refunding bonds if and to the extent that interest is due or accrued and unpaid on the bonds being refunded and to be surrendered.

To the extent not required for the immediate payment and retirement of the obligations being refunded or for the payment of expenses incurred in connection with such refunding and subject to any agreement with the holders of any outstanding bonds, principal proceeds from the sale of any refunding bonds shall be deposited in trust to provide for the payment and retirement of the bonds being refunded, payment of interest and any redemption premiums, and payment of any expenses incurred in connection with such refunding, but provision may be made for the pledging and disposition of any surplus, including, but not limited to, provision for the pledging of any such surplus to the payment of the principal of and interest on any issue or series of refunding bonds. Money in any such trust fund may be invested in direct obligations of or obligations the principal of and interest on which are guaranteed by the United States Government, in obligations of any agency or instrumentality of the United States Government, or in certificates of deposit issued by a bank, capital stock financial institution, qualifying mutual financial institution, or trust company if such certificates are secured by a pledge of any of such obligations having an aggregate market value, exclusive of accrued interest, equal at least to the principal amount of the certificates so secured. Nothing in this section shall be construed as a limitation on the duration of any deposit in trust for the retirement of obligations being refunded but which have not matured and which are not presently redeemable or, if presently redeemable, have not been called for redemption. Section 77-2366 shall apply to deposits in capital stock financial institutions. Section 77-2365.01 shall apply to deposits in qualifying mutual financial institutions.

The issue of refunding bonds, the manner of sale, the maturities, interest rates, form, and other details thereof, the security therefor, the rights of the holders thereof, and the rights, duties, and obligations of the joint entity in respect of the same shall be governed by the provisions of the Interlocal Cooperation Act relating to the issue of bonds other than refunding bonds insofar as the same may be applicable.

Bonds may be issued under the Interlocal Cooperation Act without obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, bureau, or instrumentality of this state and without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things than those proceedings, conditions, or things which are specifically required therefor by the Interlocal Cooperation Act, and the validity of and security for any bonds shall not be affected by the existence or nonexistence of any such consent or other proceedings, conditions, or things.

The governing body of the joint entity may provide for the publication of any resolution or other proceeding adopted by it pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act in a newspaper of general circulation published in the political subdivision or county where the principal office or place of business of the joint agency is located or, if no newspaper is so published, in a newspaper qualified to carry legal notices having general circulation in the political subdivision or county.

In the case of a resolution or other proceeding providing for the issuance of bonds pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act, the governing body of the joint entity may, either before or after the adoption of such resolution or other proceeding, in lieu of publishing the entire resolution or other proceeding, publish a notice of intention to issue bonds under the act, titled as such, containing:

(1) The name of the joint entity;

(2) The purpose of the issue, including a brief description of the project and the name of the political subdivisions to be serviced by the project;

(3) The principal amount of bonds to be issued;

(4) The maturity date or dates and amount or amounts maturing on such dates;

(5) The maximum rate of interest payable on the bonds; and

(6) The times and place where a copy of the form of the resolution or other proceeding providing for the issuance of the bonds may be examined which shall be at an office of the joint entity, identified in the notice, during regular business hours of the joint entity as described in the notice and for a period of at least thirty days after the publication of the notice.

For a period of thirty days after such publication, any interested person shall have the right to contest the legality of such resolution or proceeding or any bonds which may be authorized thereby, any provisions made for the security and payment of such bonds, or any contract of purchase, sale, or lease relating to the issuance of such bonds. After such time no one shall have any cause of action to contest the regularity, formality, or legality thereof for any cause whatsoever.

Bonds issued pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act shall be securities in which all public officers and instrumentalities of the state and all political subdivisions, insurance companies, trust companies, banks, savings and loan associations, investment companies, executors, administrators, personal representatives, trustees, and other fiduciaries may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control or belonging to them. Such bonds shall be securities which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any officer or instrumentality of this state or any political subdivision for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or obligations of this state or any political subdivision thereof is now or may hereafter be authorized by law.

(1) All bonds of a joint entity are declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and, together with interest thereon and income therefrom, shall be exempt from all taxes.

(2) The property of a joint entity to the extent it is used for a public purpose, including any pro rata share of any property owned by a joint entity in conjunction with any other person, is declared to be public property of a governmental subdivision of the state. Such property and the income of a joint entity shall be exempt from all taxes of the state or any political subdivision of the state and shall be exempt from all special assessments of any participating municipality if used for a public purpose.

(1) A joint entity shall cause estimates of the costs to be made by some competent engineer or engineers before the joint entity enters into any contract for the construction, management, ownership, maintenance, or purchase of an electric generating facility and related facilities.

(2) If the estimated cost exceeds the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, no such contract shall be entered into without advertising for sealed bids.

(3)(a) The provisions of subsection (2) of this section and sections 13-824.02 and 13-824.03 relating to sealed bids shall not apply to contracts entered into by a joint entity in the exercise of its rights and powers relating to radioactive material or the energy therefrom, any technologically complex or unique equipment, equipment or supplemental labor procurement from an electric utility or from or through an electric utility alliance, or any maintenance or repair if:

(i) The engineer or engineers certify that, by reason of the nature of the subject matter of the contract, compliance with subsection (2) of this section would be impractical or not in the public interest;

(ii) The engineer's certification is approved by a two-thirds vote of the governing body of the joint entity; and

(iii) The joint entity advertises notice of its intention to enter into such contract, the general nature of the proposed work, and the name of the person to be contacted for additional information by anyone interested in contracting for such work.

(b) Any contract for which the governing body has approved an engineer's certificate described in subdivision (a) of this subsection shall be advertised in three issues, not less than seven days between issues, in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the municipality or county where the principal office or place of business of the joint entity is located, or if no newspaper is so published then in a newspaper qualified to carry legal notices having general circulation therein, and in such additional newspapers or trade or technical periodicals as may be selected by the governing body in order to give proper notice of its intention to enter into such contract, and any such contract shall not be entered into prior to twenty days after the last advertisement.

(4) The provisions of subsection (2) of this section and sections 13-824.02 and 13-824.03 shall not apply to contracts in excess of one hundred thousand dollars entered into for the purchase of any materials, machinery, or apparatus to be used in facilities described in subsection (1) of this section if, after advertising for sealed bids:

(a) No responsive bids are received; or

(b) The governing body of the joint entity determines that all bids received are in excess of the fair market value of the subject matter of such bids.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of subsection (2) of this section or sections 13-824.02 and 13-824.03, a joint entity may, without advertising or sealed bidding, purchase replacement parts or services relating to such replacement parts for any generating unit, transformer, or other transmission and distribution equipment from the original manufacturer of such equipment upon certification by an engineer or engineers that such manufacturer is the only available source of supply for such replacement parts or services and that such purchase is in compliance with standards established by the governing body of the joint entity. A written statement containing such certification and a description of the resulting purchase of replacement parts or services from the original manufacturer shall be submitted to the joint entity by the engineer or engineers certifying the purchase for the governing body's approval. After such certification, but not necessarily before the governing body's review, notice of any such purchase shall be published once a week for at least three consecutive weeks in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the municipality or county where the principal office or place of business of the joint entity is located and published in such additional newspapers or trade or technical periodicals as may be selected by the governing body in order to give proper notice of such purchase.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of subsection (2) of this section or sections 13-824.02 and 13-824.03, a joint entity may, without advertising or sealed bidding, purchase used equipment and materials on a negotiated basis upon certification by an engineer that such equipment is or such materials are in compliance with standards established by the governing body. A written statement containing such certification shall be submitted to the joint entity by the engineer for the governing body's approval.

Prior to advertisement for sealed bids, plans and specifications for the proposed work or materials shall be prepared and filed at the principal office or place of business of the joint entity. Such advertisement shall be made in three issues, not less than seven days between issues, in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the municipality or county where the principal office or place of business of the joint entity is located, or if no newspaper is so published then in a newspaper qualified to carry legal notices having general circulation therein, and in such additional newspapers or trade or technical periodicals as may be selected by the governing body of the joint entity in order to give proper notice of the receiving of bids. Such advertisement shall designate the nature of the work proposed to be done or materials proposed to be purchased, that the plans and specifications therefor may be inspected at the office of the joint entity, giving the location thereof, the time within which bids shall be filed, and the date, hour, and place the same shall be opened.

The governing body of the joint entity may let the contract for such work or materials to the responsible bidder who submits the lowest and best bid, or in the sole discretion of the governing body, all bids tendered may be rejected, and readvertisement for bids made, in the manner, form, and time as provided in section 13-824.02. In determining whether a bidder is responsible, the governing body may consider the bidder's financial responsibility, skill, experience, record of integrity, ability to furnish repairs and maintenance services, and ability to meet delivery or performance deadlines and whether the bid is in conformance with specifications. Consideration may also be given by the governing body of the joint entity to the relative quality of supplies and services to be provided, the adaptability of machinery, apparatus, supplies, or services to be purchased to the particular uses required, the preservation of uniformity, and the coordination of machinery and equipment with other machinery and equipment already installed. No such contract shall be valid nor shall any money of the joint entity be expended thereunder unless advertisement and letting has been had as provided in sections 13-824.01 to 13-824.03.

The provisions of the Interlocal Cooperation Act shall be deemed to provide an additional, alternative, and complete method for the doing of the things authorized by the act and shall be deemed and construed to be supplemental and additional to, and not in derogation of, powers conferred upon political subdivisions, agencies, and others by law. Insofar as the provisions of the Interlocal Cooperation Act are inconsistent with the provisions of any general or special law, administrative order, or regulation, the provisions of the Interlocal Cooperation Act shall be controlling.

The State of Nebraska does hereby pledge to and agree with the holders of any bonds and with those persons who may enter into contracts with any joint entity or political subdivision under the Interlocal Cooperation Act that the state will not alter, impair, or limit the rights thereby vested until the bonds, together with applicable interest, are fully met and discharged and such contracts are fully performed. Nothing contained in the Interlocal Cooperation Act shall preclude such alteration, impairment, or limitation if and when adequate provisions are made by law for the protection of the holders of the bonds or persons entering into contracts with any joint entity or political subdivision. Each joint entity and political subdivision may include this pledge and undertaking for the state in such bonds or contracts.

The Interlocal Cooperation Act is necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants and shall be construed liberally to effect its purposes.

Sections 13-901 to 13-928 shall be known and may be cited as the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act.

The Legislature hereby declares that no political subdivision of the State of Nebraska shall be liable for the torts of its officers, agents, or employees, and that no suit shall be maintained against such political subdivision or its officers, agents, or employees on any tort claim except to the extent, and only to the extent, provided by the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act. The Legislature further declares that it is its intent and purpose through this enactment to provide uniform procedures for the bringing of tort claims against all political subdivisions, whether engaging in governmental or proprietary functions, and that the procedures provided by the act shall be used to the exclusion of all others.

For purposes of the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Political subdivision shall include villages, cities of all classes, counties, school districts, learning communities, public power districts, and all other units of local government, including entities created pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act or Joint Public Agency Act. Political subdivision shall not be construed to include any contractor with a political subdivision;

(2) Governing body shall mean the village board of a village, the city council of a city, the board of commissioners or board of supervisors of a county, the board of directors of a public power district, the governing board or other governing body of an entity created pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act or Joint Public Agency Act, and any duly elected or appointed body holding the power and authority to determine the appropriations and expenditures of any other unit of local government;

(3) Employee of a political subdivision shall mean any one or more officers or employees of the political subdivision or any agency of the subdivision and shall include members of the governing body, duly appointed members of boards or commissions when they are acting in their official capacity, volunteer firefighters, and volunteer rescue squad personnel. Employee shall not be construed to include any contractor with a political subdivision; and

(4) Tort claim shall mean any claim against a political subdivision for money only on account of damage to or loss of property or on account of personal injury or death, caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the political subdivision, while acting within the scope of his or her office or employment, under circumstances in which the political subdivision, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant for such damage, loss, injury, or death but shall not include any claim accruing before January 1, 1970.

Authority is hereby conferred upon the governing body of any political subdivision to consider, ascertain, adjust, compromise, settle, determine, and allow any tort claim as defined in the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610.

All tort claims under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 shall be filed with the clerk, secretary, or other official whose duty it is to maintain the official records of the political subdivision, or the governing body of a political subdivision may provide that such claims may be filed with the duly constituted law department of such subdivision. It shall be the duty of the official with whom the claim is filed to present the claim to the governing body. All such claims shall be in writing and shall set forth the time and place of the occurrence giving rise to the claim and such other facts pertinent to the claim as are known to the claimant.

No suit shall be permitted under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 unless the governing body of the political subdivision has made final disposition of the claim, except that if the governing body does not make final disposition of a claim within six months after it is filed, the claimant may, by notice in writing, withdraw the claim from consideration of the governing body and begin suit under such act and sections.

Jurisdiction, venue, procedure, and rights of appeal in all suits brought under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 shall be determined in the same manner as if the suits involved private individuals, except that such suits shall be heard and determined by the appropriate court without a jury.

Except as otherwise provided in the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act, in all suits brought under the act the political subdivision shall be liable in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances, except that no writ of execution shall issue against a political subdivision. Disposition of or offer to settle any claim made under the act shall not be competent evidence of liability of the political subdivision or any employee or the amount of damages.

Final judgment in any suit under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 shall constitute a complete bar to any action by the claimant, by reason of the same subject matter, against the employee of the political subdivision whose act or omission gave rise to the claim, but this section shall not apply if the court rules that the claim is not permitted under such act and sections.

The Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 shall not apply to:

(1) Any claim based upon an act or omission of an employee of a political subdivision, exercising due care, in the execution of a statute, ordinance, or officially adopted resolution, rule, or regulation, whether or not such statute, ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation is valid;

(2) Any claim based upon the exercise or performance of or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty on the part of the political subdivision or an employee of the political subdivision, whether or not the discretion is abused;

(3) Any claim based upon the failure to make an inspection or making an inadequate or negligent inspection of any property other than property owned by or leased to such political subdivision to determine whether the property complies with or violates any statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation or contains a hazard to public health or safety unless the political subdivision had reasonable notice of such hazard or the failure to inspect or inadequate or negligent inspection constitutes a reckless disregard for public health or safety;

(4) Any claim based upon the issuance, denial, suspension, or revocation of or failure or refusal to issue, deny, suspend, or revoke any permit, license, certificate, or order. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit a political subdivision's liability for any claim based upon the negligent execution by an employee of the political subdivision in the issuance of a certificate of title under the Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title Act and the State Boat Act except when such title is issued upon an application filed electronically by an approved licensed dealer participating in the electronic dealer services system pursuant to section 60-1507;

(5) Any claim arising with respect to the assessment or collection of any tax or fee or the detention of any goods or merchandise by any law enforcement officer;

(6) Any claim caused by the imposition or establishment of a quarantine by the state or a political subdivision, whether such quarantine relates to persons or property;

(7) Any claim arising out of assault, battery, false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, libel, slander, misrepresentation, deceit, or interference with contract rights, except that this subdivision does not apply to a claim under the Healthy Pregnancies for Incarcerated Women Act;

(8) Any claim by an employee of the political subdivision which is covered by the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act;

(9) Any claim arising out of the malfunction, destruction, or unauthorized removal of any traffic or road sign, signal, or warning device unless it is not corrected by the political subdivision responsible within a reasonable time after actual or constructive notice of such malfunction, destruction, or removal. Nothing in this subdivision shall give rise to liability arising from an act or omission of any political subdivision in placing or removing any traffic or road signs, signals, or warning devices when such placement or removal is the result of a discretionary act of the political subdivision;

(10) Any claim arising out of snow or ice conditions or other temporary conditions caused by nature on any highway as defined in section 60-624, bridge, public thoroughfare, or other public place due to weather conditions. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit a political subdivision's liability for any claim arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle by an employee of the political subdivision while acting within the course and scope of his or her employment by the political subdivision;

(11) Any claim arising out of the plan or design for the construction of or an improvement to any highway as defined in such section or bridge, either in original construction or any improvement thereto, if the plan or design is approved in advance of the construction or improvement by the governing body of the political subdivision or some other body or employee exercising discretionary authority to give such approval;

(12) Any claim arising out of the alleged insufficiency or want of repair of any highway as defined in such section, bridge, or other public thoroughfare. Insufficiency or want of repair shall be construed to refer to the general or overall condition and shall not refer to a spot or localized defect. A political subdivision shall be deemed to waive its immunity for a claim due to a spot or localized defect only if (a) the political subdivision has had actual or constructive notice of the defect within a reasonable time to allow repair prior to the incident giving rise to the claim or (b) the claim arose during the time specified in a notice provided by the political subdivision pursuant to subsection (3) of section 39-1359 and the state or political subdivision had actual or constructive notice; or

(13)(a) Any claim relating to recreational activities for which no fee is charged (i) resulting from the inherent risk of the recreational activity, (ii) arising out of a spot or localized defect of the premises unless the spot or localized defect is not corrected by the political subdivision leasing, owning, or in control of the premises within a reasonable time after actual or constructive notice of the spot or localized defect, or (iii) arising out of the design of a skatepark or bicycle motocross park constructed for purposes of skateboarding, inline skating, bicycling, or scootering that was constructed or reconstructed, reasonably and in good faith, in accordance with generally recognized engineering or safety standards or design theories in existence at the time of the construction or reconstruction. For purposes of this subdivision, a political subdivision shall be charged with constructive notice only when the failure to discover the spot or localized defect of the premises is the result of gross negligence.

(b) For purposes of this subdivision:

(i) Recreational activities include, but are not limited to, whether as a participant or spectator: Hunting, fishing, swimming, boating, camping, picnicking, hiking, walking, running, horseback riding, use of trails, nature study, waterskiing, winter sports, use of playground equipment, biking, roller blading, skateboarding, golfing, athletic contests; visiting, viewing, or enjoying entertainment events, festivals, or historical, archaeological, scenic, or scientific sites; and similar leisure activities;

(ii) Inherent risk of recreational activities means those risks that are characteristic of, intrinsic to, or an integral part of the activity;

(iii) Gross negligence means the absence of even slight care in the performance of a duty involving an unreasonable risk of harm; and

(iv) Fee means a fee to participate in or be a spectator at a recreational activity. A fee shall include payment by the claimant to any person or organization other than the political subdivision only to the extent the political subdivision retains control over the premises or the activity. A fee shall not include payment of a fee or charge for parking or vehicle entry.

(c) This subdivision, and not subdivision (3) of this section, shall apply to any claim arising from the inspection or failure to make an inspection or negligent inspection of premises owned or leased by the political subdivision and used for recreational activities.

(1) In case of death, injury, or property damage to any innocent third party proximately caused by the action of a law enforcement officer employed by a political subdivision during vehicular pursuit, damages shall be paid to such third party by the political subdivision employing the officer.

(2) Upon payment by a political subdivision of those damages sustained by an innocent third party, whether upon voluntary settlement or in satisfaction of a judgment, the political subdivision shall be entitled to reimbursement of the amount of damages paid by the political subdivision from each and all of the following sources:

(a) The driver of the fleeing vehicle;

(b) Any organization, including a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, liable for the conduct of the driver of the fleeing vehicle;

(c) Every insurer or self-insurance surety of either the driver of the fleeing vehicle or any organization, including a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, liable for the conduct of the driver of the fleeing vehicle, except that no such insurer or self-insurance surety shall be required to pay in excess of the liability limit of its applicable policies or bonds;

(d) Any uninsured or underinsured motorist insurer or self-insurance surety legally liable to the innocent third party, except that the sum recoverable from such insurer or self-insurance surety shall not exceed the highest limit of liability determined in accord with the Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance Coverage Act;

(e) The state employing law enforcement officers whose actions contributed to the proximate cause of death, injury, or property damage sustained by the innocent third party, except that the liability of the state shall not exceed the damages sustained by the innocent third party apportioned equally among all political subdivisions employing law enforcement officers whose actions contributed to the proximate cause of the death, injury, or property damage sustained by the innocent third party and the state; and

(f) Any political subdivision employing law enforcement officers whose actions contributed to the proximate cause of death, injury, or property damage sustained by the innocent third party, except that the liability of the political subdivision shall not exceed the lesser of (i) its maximum statutory liability pursuant to the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act or (ii) damages sustained by the innocent third party apportioned equally among all political subdivisions and the state employing law enforcement officers whose actions contributed to the proximate cause of the death, injury, or property damage sustained by the innocent third party.

(3) This section shall not relieve any public or private source required statutorily or contractually to pay benefits for disability or loss of earned income or medical expenses of the duty to pay such benefits when due. No such source of payment shall have any right of subrogation or contribution against the political subdivision.

(4) This section shall be considered part of the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and all provisions of the act apply.

(5) For purposes of this section, vehicular pursuit means an active attempt by a law enforcement officer operating a motor vehicle to apprehend one or more occupants of another motor vehicle, when the driver of the fleeing vehicle is or should be aware of such attempt and is resisting apprehension by maintaining or increasing his or her speed, ignoring the officer, or attempting to elude the officer while driving at speeds in excess of those reasonable and proper under the conditions.

If any person suffers personal injury or loss of life, or damage to his or her property by means of insufficiency or want of repair of a highway or bridge or other public thoroughfare, which a political subdivision is liable to keep in repair, the person sustaining the loss or damage, or his or her personal representative, may recover in an action against the political subdivision, and if damages accrue in consequence of the insufficiency or want of repair of a road or bridge or other public thoroughfare, erected and maintained by two or more political subdivisions, the action can be brought against all of the political subdivisions liable for the repairs of the same; and damages and costs shall be paid by the political subdivisions in proportion as they are liable for the repairs. The procedure for filing such claims and bringing suit shall be the same for claims under this section as for other claims under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610. No political subdivision shall be liable for damages occasioned by defects in state highways and bridges thereon which the Department of Transportation is required to maintain, but the political subdivision shall not be relieved of liability until the state has actually undertaken construction or maintenance of such highways. It is the intent of the Legislature that minimum maintenance highways and roads shall not be deemed to be insufficient or in want of repair when they meet the minimum standards for such highways and roads pursuant to section 39-2109.

In enacting section 13-912, it is the intent of the Legislature that the liability of all political subdivisions based on the alleged insufficiency or want of repair of any highway or bridge or other public thoroughfare shall be the same liability that previously has been imposed upon counties pursuant to section 13-912. The Legislature further declares that judicial interpretations of section 13-912 governing the liability of counties on January 1, 1970, also shall be controlling on the liability of all political subdivisions for the alleged insufficiency or want of repair of any highway or bridge or other public thoroughfare. Notwithstanding other provisions of the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610, sections 13-912 to 13-914 shall be the only sections governing determination of liability of political subdivisions for the alleged insufficiency or want of repair of highways, or bridges or other public thoroughfares. As used in sections 13-912 and 13-913, public thoroughfares shall include all streets, alleys, and roads designed, intended, and primarily used for the movement of vehicular traffic and dedicated to public use.

For purposes of sections 13-912 and 13-913, no minimum maintenance road or highway shall be deemed to be in want of repair or insufficient if it complies with the standards and level of minimum maintenance developed pursuant to section 39-2113.

In any suit brought pursuant to the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 and based upon an alleged defect in the construction or maintenance of a sidewalk, public building, or other public facility, an affirmative showing that the claimant had actual knowledge of the alleged defect at the time of the occurrence of the injury, and that an alternate safe route was available and known to the claimant, shall constitute a defense to the suit.

The governing body of any political subdivision, including any school district, educational service unit, or community college, may purchase a policy of liability insurance insuring against all or any part of the liability which might be incurred under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and also may purchase insurance covering those claims specifically excepted from the coverage of the act by section 13-910. Any independent or autonomous board or commission in the political subdivision having authority to disburse funds for a particular purpose of the subdivision without approval of the governing body also may procure liability insurance within the field of its operation. The procurement of insurance shall constitute a waiver of the defense of governmental immunity as to those exceptions listed in section 13-910 to the extent and only to the extent stated in such policy. The existence or lack of insurance shall not be material in the trial of any suit except to the extent necessary to establish any such waiver. Whenever a claim or suit against a political subdivision is covered by liability insurance or by group self-insurance provided by a risk management pool, the provisions of the insurance policy on defense and settlement or the provisions of the agreement forming the risk management pool and related documents providing for defense and settlement of claims covered under such group self-insurance shall be applicable notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of the act.

Any award made pursuant to the authority granted by section 13-904 and accepted by the claimant and any final judgment in any suit brought pursuant to the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 shall be final and conclusive on all officers of the political subdivision, except when procured by means of fraud. The acceptance by the claimant of such award shall be final and conclusive on the claimant and shall constitute a complete release by the claimant of any claim against the political subdivision and against the employee whose act or omission gave rise to the claim, by reason of the same subject matter.

Any awards or judgments pursuant to the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 shall be paid in the same manner as other claims against the political subdivision. If insufficient funds are available to pay such awards or judgments the governing body shall include sufficient funds in the budget for the next fiscal year or biennial period. If constitutional or statutory provisions prevent any political subdivision from budgeting sufficient funds to pay any judgment in its entirety, the governing body shall pay that portion that can be paid under the constitution and laws and then shall make application to the State Treasurer for the loan of sufficient funds to pay the judgment in full. When application is made for such a loan, the State Treasurer shall make such investigation as he or she deems necessary to determine the validity of the judgment and the inability of the political subdivision to make full payment on the judgment, and the period of time during which the political subdivision will be able to repay the loan. After determining that such loan will be proper, the State Treasurer shall make the loan from funds available for investment in the state treasury, which loan shall carry an interest rate of one-half of one percent per annum. The State Treasurer shall determine the schedule for repayment, and the governing body of the political subdivision shall annually budget and levy a sufficient amount to meet this schedule until the loan, with interest, has been repaid in full.

(1) Every claim against a political subdivision permitted under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act shall be forever barred unless within one year after such claim accrued the claim is made in writing to the governing body. Except as otherwise provided in this section, all suits permitted by the act shall be forever barred unless begun within two years after such claim accrued. The time to begin a suit shall be extended for a period of six months from the date of mailing of notice to the claimant by the governing body as to the final disposition of the claim or from the date of withdrawal of the claim from the governing body under section 13-906 if the time to begin suit would otherwise expire before the end of such period.

(2) If a claim is made or filed under any other law of this state and a determination is made by a political subdivision or court that the act provides the exclusive remedy for the claim, the time to make a claim and to begin suit under the act shall be extended for a period of six months from the date of the court order making such determination or the date of mailing of notice to the claimant of such determination by the political subdivision if the time to make the claim and to begin suit under the act would otherwise expire before the end of such period. The time to begin suit may be further extended as provided in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) If a claim is made or a suit is begun under the act and a determination is made by the political subdivision or by the court that the claim or suit is not permitted under the act for any other reason than lapse of time, the time to make a claim or to begin a suit under any other applicable law of this state shall be extended for a period of six months from the date of the court order making such determination or the date of mailing of notice to the claimant of such determination by the political subdivision if the time to make the claim or begin the suit under such other law would otherwise expire before the end of such period.

(4) If a claim is brought under the Nebraska Hospital-Medical Liability Act, the filing of a request for review under section 44-2840 shall extend the time to begin suit under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act an additional ninety days following the issuance of the opinion by the medical review panel if the time to begin suit under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act would otherwise expire before the end of such ninety-day period.

(5) This section and section 25-213 shall be the only statutes of limitations applicable to tort claims as defined in the act.

(1) No suit shall be commenced against any employee of a political subdivision for money on account of damage to or loss of property or personal injury to or the death of any person caused by any negligent or wrongful act or omission of the employee while acting in the scope of his or her office or employment occurring after May 13, 1987, unless a claim has been submitted in writing to the governing body of the political subdivision within one year after such claim accrued in accordance with section 13-905.

(2) No suit shall be permitted on a claim filed pursuant to this section unless the governing body of the political subdivision has made final disposition of the claim, except that if the governing body does not make final disposition of the claim within six months after the claim is filed, the claimant may, by notice in writing, withdraw the claim from consideration of the governing body and begin suit.

(3) Except as provided in section 13-919, any suit commenced on any claim filed pursuant to this section shall be forever barred unless begun within two years after the claim accrued. The time to begin suit under this section shall be extended for a period of six months (a) from the date of mailing of notice to the claimant by the governing body as to the final disposition of the claim or (b) from the date of withdrawal of the claim from the governing body under this section, if the time to begin suit would otherwise expire before the end of such period.

After January 1, 1988, all suits against any employee of a political subdivision for money on account of damage to or loss of property or personal injury to or the death of any person caused by any negligent or wrongful act or omission of the employee while acting within the scope of his or her office or employment and occurring prior to May 13, 1987, shall be forever barred unless the party seeking recovery had, within one year after such claim accrued, submitted a claim in writing to the governing body of the political subdivision in accordance with section 13-905.

The total amount recoverable against any employee for claims filed pursuant to section 13-920 or 13-921 arising out of an occurrence after May 13, 1987, shall be limited to: (1) One million dollars for any person for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence; and (2) five million dollars for all claims arising out of a single occurrence.

From and after January 1, 1970, the authority of any political subdivision to sue or be sued in its own name shall not be construed to authorize suits against such political subdivision on tort claims except as authorized in the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610. The remedies provided by such act and sections in such cases shall be exclusive.

Nothing contained in the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 shall be deemed to repeal or restrict any provision of law authorizing any political subdivision to consider, ascertain, adjust, compromise, settle, determine, allow, or pay any claim other than a tort claim as defined in such act and sections.

Nothing in the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act and sections 16-727, 16-728, 23-175, 39-809, and 79-610 shall be construed to prevent a political subdivision from bringing an action for recovery from an employee of the political subdivision when the political subdivision has made payment of an award or settlement growing out of the employee's act or omission under such act and sections.

The total amount recoverable under the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act for claims arising out of an occurrence after November 16, 1985, shall be limited to:

(1) One million dollars for any person for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence; and

(2) Five million dollars for all claims arising out of a single occurrence.

If the damages sustained by an innocent third party pursuant to section 13-911 are not fully recoverable from one or more political subdivisions due to the limitations in this section, additional sources for recovery shall be as follows: First, any offsetting payments specified in subsection (3) of section 13-911 shall be reduced to the extent necessary to fully compensate the innocent third party; and second, if such reduction is insufficient to fully compensate the innocent third party, the right of reimbursement granted to the political subdivision in subsection (2) of section 13-911 shall be reduced to the extent necessary to fully compensate the innocent third party.

(1) A political subdivision shall post and maintain a sign at each skatepark and bicycle motocross park sponsored by the political subdivision containing the following warning notice: Under Nebraska law, a political subdivision is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in recreational activities resulting from the inherent risks of the recreational activities pursuant to section 13-910.

(2) The absence of a sign shall not give rise to liability on the part of the political subdivision.

The Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act shall apply to any claim arising during the time specified in a notice provided by a political subdivision pursuant to subsection (3) of section 39-1359.

Whenever in the opinion of any of the governing bodies of any city, town, village or county, acting severally or jointly, it is found desirable in order to properly use, improve and develop a conservation or recreational area which is situated partly within the corporate limits or within the jurisdiction or supervision of any city, town, village or county, and when to properly develop and improve and use said area it is deemed advisable and necessary to correlate said project with the use, development and improvement of an adjacent or contiguous area in an adjoining state or states, the proper governing body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof may have a plan prepared, showing the area or areas under consideration, and the use, development and improvement contemplated, and the relation thereof to the area or areas outside of Nebraska, adjoining or contiguous thereto.

After the preparation of the plan as designated in section 13-1001, the governing body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof are hereby given power and authority to confer and cooperate with the proper authorities of the other state or states involved and to modify or adjust said plan if necessary in order to correlate the use, development and improvement of the entire area involved.

The proper governing body or governing bodies, having jurisdiction thereof, after making all arrangements above provided, may adopt a final plan, the area included in which shall constitute an interstate conservation or recreational improvement district.

After the interstate conservation improvement or recreational district plan is adopted by the proper authorities having jurisdiction thereof, the proper governing body or bodies may agree with the proper authorities of the other state or states involved as to the organization for management or supervision, development, maintenance, and use of the said area or areas and may exercise the same powers and perform the same duties in connection with the district or districts that are established as is now authorized for such conservation or recreational area located entirely within the state.

Such interstate control body as is or may be created by virtue of section 13-1004 shall have the right to acquire or receive, solely as trustees for the use and benefit of such conservation or recreational improvement district, real and personal property by deed, gift, purchase or otherwise to be used exclusively for the purposes defined in section 13-1001.

In the event that such district or districts as are created under section 13-1003 in relation to one or more states, shall for any reason cease to exist, then all real and personal property acquired by deed, gift, purchase or otherwise shall, in its proportionate share as such territory in one state may bear to the other state, revert to the state or the district or districts having jurisdiction thereof.

As used in sections 13-1101 to 13-1110, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Municipality means any incorporated city or village in the state, including cities operating under home rule charters and entities created by interlocal agreements among cities, villages, and counties;

(2) Nonprofit enterprise means any activity, venture, undertaking, trade, or business conducted or to be conducted by a nonprofit organization incorporated or authorized to do business in this state as permitted under its governing documents and the applicable laws of its jurisdiction of organization;

(3) Project means (a) any land, building, or equipment or other improvement, and all real and personal properties deemed necessary in connection therewith, which shall be suitable for use for manufacturing or industrial enterprises, (b) any land, building, or equipment or other improvement, and all real and personal properties deemed necessary in connection therewith, which shall be suitable for use as a nonprofit enterprise or the refinancing of outstanding debt of a nonprofit enterprise incurred to finance such land, building, equipment, improvement, or other properties, except that a project under this subdivision shall not include any portion of such land, building, equipment, improvement, or other properties or the refinancing thereof to the extent used for sectarian instruction or study or devotional activities or religious worship, or (c) any land, building, or improvements located in a blighted area located within a city of the metropolitan, primary, first, or second class, and all real and personal properties deemed necessary in connection therewith, which shall be suitable for any enterprise, including, but not limited to, profit or nonprofit commercial, business, governmental, or multifamily housing enterprises;

(4) Governing body means the board or body in which the general legislative powers of the municipality or county are vested;

(5) Mortgage means a mortgage or a mortgage and deed of trust, or other security device; and

(6) Blighted area means an area within a municipality (a) which by reason of the presence of a substantial number of deteriorated or deteriorating structures, existence of defective or inadequate street layout, faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness, insanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site or other improvements, diversity of ownership, tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair value of the land, defective or unusual conditions of title, improper subdivision or obsolete platting, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of the community, retards the provision of housing accommodations, or constitutes an economic or social liability and is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition and use, and (b) in which there is at least one of the following conditions: (i) Unemployment in the designated area is at least one hundred twenty percent of the state or national average; (ii) the average age of the residential or commercial units in the area is at least forty years; (iii) more than half of the plotted and subdivided property in an area is unimproved land that has been within the municipality for forty years and has remained unimproved during that time; (iv) the per capita income of the area is lower than the average per capita income of the municipality in which the area is designated; or (v) the area has had either stable or decreasing population based on the last two decennial censuses. In no event shall a city of the metropolitan, primary, or first class designate more than thirty-five percent of the city as blighted, a city of the second class shall not designate an area larger than fifty percent of the city as blighted, and a village shall not designate an area larger than one hundred percent of the village as blighted.

(1) In addition to any other powers which it may have, each municipality and each county shall have without any other authority the following powers:

(a) To acquire, whether by construction, purchase, devise, gift, or lease, or any one or more of such methods, one or more projects, which shall be located within this state, and may be located within, without, partially within, or partially without the municipality or county;

(b) To lease to others any or all of its projects for such rentals and upon such terms and conditions as the governing body may deem advisable and as shall not conflict with sections 13-1101 to 13-1110;

(c) To finance the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, or purchase of projects in blighted areas. The power to finance such projects in blighted areas means and includes the power to enter into any type of agreement, including a loan agreement, when the other party to the agreement agrees (i) to use the proceeds of money provided under the agreement to pay the costs of such acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, or purchase and any costs incident to the issuance of the related bonds and the funding of any reserve funds, (ii) to be bound by the terms of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act, and sections 48-1219 to 48-1227, regardless of the number of employees, and (iii) to make payments to the municipality or county sufficient to enable it to pay on a timely basis all principal, redemption premiums, and interest on the related revenue bonds issued to provide such financing, and any amounts necessary to repay such municipality or county for any and all costs incurred by it that are incidental to such financing. Title to any such project in a blighted area need not be in the name of the municipality or county, but may be in the name of a private party;

(d) To acquire, own, develop, lease, or finance or refinance the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, or purchase of one or more projects for use as a nonprofit enterprise, regardless of whether such project or projects are within a blighted area. Such projects shall be located within this state and may be located within, without, partially within, or partially without the municipality or county; Provided, for any project located without the municipality or county, such municipality or county shall find that a reasonable relationship exists between such municipality or county and the project, borrower, or other party or parties to the financing agreement, as applicable. The power to finance such projects means and includes the power to enter into any type of agreement, including a loan agreement, when the other party to the agreement agrees (i) to use the proceeds of money provided under the agreement to pay the costs of such acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, or purchase and any costs incident to the issuance of the related bonds and the funding of any reserve funds and (ii) to make payments to the municipality or county sufficient to enable it to pay on a timely basis all principal, redemption premiums, and interest on the related revenue bonds issued to provide such financing and any amounts necessary to repay such municipality or county for any and all costs incurred by it that are incidental to such financing. Title to any such project need not be in the name of the municipality or county but may be in the name of a private party;

(e) To issue revenue bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of acquiring, improving, or financing any project or projects, including the cost of any real estate previously purchased and used for such project or projects, or the cost of any option in connection with acquiring such property, and to secure the payment of such bonds as provided in sections 13-1101 to 13-1110, which revenue bonds may be issued in two or more series or issues where deemed advisable, and each such series or issue may contain different maturity dates, interest rates, priorities on revenue available for payment of such bonds and priorities on securities available for guaranteeing payment thereof, and such other differing terms and conditions as are deemed necessary and are not in conflict with sections 13-1101 to 13-1110; and

(f) To sell and convey any real or personal property acquired as provided by subdivision (1)(a) of this section and make such order respecting the same as may be deemed conducive to the best interest of the municipality or county, except that such sale or conveyance shall be subject to the terms of any lease but shall be free and clear of any other encumbrance.

(2) No municipality or county shall have the power to (a) operate any project, referred to in this section, as a business or in any manner except as the lessor thereof, (b) lease any project acquired under powers conferred by this section for use principally for commercial feeding of livestock, (c) issue bonds under this section principally for the purpose of financing the construction or acquisition of commercial feeding facilities for livestock, or (d) acquire any project or any part thereof by condemnation.

(1) All bonds issued by a municipality or county under the authority of sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 shall be limited obligations of the municipality or county. Bonds and interest coupons, issued under the authority of sections 13-1101 to 13-1110, shall not constitute nor give rise to a pecuniary liability of the municipality or county or a charge against its general credit or taxing powers. Such limitation shall be plainly stated upon the face of each of such bonds.

(2) Such bonds may (a) be executed and delivered at any time and from time to time, (b) be in such form and denominations, (c) be of such tenor, (d) be in registered or bearer form either as to principal or interest or both, (e) be payable in such installments and at such time or times not exceeding thirty years from their date, (f) be payable at such place or places, (g) bear interest at such rate or rates, payable at such place or places, and evidenced in such manner, (h) be redeemable prior to maturity, with or without premium, and (i) contain such provisions not inconsistent with sections 13-1101 to 13-1110, as shall be deemed for the best interest of the municipality or county and provided for in the proceedings of the governing body under which the bonds shall be authorized to be issued.

(3) The authorization, terms, issuance, execution, or delivery of such bonds shall not be subject to sections 10-101 to 10-126.

(4) Such bonds may be sold at public or private sale in such manner and at such time or times as may be determined by the governing body to be most advantageous. The municipality or county may pay all expenses, premiums, and commissions which the governing body may deem necessary or advantageous in connection with the authorization, sale, and issuance thereof from the proceeds of the sale of the bonds or from the revenue of the projects.

(5) Such bonds and all interest coupons applicable thereto shall be construed to be negotiable instruments, despite the fact that they are payable solely from a specified source.

(1) The principal of and interest on any bonds issued under the authority of sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 (a) shall be secured by a pledge of the revenue out of which such bonds shall be made payable, (b) may be secured by a mortgage covering all or any part of the project, (c) may be secured by a pledge of the lease of such project or by any related financing agreement, or (d) may be secured by such other security device as may be deemed most advantageous by the issuing authority and other parties to the transaction.

(2) The proceedings under which the bonds are authorized to be issued under sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 and any mortgage given to secure the same may contain any agreements and provisions customarily contained in instruments securing bonds, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, provisions respecting (a) the fixing and collection of rents for any project covered by such proceedings or mortgage, (b) the terms to be incorporated in the lease or financing of such project, (c) the maintenance and insurance of such project, (d) the creation and maintenance of special funds from the revenue of such project, and (e) the rights and remedies available in the event of a default to the bondholders or to the trustee under a mortgage, all as the governing body shall deem advisable and as shall not be in conflict with sections 13-1101 to 13-1110. In making any such agreements or provisions, a municipality or county shall not have the power to obligate itself, except with respect to the project and the application of the revenue therefrom, and shall not have the power to incur a pecuniary liability or a charge upon its general credit or against its taxing powers.

(3) The proceedings authorizing any bonds under sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 and any mortgage securing such bonds may provide that, in the event of a default in the payment of the principal of or the interest on such bonds or in the performance of any agreement contained in such proceedings or mortgage, such payment and performance may be enforced by mandamus or by the appointment of a receiver in equity with power to charge and collect rents and to apply the revenue from the project in accordance with such proceedings or the provisions of such mortgage.

(4) Any mortgage made under sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 to secure bonds issued thereunder may also provide that, in the event of a default in the payment thereof or the violation of any agreement contained in the mortgage, the mortgage may be foreclosed and sold under proceedings in equity or in any other manner now or hereafter permitted by law. Such mortgage may also provide that any trustee under such mortgage or the holder of any of the bonds secured thereby may become the purchaser at any foreclosure sale if it is the highest bidder therefor. No breach of any such agreement shall impose any pecuniary liability upon a municipality or county or any charge upon their general credit or against their taxing powers.

(1) Prior to the leasing or financing of any project, the governing body must determine and find the following: The amount necessary to pay the principal of and the interest on the bonds proposed to be issued to finance such project; the amount necessary to be paid into any reserve funds which the governing body may deem it advisable to establish in connection with the retirement of the proposed bonds and the maintenance of the project including taxes; and, with respect to leases, unless the terms under which the project is to be leased provide that the lessee shall maintain the project and carry all proper insurance with respect thereto, the estimated cost of maintaining the project in good repair and keeping it properly insured.

(2) The determinations and findings of the governing body, required to be made by subsection (1) of this section, shall be set forth in the proceedings under which the proposed bonds are to be issued. Prior to the issuance of the bonds authorized by sections 13-1101 to 13-1110, the municipality or county shall (a) lease the project to a lessee or lessees under an agreement conditioned upon completion of the project and providing for payment to the municipality or county of such rentals as, upon the basis of such determinations and findings, will be sufficient (i) to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds issued to finance the project, (ii) to pay the taxes on the project, (iii) to build up and maintain any reserves deemed by the governing body to be advisable in connection therewith, and (iv) unless the agreement of lease obligates the lessees to pay for the maintenance and insurance of the project, to pay the costs of maintaining the project in good repair and keeping it properly insured or (b) enter into a financing agreement pursuant to subdivision (1)(c) or (d) of section 13-1102. Subject to the limitations of sections 13-1101 to 13-1110, the lease or financing agreement or extensions or modifications thereof may contain such other terms and conditions as may be mutually acceptable to the parties. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law relating to the sale of property owned by municipalities and counties, any such lease may contain an option for the lessees to purchase the project on such terms and conditions as may be mutually acceptable to the parties.

(3) At a public hearing or at the adjournment of such hearing, the governing body of the city in which the proposed project is located shall determine whether the location of the proposed project is within a blighted area and whether the proposed project is within the development plan or plans for the area. Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published at least two times not less than seven days prior to the hearing in a legal newspaper having a general circulation within the boundaries of the city. Upon a favorable resolution by the governing body of the city where the proposed project is located, the governing body of the city or county may proceed to issue bonds.

(4) The requirements for notice and public hearing as set forth in subsection (3) of this section shall not apply to projects for manufacturing or industrial enterprises or for nonprofit enterprises as described in subdivision (3)(a) or (b) of section 13-1101 or refunding bonds authorized under section 13-1106.

Any bonds issued under the provisions of sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 and at any time outstanding may at any time and from time to time be refunded by a municipality or county by the issuance of its refunding bonds in such amount as the governing body may deem necessary but not exceeding an amount sufficient to refund the principal of the bonds to be so refunded, together with any unpaid interest thereon and any premiums and commission necessary to be paid in connection therewith. Any such refunding may be effected whether the bonds to be refunded shall have then matured or shall thereafter mature, either by sale of the refunding bonds and the application of the proceeds thereof for the payment of the bonds to be refunded thereby, or by exchange of the refunding bonds for the bonds to be refunded thereby; Provided, that the holders of any bonds to be so refunded shall not be compelled without their consent to surrender their bonds for payment or exchange prior to the date on which they are payable by maturity date, option to redeem, or otherwise or, if they are called for redemption, prior to the date on which they are by their terms subject to redemption by option or otherwise. Any refunding bonds issued under the authority of sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 shall be subject to the provisions contained in section 13-1103 and may be secured in accordance with the provisions of section 13-1104.

The proceeds from the sale of any bonds issued under authority of sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 shall be applied only for the purpose for which the bonds were issued; Provided, that any accrued interest and premium received in any such sale shall be applied to the payment of the principal of or the interest on the bonds sold; and provided further, that if for any reason any portion of such proceeds shall not be needed for the purpose for which the bonds were issued, then such unneeded portion of said proceeds shall be applied to the payment of the principal of or the interest on said bonds. The cost of acquiring or improving any project shall be deemed to include the following: The actual cost of acquiring or improving real estate for any project; the actual cost of construction of all or any part of a project which may be constructed, including architects' and engineers' fees, all expenses in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance of the bonds to finance such acquisition or improvement; and the interest on such bonds for a reasonable time prior to construction, during construction, and for not exceeding six months after completion of construction.

Notwithstanding that title to a project may be in a municipality or county, such projects shall be subject to taxation to the same extent, in the same manner, and under the same procedures as privately owned property in similar circumstances, if such projects are leased to or held by private interests; Provided, that where personal property owned by a municipality or county is taxed under this section and such personal property taxes are delinquent, levy by distress warrant for collection of such delinquent taxes may only be made on personal property against which such taxes were levied.

(1) Sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 shall not be construed as a restriction or limitation upon any powers which a municipality or county might otherwise have under any laws of this state but shall be construed as cumulative.

(2) Sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 shall be full authority for the exercise of the powers described in such sections by a municipality or county, and no action, proceeding, or election shall be required prior to the exercise of such powers under such sections or to authorize the exercise of any of the powers granted in such sections, except as specifically provided in such sections, any provision of law applicable to a municipality or county to the contrary notwithstanding. No proceedings for the issuance of bonds of a municipality or county shall be required other than those required by sections 13-1101 to 13-1110, and the provisions of all other laws and charters of any municipality or county, if any, relative to the terms and conditions for the acquisition, leasing, financing construction, rehabilitation, or purchase of projects as provided in such sections and the issuance, payment, redemption, registration, sale, or delivery of bonds by a municipality or county shall not be applicable to bonds issued by a municipality or county pursuant to such sections. No municipality, county, or governing body or officer thereof shall be subject to the Securities Act of Nebraska with respect to any revenue bonds issued under sections 13-1101 to 13-1110. Insofar as sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law or of any law otherwise applicable to a municipality or county, if any, sections 13-1101 to 13-1110 shall be controlling.

(3) In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforceability of any bond of a municipality or county or the security therefor brought after the lapse of thirty days after the issuance of such bonds has been authorized, any such bond reciting in substance that it has been authorized by the municipality or county to aid in financing a project shall be conclusively deemed to have been authorized for such purpose and such project shall be conclusively deemed to have been planned, located, and carried out in accordance with sections 13-1101 to 13-1110.

(4) In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforceability of any agreement of a municipality or county brought after the lapse of thirty days after the agreement has been formally entered into, any such agreement reciting in substance that it has been entered into by the municipality or county to provide financing for a project shall be conclusively deemed to have been entered into for such purpose and such project shall be conclusively deemed to have been planned, located, and carried out in accordance with sections 13-1101 to 13-1110.

The Department of Economic Development shall furnish advice and information in connection with a project when requested to do so by a county or municipality.

As used in sections 13-1111 to 13-1120, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) Industrial area shall mean a tract of land used or reserved for the location of industry, except that such land may be used for agricultural purposes until the use is converted for the location of industry as set forth in sections 13-1111 to 13-1120; and (2) industry shall mean (a) any enterprise whose primary function is to manufacture, process, assemble, or blend any agricultural, manufactured, mineral, or chemical products; (b) any enterprise that has as its primary function that of storing, warehousing, or distributing, and specifically excluding those operations whose primary function is to directly sell to the general public or store personal property; or (c) any enterprise whose primary function is research in connection with any of the foregoing, or primarily exists for the purpose of developing new products or new processes, or improving existing products or known processes. The owner or owners of any contiguous tract of real estate containing twenty acres or more, no part of which is within the boundaries of any incorporated city or village, except cities of the metropolitan or primary class, may file or cause to be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the greater portion of such real estate is situated if situated in more than one county, an application requesting the county board of such county to designate such contiguous tract as an industrial area.

Upon filing the petition under the provisions of section 13-1111, the county clerk, or if the real estate is situated in more than one county, the county clerk of the county having the greater portion of such real estate, shall notify such municipal legislative bodies in whose area of zoning jurisdiction an industrial tract is located in whole or in part as shall have developed a comprehensive development plan and shall be exercising zoning jurisdiction in the area concerned. Such notification shall request approval or disapproval by the municipal legislative body of the designation of such tract within thirty days after receipt of such notification, which approval may be conditioned upon terms agreed to between the city and county. The designation of any tract as an industrial area shall be in compliance with the zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, and appropriate ordinances and regulations of such city or village. If formal reply to the notification of the county board's intention to designate such tract as an industrial area is not received within thirty days, the county board shall construe such inaction as approval of such designation.

Upon filing the petition, the county clerk, or, if the real estate is situated in more than one county, the county clerk of the county having the greater portion of such real estate, shall designate and endorse thereon a day for the hearing and determination of the petition by the county board of such county which date shall not be less than thirty days nor more than ninety days subsequent to the filing of said petition. The county clerk shall publish a notice once each week three successive weeks in some newspaper published and of general circulation in the county or counties in which the real estate is located and, if no newspaper is published in the county or counties, such notice shall be published in some newspaper having a general circulation therein. The notice shall state the time and place of hearing and the land affected thereby.

At the time fixed in the notice or on any adjourned day thereafter, any person interested may appear and be heard at a public hearing before the county board of the county in which the petition is filed. After such hearing, if the county board shall find from the evidence produced that (1) such tract is suitable for use as an industrial area, (2) it will be generally beneficial to the community, and (3) the owners of all the land embraced therein have consented to such designation, such board shall designate such tract as an industrial area and cause a certified copy of such order to be filed and recorded in the offices of the county assessor and the register of deeds of the county or counties in which the real estate is situated. If such tract is located in whole or in part within an unincorporated area over which any city or village exercises zoning control, the designation of such tract as an industrial area must first be approved by the municipal legislative body.

Upon designation of such tract as an industrial area by the county board of the county in which the petition is filed, such designated area shall thereupon be used or reserved for the location of industry. Such land may be used for agricultural purposes until the use is converted for the location of industry as set forth in sections 13-1111 to 13-1120. If such tract has a taxable valuation of more than two hundred eighty-six thousand dollars, it shall not be subject to inclusion within the boundaries of any incorporated city of the first or second class or village, except that such tract regardless of taxable valuation may be annexed if (1) it is located in a county with a population in excess of one hundred thousand persons and the city or village did not approve the original designation of such tract as an industrial area pursuant to section 13-1112, (2) the annexation is stipulated in the terms and conditions agreed upon between the county and the city or village in any agreement entered into pursuant to section 13-1112, or (3) the owners of a majority in value of the property in such tract as shown upon the last preceding county assessment roll consent to such inclusion in writing or petition the city council or village board to annex such area.

During the period any area is designated as an industrial area as provided by sections 13-1111 to 13-1120, the county board in which the greater area of real estate is located shall have exclusive jurisdiction for zoning and otherwise regulating the use of the industrial area in such a way as to confer upon the owners and users thereof the benefits of a designated tract to be held and reserved for industrial purposes only; Provided, such authority shall not be granted to the county board if the zoning of such designated area is within the jurisdiction of any city or village.

During the time any tract is designated as an industrial area, as provided by sections 13-1111 to 13-1120, the owners of such designated area shall provide at their expense for water, electricity, sewer, and fire and police protection.

The boundaries of the designated industrial area may be changed to include other tracts of real estate containing not less than ten acres when contiguous to the area designated as an industrial area by filing a petition, publishing a notice thereof, and having a hearing on the petition in the same manner as when an original petition to designate a contiguous tract as an industrial area is filed. The county board of the county in which the petition was filed shall designate such additional tract in the industrial area to which the tract is to be attached if the board shall find that the conditions of the provisions of section 13-1114 are complied with. After such designation by such county board, such tract that is designated as part of the industrial area shall be governed by the provisions of sections 13-1111 to 13-1120 as though it was part of the original designated tract as an industrial area.

The boundaries of a designated industrial area may be changed to exclude one or more tracts, or parts of tracts, of real estate within the area upon the request of the owner or owners of the tracts, or parts of tracts, proposed to be excluded, and by the owners filing a petition, publishing a notice thereof, and having a hearing on the petition in the same manner as when an original petition to designate a contiguous tract as an industrial area is filed. The county clerk of the county in which the tract proposed to be excluded is situated shall cause a copy of the published notice to be mailed by certified mail, within five days after the first publication of the notice, to each of the owners of record and other persons, if any, in possession of the real estate not proposed to be excluded from the industrial area, whose addresses are known to the county clerk. After the hearing, if the county board shall find that the best interests of the community and the industrial area will be served by the exclusion of the tracts, the county board shall enter an order excluding the tracts, or parts of tracts, requested to be excluded. When a certified copy of such order is filed with the register of deeds and county assessor of the county or counties in which the real estate excluded is located, such tracts, or parts of tracts, shall no longer be an industrial area.

When the owner or owners of all of the contiguous tracts of real estate designated as an industrial area as provided by sections 13-1111 to 13-1118, shall file with the county board of the county in which such real estate is located, or the greater portion of such real estate, a petition requesting that the designation of the whole of the real estate as an industrial area be terminated, the county board shall enter an order determining that such real estate shall no longer be an industrial area. When a certified copy of such order is filed with the register of deeds and county assessor of the county or counties in which the real estate is located, such real estate shall no longer be an industrial area.

Beginning in 1980 and every even-numbered year thereafter during the month of March, the appropriate county board may, of its own volition or shall, at the request of the municipal governing body having zoning jurisdiction over the designated industrial tract, review any or all industrial areas in its jurisdiction. When the review is at the request of the municipal governing body having zoning jurisdiction over the designated industrial tract, the county board shall give notice of a hearing by registered or certified mail to the municipal governing body and the owners of the tract, if such owners are known, within ninety days prior to the hearing, and if the owners are not known or cannot be located, then by publishing a notice three successive weeks in some newspaper published and of general circulation in the county or counties in which the real estate is located, and if no newspaper is published in the county, such notice shall be published in some newspaper having a general circulation in such county. The burden of proving that the tract continues to be used for industry as defined in section 13-1111 shall be on the owners of the tract. If the owners of the tract do not attend the hearing, the county board shall remove the designation of the industrial area from such tract. If after the hearing the county board finds that the industrial area or a portion thereof is no longer suitable for industrial purposes, or is being used for nonindustrial enterprises, or has had no improvements or industrial buildings thereon within seven years from the date of original industrial designation, or is not in compliance with the zoning ordinances of any city or village exercising zoning control of it, or is not platted in accordance with such zoning ordinances or is no longer in compliance with the definition of industry as set forth in section 13-1111, such county board shall remove the designation of industrial area from such tract or portion of such tract. Any tract or portion of such tract used or reserved for industry prior to August 24, 1979, shall not be removed from the industrial area designation against the wishes of its owners as long as the use of such tract or portion continues to be in compliance with the definition of industry as set forth in section 13-1111. A certified copy of such order shall be filed with the register of deeds and the county assessor of the county or counties in which the real estate is located.

Sections 13-1201 to 13-1214 shall be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Public Transportation Act.

The Legislature finds that: (1) Transportation is a critical need of the elderly, handicapped, and others without access to the private automobile; (2) public transportation is a viable alternative to help meet the transportation needs in urban and rural areas; (3) transportation which promotes fuel conservation and reduces traffic congestion should be encouraged; (4) public transportation in the rural and small urban areas of the state is lacking; (5) public transportation in many instances is no longer a profitable undertaking for private enterprise acting alone; (6) public subsidy of public transportation, whether privately or publicly operated, is often necessary to provide needed transportation services; (7) the variety of federal, state, and local activities in providing public transportation services require maximum coordination for maximum benefit from public resources; (8) providers of public transportation may require technical assistance in addressing their public transportation needs; and (9) it is in the public interest of the people of the state to develop programs which provide for the concerns enumerated in this section and which insure the health, safety, and welfare of Nebraska citizens in both urban and rural areas.

For purposes of the Nebraska Public Transportation Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Public transportation shall mean the transport of passengers on a regular and continuing basis by motor carrier for hire, whether over regular or irregular routes, over any public road in this state, including city bus systems, intercity bus systems, special public transportation systems to include portal-to-portal escorted service for the elderly or handicapped, taxi, subscription, dial-a-ride, or other demand-responsive systems, and those motor carriers for hire which may carry elderly or handicapped individuals for a set fare, a donation, or at no cost to such individuals. Public transportation shall not include motor carriers for hire when engaged in the transportation of school children and teachers to and from school and school-related activities and shall not include private car pools;

(2) Department shall mean the Department of Transportation;

(3) Director shall mean the Director-State Engineer;

(4) Elderly shall mean any person sixty-two years of age or older who is drawing social security and every person sixty-five years of age and older;

(5) Handicapped shall mean any individual who is unable without special facilities or special planning or design to utilize public transportation facilities and services;

(6) Municipality shall mean any village or incorporated city, except cities of the metropolitan class operating under home rule charter;

(7) Qualified public-purpose organization shall mean an incorporated private not-for-profit group or agency which:

(a) Has operated or proposes to operate only motor vehicles having a seating capacity of twenty or less for the transportation of passengers in the state;

(b) Has been approved as capable of providing public transportation services by the appropriate city or county governing body; and

(c) Operates or proposes to operate a public transportation service in an area which the department has identified as not being adequately served by existing public or private transportation services pursuant to section 13-1205; and

(8) Intercity bus system shall mean a system of regularly scheduled bus service for the general public which operates with limited stops over fixed routes connecting two or more communities or areas not in close proximity which support public transportation service. At least one terminus of the intercity bus system shall be in an area that makes meaningful connections with intercity service to more distant points.

The department shall be the principal state agency responsible for coordinating public transportation activities in the state and, when requested, shall provide technical assistance to improve Nebraska's public transportation system. The department may contract pursuant to the Nebraska Public Transportation Act to assist state agencies, political subdivisions, and public and qualified public-purpose organizations to provide public transportation services as specified in the act.

The department shall have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities:

(1) To collect and maintain data on the level of public transportation services and needs in the state and identify areas not being adequately served by existing public or private transportation services;

(2) To assess the regional and statewide effect of changes, improvement, and route abandonments in the state's public transportation system;

(3) To develop a six-year statewide transit plan and programs for public transportation in coordination with local plans and programs developed by municipalities, counties, transit authorities, and regional metropolitan transit authorities;

(4) To provide planning and technical assistance to agencies of the state, political subdivisions, or groups seeking to improve public transportation;

(5) To advise, consult, and cooperate with agencies of the state, the federal government, and other states, interstate agencies, political subdivisions, and groups concerned with public transportation;

(6) To cooperate with the Public Service Commission by providing periodic assessments to the commission when determining the effect of proposed regulatory decisions on public transportation;

(7) To administer federal and state programs providing financial assistance to public transportation, except those federal and state programs in which a municipality, county, transit authority, regional metropolitan transit authority, or other state agency is designated as the administrator;

(8) To develop and administer a safety oversight program to oversee rail transit systems operated by the state, an interstate agency, or any political subdivision; and

(9) To exercise all other powers necessary and proper for the discharge of its duties, including the adoption and promulgation of reasonable rules and regulations to carry out the Nebraska Public Transportation Act.

The department may receive, contract for, or apply for and receive gifts, grants, loans, contributions, and other funds from the federal or state government or from any public or private sources for the purpose of carrying out the Nebraska Public Transportation Act. Any contract between the department and the federal government entered into pursuant to this section may include all reasonable and appropriate conditions imposed by federal law or regulation which are not inconsistent with the purposes of the act.

Prior to the promulgation of rules and regulations pursuant to section 13-1212, and prior to the awarding of federal or state funds under any program administered by the department or any other state agency which affects the transportation of the elderly, such rules and regulations and the awarding of such funds shall be reviewed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

(1) Any municipality, county, or qualified public-purpose organization may lease, purchase, construct, own, maintain, operate, or contract for the operation of public transportation, including special transportation for the elderly or handicapped, and apply for and accept advances, loans, grants, contributions, and any other form of assistance from the federal government, the state, or any public or private sources for the purpose of providing a public transportation system.

Any special transportation system for the elderly or handicapped shall include transportation of necessary personal escorts of such elderly or handicapped riders.

(2) Any municipality or county in providing public transportation for the elderly under subsection (1) of this section may contract with the school board or board of education of a public school district for the use of a school bus at times other than during the normal school day or on days when school is not in session if all costs incurred by such municipality or county are paid for with money generated from passenger fees or federal or state funds. The contract shall provide that such municipality or county shall be liable for costs of maintenance, operation, insurance, and other reasonable expenses incurred in the use of such bus. No district shall be liable for any damages to any person riding in a school bus under a contract entered into pursuant to this subsection unless such damage is proximately caused by the gross negligence of the district. No district shall be required to modify or alter any school bus because of a contract entered into pursuant to this subsection. Any municipality or county when using a school bus upon a highway under a contract entered into pursuant to this subsection shall cover or conceal all school bus markings on such bus as required by section 60-6,175.

(3) Any municipality or county may contract with the school board or board of education of any public school district for the use of school buses for emergency evacuation of members of the public by qualified law enforcement personnel during emergency or crisis situations that pose a threat to the health, safety, or well-being of the individuals to be evacuated. The contract shall provide that such municipality or county shall be liable for the costs of maintenance, operation, insurance, and other reasonable expenses incurred in the use of such buses. No district shall be liable for any damages to any person riding in a school bus under a contract entered into pursuant to this subsection unless such damage is proximately caused by the gross negligence of the district. No district shall be required to modify or alter any school bus because of a contract entered into pursuant to this subsection.

(1) A public transportation assistance program is hereby established to provide state assistance for the capital acquisition and operating costs of public transportation systems.

(2) Any municipality, county, transit authority, regional metropolitan transit authority, or qualified public-purpose organization shall be eligible to receive financial assistance for the eligible capital acquisition and operating costs of a public transportation system, whether the applicant directly operates such system or contracts for its operation. A qualified public-purpose organization shall not be eligible for financial assistance under the Nebraska Public Transportation Act if such organization is currently receiving state funds for a program which includes transportation services and such funding and services would be duplicated by the act. Eligible operating costs include those expenses incurred in the operation of a public transportation system which exceed the amount of operating revenue and which are not otherwise eligible for reimbursement from any available federal programs other than those administered by the United States Department of the Treasury. Eligible capital acquisition costs include investments in the purchase, replacement, and rebuilding of buses and other vehicles used for public transportation.

(3) The state grant to an applicant shall not exceed fifty percent of the eligible capital acquisition or operating costs of the public transportation system as provided for in subsection (2) of this section. The amount of state funds shall be matched by an equal amount of local funds in support of capital acquisition or operating costs.

(1) The department shall annually certify the amount of capital acquisition and operating costs eligible for funding under the public transportation assistance program established under section 13-1209.

(2) The department shall submit an annual report to the chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the Legislature on or before December 1 of each year regarding funds requested by each applicant for eligible capital acquisition and operating costs in the current fiscal year pursuant to subsection (2) of section 13-1209 and the total amount of state grants projected to be awarded in the current fiscal year pursuant to the public transportation assistance program. The report submitted to the committee shall be submitted electronically. The report shall separate into two categories the requests and grants awarded for handicapped vans, otherwise known as paratransit vehicles, and requests and grants awarded for handicapped-accessible fixed-route bus systems.

The fares charged elderly or handicapped persons shall not exceed one-half of the rates generally applicable to other persons at peak hours for each one-way trip for any city bus system operating over regularly scheduled routes and receiving state funds pursuant to the Nebraska Public Transportation Act. The recipient of state funds under the act may designate certain peak hours during which this section shall not apply.

Recipients of state funds under the Nebraska Public Transportation Act for any city bus system operating over regularly scheduled routes in cities of the primary and metropolitan classes may provide or designate that fares charged low-income persons may be discounted up to one-half of the rates generally applicable to other persons at peak hours for each one-way trip. Such recipient of state funds under the act may designate certain peak hours during which this section shall not apply. For purposes of this section, low-income persons shall mean persons whose income is at or below one hundred fifty percent of the current amount determined and published periodically by the federal government as the national poverty income level without regard to other resources.

(1) The department shall administer sections 13-1209 to 13-1212, and shall adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary, including but not limited to defining eligible capital acquisition and operating costs, establishing contractual and other requirements including standardized accounting and reporting requirements, which shall include the applicant's proposed service area, the type of service proposed, all routes and schedules, and any further information needed for recipients to ensure the maximum feasible coordination and use of state funds, establishing application procedures, and developing a policy for apportioning funds made available for this program should they be insufficient to cover all eligible projects. Priority on the allocation of all funds shall be given to those proposed projects best suited to serve the needs of the elderly and handicapped and to proposed projects with federal funding participation.

(2) Any public-purpose organization proposing to provide public transportation denied financial assistance as a result of a determination by the department that an area is adequately served by existing transportation services may submit a petition to the department requesting the department to reclassify the proposed service area as not being adequately served by existing public transportation services. The petition submitted to the department by the public-purpose organization shall bear the signatures of at least fifty registered voters residing in the proposed service area. Upon receipt of the petition the department shall hold a public hearing in the proposed service area and after such hearing shall determine whether the proposed service area is already adequately served. In carrying out its duties under this section the department shall comply with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act. The department shall not be required to conduct a reevaluation hearing for an area more frequently than once a year.

(1) An intercity bus system assistance program is hereby established to provide state assistance for the operation of intercity bus systems.

(2) Any municipality, county, transit authority, regional metropolitan transit authority, or qualified public-purpose organization shall be eligible to receive (a) financial assistance for the eligible operating costs of such system, whether the applicant directly operates the system or contracts for its operation, and (b) financial assistance to match federal funds available for the purchase of vehicles and equipment for the start of an intercity bus system or the replacement of vehicles used in the operation of an intercity bus system. The vehicles shall be titled to such municipality, county, transit authority, regional metropolitan transit authority, or qualified public-purpose organization.

(3) The department may contract for an intercity bus system with either a publicly owned provider or a provider owned by a qualified public-purpose organization.

(4) Any intercity bus system to be funded under this section shall be selected based on criteria established by the department.

The department shall certify biennially the amount of intercity bus system assistance eligible for funding under section 13-1213.

The trend of population growth in the state in recent decades has been to the larger cities and the areas adjacent thereto to the degree that some of such cities contain over one-half the population of the respective counties in which such cities are located. Such growth has given rise to the need for buildings, structures, and facilities to be used jointly by such cities and the respective counties in which they are located, thereby effecting economies of operation and adding to the effectiveness of such cities and counties, aiding in the use by the inhabitants of such cities and counties, and alleviating the inconvenience of separate buildings, structures, and facilities caused by such growth to such inhabitants. The purpose of sections 13-1301 to 13-1312 is to provide a means whereby buildings, structures, and facilities can be acquired, constructed, remodeled, or renovated and financed for use jointly by such cities and the respective counties in which they are located.

For purposes of sections 13-1301 to 13-1312, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Bonds means bonds issued by the commission pursuant to such sections;

(2) City means a city of the metropolitan class as defined in section 14-101 or a city of the primary class as defined in section 15-101, the population of which according to the most recent federal census or the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of the Census was more than one-half in number of the total population, according to such census or revised count, of the county in which such city is located;

(3) Commission means a public building commission created by and activated pursuant to sections 13-1301 to 13-1312;

(4) County means a county in which a city of the metropolitan class or primary class is located;

(5) Governing body means the city council in the case of the city and the county board in the case of the county;

(6) Other governmental units means a city, other than a city as defined in this section, village, district, authority, public agency, board, commission, or other public corporation, political subdivision, or public instrumentality located in whole or in part in the county; and

(7) Project means any building, structure, or facility for public purposes to be used jointly by the city and the county, including the site thereof, all machinery, equipment, and apparatus of or pertaining thereto, including fixtures and furnishings if agreed to by the city and the county, and all other real or personal property necessary or incidental thereto.

There is hereby created and established in each county a commission to be known and designated as (name of city) (name of county) public building commission, except that sections 13-1301 to 13-1312 shall not become operative in any county unless and until the governing body of the county by resolution shall activate the commission for such county. A copy of such resolution certified by the county clerk shall be filed with and recorded by the Secretary of State and also filed with the city clerk. Each such commission shall be a body politic and corporate and an instrumentality of the state.

Each commission shall be governed by a board of commissioners of five members, two of whom shall be appointed by the governing body of the county from among the members of such governing body, two of whom shall be appointed by the mayor of the city with the approval of the governing body of the city from among the members of such governing body, and the fifth of whom shall be appointed by the other four members. The fifth member shall be a resident of the county in which the commission is established. In the event the four members appointed by the county and the city cannot appoint the fifth member by a majority, the Governor, upon request of such four members, the city, or the county, shall appoint the fifth member. The term of office of each member of the board, except for the initial members, shall be four years or until a successor is appointed and takes office. Any vacancy on the board shall be filled (1) by the governing body of the county if the person whose membership was vacated was appointed by the governing body of the county, (2) by the mayor of the city with the approval of the governing body of the city if the person whose membership was vacated was appointed by the mayor, and (3) by the remaining four members if the person whose membership was vacated was appointed by the members of the board. The members of the board shall not be entitled to compensation for their services but shall be entitled to reimbursement of expenses paid or incurred in the performance of the duties imposed upon them by sections 13-1301 to 13-1312 with reimbursement for mileage to be made at the rate provided in section 81-1176. A majority of the total number of members of the board shall constitute a quorum, and all action taken by the board shall be taken by a majority of such total number. The board may delegate to one or more of the members or to its officers, agents, and employees such powers and duties as it deems proper. Any member of the board may be removed from office for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. An action for the removal of a member of the board may be brought in the district court of the county upon resolution of the governing body of the city or the county.

The terms of office of the two persons initially appointed to the board by the governing body of the county shall be for one and four years, and such governing body shall designate which person shall serve for one year and which person shall serve for four years. The terms of office of the two persons initially appointed to the board by the mayor with the approval of the governing body of the city shall be for two and three years, and such governing body shall designate which person shall serve for two years and which person shall serve for three years. The term of office of the person initially appointed by the other members of the board shall be for four years. Terms of office on the board shall expire on the same day of the year, and the governing body of the county in making the first appointments to the board shall designate such expiration date.

The commission and its corporate existence shall continue until all its liabilities have been met and its bonds have been paid in full or such liabilities and bonds have otherwise been discharged and the governing bodies of the city and county jointly determine that the commission is no longer needed. Upon the commission's ceasing to exist all rights or properties of the commission shall pass to and be vested in the city and county.

Any commission established under sections 13-1301 to 13-1312 shall have power to:

(1) Sue and be sued;

(2) Have a seal and alter the seal;

(3) Acquire, hold, and dispose of personal property for its corporate purposes;

(4) Acquire in the name of the city and county, by gift, grant, bequest, purchase, or condemnation, real property or rights and easements thereon necessary or convenient for its corporate purposes and use such property or rights and easements so long as its corporate existence continues;

(5) Make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs and make rules and regulations for the use of its projects;

(6) With the consent of the city or the county, as the case may be, use the services of agents, employees, and facilities of the city or county, for which the commission may reimburse the city or the county its proper proportion of the compensation or cost thereof, and use the services of the city attorney as legal advisor to the commission;

(7) Appoint officers, agents, and employees and fix their compensation, except that the county treasurer shall be the ex officio treasurer of the commission;

(8) Design, acquire, construct, maintain, operate, improve, remodel, remove, and reconstruct, so long as its corporate existence continues, such projects for the use both by the city and county as are approved by the city and the county and all facilities necessary or convenient in connection with any such projects;

(9) Enter into agreements with the city or county, or both, as to the operation, maintenance, repair, and use of its projects. Such agreements may provide that the city or county, or both, has responsibility for a certain area within any building, structure, or facility, including the maintenance, repair, use, furnishing, or management of such area;

(10) With the approval of both the city and the county, enter into agreements with the United States of America, the State of Nebraska, any body, board, agency, corporation, or other governmental entity of either of them, or other governmental units for use by them of any projects to the extent that such use is not required by the city or the county;

(11) Make all other contracts, leases, and instruments necessary or convenient to the carrying out of the corporate purposes or powers of the commission;

(12) Annually levy, assess, and certify to the governing body of the county the amount of tax to be levied for the purposes of the commission subject to section 77-3443, not to exceed one and seven-tenths cents on each one hundred dollars upon the taxable valuation of all the taxable property in the county. The governing body of the county shall collect the tax so certified at the same time and in the same manner as other county taxes are levied and collected, and the proceeds of such taxes when due and as collected shall be set aside and deposited in the special account or accounts in which other revenue of the commission is deposited;

(13) Accept grants, loans, or contributions from the United States of America, the State of Nebraska, any agency or instrumentality of either of them, the city, the county, any other governmental unit, or any private person, firm, or corporation and expend the proceeds thereof for any corporate purposes;

(14) Incur debt, issue bonds and notes and provide for the rights of the holders thereof, and pledge and apply to the payment of such bonds and notes the taxes and other receipts, income, revenue, profits, and money of the commission;

(15) Enter on any lands, waters, and premises for the purpose of making surveys, findings, and examinations; and

(16) Do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers specially conferred on the commission by sections 13-1301 to 13-1312.

All taxes or other receipts, income, revenue, profits, and money of a commission from whatever source derived shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which such commission is established as ex officio treasurer of the commission, who shall not commingle such money with any other money under his or her control. Such money shall be deposited in a separate bank, capital stock financial institution, or qualifying mutual financial institution account or accounts and shall be withdrawn only by check, draft, or order signed by the treasurer on requisition of the chairperson of the board of the commission or of such other person or persons as the commission may authorize to make such requisition, approved by the board. The chief auditing officer of the county and his or her legally authorized representatives are hereby authorized and empowered from time to time to examine the accounts and books of such commission, including its receipts, disbursements, contracts, leases, sinking funds, and investments and any other matters relating to its financial standing. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the board may contract with the holders of any of its bonds as to the collection, custody, securing, investment, and payment of any money of the commission or money held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or in any way to secure bonds. The board may carry out any such contract notwithstanding that such contract may be inconsistent with the previous provisions of this section. All banks, capital stock financial institutions, qualifying mutual financial institutions, and trust companies are hereby authorized to give security for such deposits of money of the commission pursuant to the Public Funds Deposit Security Act. Section 77-2366 shall apply to deposits in capital stock financial institutions. Section 77-2365.01 shall apply to deposits in qualifying mutual financial institutions.

With the prior approval of both the city and the county for which the commission was created, the commission shall have the power and is hereby authorized from time to time to issue its bonds for any corporate purpose in such amounts as may be required to carry out and fully perform the purposes for which such commission is established. The commission shall have power from time to time and when refunding is deemed expedient to issue bonds in amounts sufficient to refund any bonds, including any premiums payable upon the redemption of the bonds to be refunded and interest to their redemption date upon the bonds to be refunded, by the issuance of new bonds, whether the bonds to be refunded have or have not matured. It may issue bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and partly for any other corporate purpose. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for the bonds to be refunded with such cash adjustment as may be agreed or may be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase, redemption or payment of the bonds to be refunded. All bonds shall be general obligations of the commission issuing the same and shall be payable out of the tax and other receipts, revenue, income receipts, profits, or other money of the commission.

A commission shall have power from time to time to issue bond anticipation notes referred to as notes in this section and from time to time to issue renewal notes, such notes in any case to mature not later than thirty months from the date of incurring the indebtedness represented thereby in an amount not exceeding in the aggregate at any time outstanding the amount of bonds then or theretofore authorized. Such notes shall be general obligations of the commission. Payment of such notes shall be made from any money or revenue which the commission may have available for such purpose or from the proceeds of the sale of bonds of the commission or such notes may be exchanged for a like amount of such bonds.

All such bonds and notes shall be authorized by a resolution or resolutions of the board and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or registered, carry such exchange privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment at such place or places within or without the State of Nebraska and be subject to such terms of redemption and at such redemption premiums, as such resolution or resolutions may provide and the provisions of section 10-126, shall not be applicable to such bonds or notes. The bonds and notes may be sold at public or private sale for such price or prices as the commission shall determine. No proceedings for the issuance of bonds or notes of a commission shall be required other than those required by the provisions of sections 13-1301 to 13-1312 and the provisions of all other laws and city charters, if any, relative to the terms and conditions for the issuance, payment, redemption, registration, sale or delivery of bonds of public bodies, corporations or political subdivisions of this state shall not be applicable to bonds and notes issued by commissions pursuant to sections 13-1301 to 13-1312.

The full faith and credit of the commission shall be pledged to the payment and security of the bonds and notes issued by it, whether or not such pledge shall be set forth in the bonds or notes. So long as any of its bonds or notes are outstanding, the commission shall have the power and be obligated to levy taxes within the limitation as provided in section 13-1304 to the extent required, together with any other money available to the commission therefor to pay the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on such bonds and notes as the same become due and payable.

All bonds and notes issued pursuant to the provisions of sections 13-1301 to 13-1312 shall be and are hereby made negotiable instruments within the meaning of and for all the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code subject only to any provisions contained in such bonds and notes for the registration of the principal thereof.

A commission shall have power to purchase bonds or notes of the commission out of any money available therefor. Any bonds so purchased shall be canceled by the commission.

The bonds and notes of a commission are hereby made securities in which all public officers, boards, agencies and bodies of the state, its counties, political subdivisions, public corporations, and municipalities and the officers, boards, agencies or bodies of any of them, all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, trust companies, savings associations, including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees and other fiduciaries, and all other persons who are now or who may hereafter be authorized to invest in notes, bonds or other obligations of this state, may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control or belonging to them. Notwithstanding any other provision of law the bonds are also hereby made securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers, boards, agencies, and bodies of this state, its counties, political subdivisions, public corporations and municipalities and the officers, boards, agencies or bodies of any of them for any purpose for which the deposit of notes, bonds or obligations of the state is now or may be hereafter authorized.

The bonds and notes of a commission, the interest thereon and the income therefrom, shall at all times be exempt from taxation by this state, or any political subdivision of this state.

The commission, its income, revenue and other receipts and all properties or rights and interest therein shall be exempt from all taxation in this state.

The bonds, notes, obligations or liabilities of a commission shall not be a debt of the State of Nebraska or of the city or county for which the commission is established and neither the state, city, nor the county shall be liable thereon or therefor, nor shall such bonds, notes, obligations or liabilities be payable out of any money other than the money of the commission issuing or incurring the same.

With respect to the commission created for the city and county and its projects, the city and the county may each:

(1) Operate and maintain any project of the commission;

(2) Appropriate funds for any cost incurred by the commission in acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, extending, equipping, remodeling, renovating, furnishing, operating, or maintaining any project;

(3) Convey or transfer to the commission any property of the city or the county for use in connection with a project, including real and personal property owned or leased by the city or the county and used or useful in connection therewith. In case of real property so conveyed, the title thereto shall remain in the city or the county as the case may be but the commission shall have the use and occupancy thereof so long as its corporate existence continues. In the case of personal property so conveyed, the title shall pass to the commission;

(4) Acquire, by purchase or condemnation, real property in the name of the city or the county as the case may be for the projects of the commission, for the widening of existing roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways, for new roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways to a project, or partly for such purposes and partly for other city or county purposes, in the manner provided by law for acquisition. The city or the county may also close any roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways as may be necessary or convenient to facilitate the construction of any project of the commission;

(5) Enter into an agreement with the commission for the use by the city and the county of the project. The agreement shall set forth the respective obligations of the parties thereto as to the operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of the project; the amount of space in any joint facility to be utilized by the city and county; the method or formula of determining the respective duties and obligations of the city and the county for cost of operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of the project; and the method or formula for determining the payments to be made by the city to the commission as being applicable to the principal of and interest and premium on the bonds of the commission issued to finance the project. The city shall have the power to levy a tax on all the taxable property in the city sufficient to make the payments to the commission applicable to the principal of and interest and premium on the bonds of the commission issued for the project, which tax shall be in addition to all other taxes now or hereafter authorized by statute or charter. If the city is subject to a limitation by statute or charter on the amount of taxes which may be imposed by the city for its operating expenses, the maximum which may be levied in excess of such limitation pursuant to the authorization of this subdivision shall not exceed one and seven-tenths cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable valuation of all taxable property; and

(6) Enter into agreements with each other and with the commission necessary, desirable, or useful in carrying out the purposes of sections 13-1301 to 13-1312 upon such terms and conditions as determined by the governing body.

If at any time space not for the use and services of any project acquired or constructed or to be acquired or constructed by the commission is in excess of the needs of the city or the county for which the commission was created, the commission with the approval of the city or the county may enter into agreements with the United States of America, the state, or any other governmental unit providing for the use by the United States of America, the State of Nebraska, or such other governmental unit of the project, and such other governmental units shall possess the same powers with respect to the commission and its projects as are possessed by the city and county under the provisions of this section. Any agreement entered into by the state shall be subject to all the terms, provisions, and conditions of sections 72-1401 to 72-1412 with the same effect as though the commission were named as a municipality under such sections.

Sections 13-1301 to 13-1312 are supplemental to existing statutes and shall not be construed as repealing or amending existing statutes but shall be construed harmoniously and implemented compatibly with them.

The county board or the governing body of any incorporated city or village in the State of Nebraska may, and is hereby authorized and empowered, when in its judgment it is deemed expedient, to establish a board of public docks to be known as Dock Board of .......... (here insert name of county or municipality establishing such board) which shall be a body corporate and politic, and possess all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes, and in its name may sue and be sued, purchase, hold, and sell personal property and real estate. Such board shall consist of seven members to be known as commissioners of public docks.

The governing body of any incorporated city or village in the State of Nebraska, the nearest boundary of which city or village is not more than ten miles from the Nebraska bank of the Missouri River, may, and is hereby authorized and empowered, when in its judgment it is deemed expedient, to establish a board of public docks to be known as Dock Board of .......... (here insert name of municipality establishing such board), which shall be a body corporate and politic and possess all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes, and in its name may sue and be sued, purchase, hold, and sell personal property and real estate, and shall have all powers, authority and duties now granted under the laws of Nebraska for the establishment of such boards of public docks by incorporated cities or villages in the State of Nebraska whose boundaries abut upon the Nebraska bank of the Missouri River.

When it has been determined by the county board or the governing body of any such municipality that it is expedient to establish such board of public docks the county board or the governing body of such municipality shall appoint as members of the dock board, seven such commissioners who shall have been residents of the county or municipality, as the case may be, in which they are appointed for a period of not less than five years and shall be prominently identified with the commercial and business interests of the county or municipality, as the case may be, and who shall not at the time of their appointment or during their term of office be interested in or be employed by any common carrier; and such board shall act without compensation. Of the commissioners initially appointed, three shall serve for a term of one year, three for a term of two years, and one for a term of three years. As the term of office of each commissioner expires, his successor shall be appointed by the county board or the governing body, and the term of office of such commissioner shall be three years. The commissioners shall qualify by taking oath for the faithful performance of their duties. Within ten days after their appointment the commissioners shall meet and organize such board by the election from among their number of a president, a vice president, and a treasurer of the board, and shall elect a secretary who need not be a member of the board. Any two of the offices except president and vice president may be held by one commissioner. The board shall from time to time adopt rules and regulations, consistent with the provisions of sections 13-1401 to 13-1417, for the government of the board and its proceedings, which shall be adopted by resolution and shall be recorded in a book kept by the board and known as the book of rules and regulations. The rules and regulations shall be in force after one publication in some legal newspaper published in or circulating in the municipality. The board shall maintain an office and keep a record of all its proceedings and acts, and books of accounts shall at all times be open to public inspection. If any commissioner shall at any time during his incumbency cease to have the qualifications required by this section for his appointment or shall willfully violate any of his duties under the law, such commissioner shall be removed by the county board or the governing body after written charges have been preferred against him and a due hearing of such charges shall have been had by the county board or the governing body upon reasonable notice to such commissioner. Vacancies occurring in the board through resignation or otherwise shall be filled by the county board or the governing body for the unexpired term.

The dock board shall have power and it shall be its duty for and in behalf of any such municipality to prepare or cause to be prepared a comprehensive general plan for the construction and improvement of its harbor, water front, dock, and terminal facilities as it may deem necessary, to promote commerce and for the convenient and economical accommodation and handling of watercraft of all kinds and of freight and passengers, and the free interchange, receipt, and delivery of traffic between water and land transportation agencies. Such plan shall be filed in the office of the board and be open to public inspection, and may from time to time be changed, altered or amended by the board, as the requirements of shipping and commerce and the advance of knowledge and information on the subject may suggest. The board shall procure or construct such harbor, water front, dock, and terminal facilities in accord with such plan.

The dock board shall have power to purchase or acquire by any lawful means, such personal property and lands or rights or interests therein, including easements and leaseholds, as may be necessary for use in the provision and in the construction of any publicly owned harbor and terminal facilities and appurtenances as provided for in such plan as may be adopted by the board. If the board shall deem it proper and expedient that the county or municipality shall acquire possession or ownership of such property and lands or rights or interests therein, including easements and leaseholds, and no price can be agreed upon by the board and the owner or owners thereof, the board may cause legal proceedings to be taken to acquire same for the county or municipality by the exercise of the right of eminent domain hereby conferred. The procedure to condemn property shall be exercised in the manner set forth in sections 76-704 to 76-724. The title of all lands, property, and rights acquired by the board shall vest in the county or the municipality.

The county or municipality may turn over any property owned by it to the dock board to be controlled by it; and the board shall have exclusive charge and control of all such property turned over to it and all harbor and water terminal structures, facilities, and appurtenances connected therewith, and which the county or municipality or board may acquire under the provisions hereof or otherwise. The board shall have the exclusive charge and control of the building, rebuilding, alteration, repairing, operation and leasing of said property, and every part thereof, and of the cleaning, grading, paving, sewering, dredging and deepening necessary in and about the same.

The dock board is hereby vested with jurisdiction and authority over that part of any street and alley and public grounds of the county or municipality which may abut upon or intersect its navigable waters, lying between the harbor line and the first intersecting street measuring backward from high watermark, to the extent only that may be necessary or requisite in carrying out the powers vested in it by sections 13-1401 to 13-1417. It is hereby declared that such jurisdiction and authority shall include the right to build retaining or quay walls, docks, levees, wharves, piers, warehouses or other constructions, including belt railways and railway switches, across and upon such streets and alleys and public grounds and all other property owned or acquired by it or by the county or municipality for such purposes, and to grade, fill, and pave the same to conform to the general level of the wharf, or for suitable approaches thereto; Provided, that such improvements shall be paid out of funds in the hands of the board and not by assessment against abutting property.

The dock board is also vested with exclusive regulation and control of the harbor and the waterfront within or abutting upon the territorial limits of such county or municipality, consistent with the laws of the United States governing navigation, and may make reasonable rules and regulations governing the traffic and use thereof, and to promote the sanitary condition of said harbor and waterfront and to prevent the pollution of the waters within said harbor and governing the use and improvement of riparian land, and structures thereon, within and abutting upon the territorial limits of such county or municipality.

The dock board shall have power to make general rules and regulations for the carrying out of the plans prepared and adopted by it for the building, rebuilding, repairing, alteration, maintaining, and operation of all structures, erections or artificial constructions upon or adjacent to the waterfront of the county or municipality, whether the same shall be done by the board or by others; and except as provided by the general rules of the board, no new structures or repairs upon or along said waterfront shall be undertaken, except upon application to the board and under permit by it and in accordance with the general plans of the board and in pursuance of specifications submitted to the board and approved by it upon such application. Said general rules and regulations shall be adopted by resolution and shall be recorded in the board's book of rules and regulations. Certified copies of said general rules and regulations, whenever adopted by the board, shall, forthwith upon their passage, be transmitted to the county clerk or the clerk of the municipality who shall cause the same to be transcribed at length in a book kept for that purpose. Upon filing any such certified copy of any such rules and regulations, the said clerk shall forthwith cause the same to be once published in some legal newspaper of general circulation published in the county or municipality, as the case may be, or if none is there published, then in the next nearest legal newspaper published in this state; and the said rules and regulations shall be in force and effect from and after the date of said publication.

The dock board shall have authority, either alone or jointly with any similar body, to petition any interstate commerce commission, railway commission, or any like body or any federal, municipal, state or local authority, administrative, executive, judicial or legislative, having jurisdiction in the premises, for any relief, rates, charges, regulations or action which in the opinion of said body may be designed to improve or better the handling of commerce in and through the said harbor or port, or improve terminal or transportation facilities therein. It may intervene before any such body in any proceeding affecting the commerce of said harbor or port and in any such matters, the board shall be considered, along with other interested persons, one of the official representatives of the district in which said harbor or port is situated. The board shall have the authority to promote maritime and commercial interests of the harbor or port by the proper advertisement of its advantages and by the solicitation of business, through agencies established within or without said harbor or port within the United States or in foreign countries; and it shall endeavor to bring to the attention of the people of Nebraska, and of other states which may be properly served by the harbor or port, the economical advantages to be derived from the use of the harbor or port and its facilities.

The dock board shall have the power to fix and regulate and from time to time to alter the tolls, fees, and other charges for all facilities under its management and control and for the use thereof, which charges shall be collectible by the board and shall be reasonable and with the view of defraying the capital expenditures, interest charges, maintenance and operating expenses, and indebtedness of the board in constructing and operating the improvements and works herein authorized. The charges shall be adopted by resolution and shall be recorded in the board's book of rules and regulations. A schedule of such charges shall be enacted by the board, and a certified copy thereof shall be transmitted to the county clerk or clerk of the municipality, as the case may be, in like manner as other rules and regulations of the board, and the clerk shall forthwith cause the same to be published in the same manner as other rules and regulations of the board, and such charges shall be in force and effect from and after the date of publication.

Obedience to the rules and regulations of the dock board may be enforced in the name of the county or municipality, as the case may be, by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days; Provided, the county board shall first adopt the same by regulation or governing body of such municipality shall first adopt the same in ordinance form, as ordinances of the municipality.

The dock board shall have power to employ such harbor masters, managers, assistants, attorneys, engineers, employees, clerks, workmen, and laborers as may be necessary in the efficient and economical performance of the work authorized by sections 13-1401 to 13-1417. All officers, places, and employment in the permanent service of the board shall be provided for by resolution duly passed by the board and recorded in the board's book of rules and regulations, and a certified copy thereof shall be transmitted to the county clerk or clerk of the municipality, as the case may be, as provided for other rules and regulations of the board.

In the construction of docks, levees, wharves, and their appurtenances, or in contracting for the construction of any work or structures authorized by sections 13-1401 to 13-1417, the dock board shall proceed only after full and complete plans, approved by the board, and specifications for said work, have been prepared and submitted and filed with the board by its engineer for public inspection, and after public notice asking for bids for the construction of such work, based upon such plans and specifications, has been published in some legal newspaper of general circulation published within the county or municipality, as the case may be, or if none is so published, then in the nearest legal newspaper published in this state. Such publications shall be made at least thirty days before the time fixed for the opening of said bids and contracting for such work. A contract may then be made with the lowest responsible bidder therefor, unless the board deems the bids excessive or unsuitable, in which event it may proceed to readvertise for bids, or the board may do the work directly, purchasing such materials and contracting for such labor as may be necessary without further notice or proposal for bids; except that it shall make no purchase of materials in amounts exceeding five hundred dollars except by public letting upon ten days' notice, published as aforesaid, specifying the materials proposed to be purchased; Provided, that said public letting shall not be required in case no satisfactory bids are received, or in case of an emergency where the delay of advertising and public letting might cause serious loss or injury to the work. The board shall, in all cases, have the right to reject any and all bids, and may either readvertise therefor, contract with others at a figure not exceeding that of the lowest bidder without further advertising, or do the work directly as hereinbefore provided.

The dock board shall annually make to the county board or the governing body of the municipality, as the case may be, a full and complete report of its activities, including a statement of the commerce passing through the port and a report of the receipts and disbursements made by or on account of said board. The board may, at such times as it may deem necessary, file with the county board or governing body, as the case may be, an estimate of the amounts necessary to be appropriated by the county board or the governing body to defray the expense of the board. The county board or the governing body of such municipality is hereby authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to appropriate from its general fund and to place at the disposal of the board an amount sufficient to defray such expense.

Whenever the dock board shall deem it necessary or advisable to issue bonds for the purpose of constructing any of the works or improvements herein authorized, or purchasing property for said purpose or maintaining or operating the same, the board shall petition the county board or the governing body of such municipality, as the case may be, to issue such bonds stating the purpose for which the bonds are requested. Thereupon the county board or the governing body may, in its discretion, issue revenue bonds of such county or municipality, the principal and interest of which shall be payable solely out of revenue to be derived from tolls and other charges and receipts from the use and operation of the docks and other property. The county or city shall incur no indebtedness of any kind or nature upon the issuance of such bonds, and they shall so recite, and to support the use and operation of the docks and other property the county or city shall not pledge its credit nor its taxing power nor any part thereof. The proceeds of the bonds when issued shall be paid to the treasurer of such county or municipality, as the case may be, and credited to the dock fund.

All funds collected by the dock board, or appropriated by the county or municipality for dock purposes from the proceeds of bonds or otherwise, shall be deposited with the treasurer of the county or municipality, as the case may be, and disbursed by him only upon warrants or orders duly executed as provided by law for the execution of warrants or orders of such county or municipality and which shall state distinctly the purpose for which the same are drawn; and a permanent record shall be kept by the board of all warrants or orders so drawn, showing the date, amount, consideration, and to whom payable. When paid, the same shall be canceled and kept on file by the treasurer of the county or municipality, as the case may be. The books of the board shall from time to time be audited upon the order of the county board or governing body of the municipality, as the case may be, in such manner as it may direct, and all such books and records of the board shall at all times be open to public inspection.

Sections 13-1501 to 13-1509 shall be known and may be cited as the State-Tribal Cooperative Agreements Act.

For purposes of the State-Tribal Cooperative Agreements Act:

(1) Agreement shall mean an agreement authorized under section 13-1503;

(2) Public agency shall mean any political subdivision, including any municipality, county, school district, or agency or department of the state; and

(3) Tribal government shall mean the officially recognized government of any Indian tribe, nation, or other organized group or community located in the state exercising self-government powers and recognized as eligible for services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians or any Indian tribe located in the state and recognized as an Indian tribe by the state.

Any one or more public agencies may enter into an agreement with any one or more tribal governments to perform any administrative service, activity, or undertaking that any of the public agencies or tribal governments entering into the contract is authorized by law to perform. The agreement shall be authorized and approved by the governing body of each party to the agreement. The agreement shall fully set forth the powers, rights, obligations, and responsibilities of the parties to the agreement.

An agreement shall specify:

(1) Its duration;

(2) The precise organization, composition, and nature of any separate legal entity created;

(3) Its purpose;

(4) The manner of financing the agreement and establishing and maintaining a budget;

(5) The method to be employed in accomplishing the partial or complete termination of the agreement and for disposing of property upon such partial or complete termination, if any;

(6) Provisions for administering the agreement, which may include, but not be limited to, the creation of a joint board responsible for such administration;

(7) The manner of acquiring, holding, and disposing of real and personal property used in the agreement;

(8) When an agreement involves law enforcement:

(a) The minimum training standards and qualifications of law enforcement personnel;

(b) The respective liability of each public agency and tribal government for the actions of law enforcement officers when acting under the provisions of an agreement;

(c) The minimum insurance required of both the public agency and the tribal government; and

(d) The exact chain of command to be followed by law enforcement officers acting under the agreement; and

(9) Any other necessary and proper matters.

Within ten days after being signed by the parties, a copy of the agreement shall be filed with:

(1) The area office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the United States Department of the Interior having trust responsibility for each tribe the governing body of which is a party to the agreement or its successor agency;

(2) The county clerk of each county where one of the parties to the agreement is located, except that a copy shall not be required to be filed in Lancaster County if an agency or department of the state is a party to the agreement unless another party is located in such county;

(3) The Secretary of State; and

(4) Any affected tribal government.

An agreement shall be subject to revocation by any party to the agreement upon six months' notice to the other unless a different period of time is provided for the agreement. No agreement may provide for a notice period for revocation in excess of five years.

Any public agency entering into an agreement may appropriate funds for, and may sell, lease, or otherwise give or supply material to, any entity created for the purpose of performance of the agreement and may provide such personnel or services as are within its legal power to furnish.

Nothing in the State-Tribal Cooperative Agreements Act shall be construed to authorize an agreement that:

(1) Is not permitted by federal law. The parties to an agreement should deal with substantive matters and enforcement matters that can be mutually agreed upon, but no agreement shall affect the underlying jurisdictional authority of any party unless expressly authorized by Congress;

(2) Authorizes a public agency or tribal government, either separately or pursuant to agreement, to expand or diminish the jurisdiction presently exercised by the government of the United States to make criminal laws for or enforce criminal laws in Indian country; or

(3) Authorizes a public agency or tribal government to enter into an agreement except as authorized by their own organizational documents or enabling laws.

The State-Tribal Cooperative Agreements Act shall not affect the validity of any agreement entered into between a tribal government and a public agency prior to August 25, 1989.

Sections 13-1601 to 13-1626 shall be known and may be cited as the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act.

The purpose of the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act is to permit political subdivisions to provide employee benefits to employees and their dependents through self-funding by establishing, participating in, and administering employee benefit plans. It is also the purpose of the act to require political subdivisions using self-funding for employee benefit plans to meet certain requirements to protect the benefits of covered employees and covered dependents.

For purposes of the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act, the definitions found in sections 13-1604 to 13-1613 shall be used.

Accruals shall mean funds to cover all expected claims, reserves, and expenses to operate the self-funded portion of the employee benefit plan for a plan year.

Covered dependent shall mean a dependent who is enrolled in an employee benefit plan.

Covered employee shall mean an employee who is enrolled in an employee benefit plan.

Employee benefit plan shall mean a plan provided pursuant to section 13-1614 for covered employees and covered dependents.

Excess insurance shall mean (1) aggregate insurance, (2) specific insurance, or (3) insurance in excess of a deductible, of which the plan sponsor assumes some or all of the risk for the deductible, purchased from an insurer.

Independent actuary shall mean a member in good standing of the Society of Actuaries or the American Academy of Actuaries who is not an employee of the plan sponsor. Selection of an independent actuary by a plan sponsor shall comply with the conflict of interest provisions of the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act.

Insurer shall mean an insurer as defined in section 44-103 which holds a certificate of authority to transact the business of insurance in this state.

Plan sponsor shall mean any political subdivision providing an employee benefit plan.

Political subdivision shall include villages, cities, counties, school districts, public power districts, community colleges, natural resources districts, and all other units of local government.

Self-funding or self-funded shall mean assumption of primary liability or responsibility for certain risks or benefits rather than transferring the liability or responsibility to some other entity and may include the deductible portion when a plan sponsor assumes some or all of the risk for the deductible of an insured plan.

Any political subdivision may establish, participate in, and administer employee benefit plans for its employees or its employees and their dependents which will provide hospitalization, medical, surgical, dental, disability, and sickness and accident coverage or any one or more of such coverages. Such coverages shall be provided through self-funding in combination with excess insurance or through self-funding without excess insurance pursuant to subsection (4) of section 13-1622. Such coverages may include employee and dependent deductibles and copayments.

(1) A plan sponsor shall not be considered an insurer under the laws of this state. The use of any self-funding by a plan sponsor shall not constitute transacting the business of insurance and shall not be subject to regulation by the Department of Insurance.

(2) A plan sponsor shall not be a member of the Nebraska Property and Liability Insurance Guaranty Association or the Nebraska Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association. The Nebraska Property and Liability Insurance Guaranty Association Act and the Nebraska Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Act shall not be applicable to the self-funded portion of an employee benefit plan.

The Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act shall not apply to coverage for workers' compensation.

(1) The governing body of the plan sponsor shall approve the use of any self-funding for its employee benefit plan.

(2) The self-funded portion of an employee benefit plan shall comply with the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act. The self-funded portion of the employee benefit plan shall be solely for the benefit of the employees and dependents of the plan sponsor and shall not be pooled with the self-funded portion of an employee benefit plan of another plan sponsor.

(3) Each plan sponsor shall be liable for payment of valid claims under its employee benefit plan.

(4) The governing body of the plan sponsor shall annually review the self-funded portion of the employee benefit plan for compliance with section 13-1619.

(5) The plan sponsor shall keep confidential employee benefit plan information held by it which personally identifies employees and their dependents and the nature of any claims submitted by employees and their dependents. Any agent of the plan sponsor shall not use or disclose any such information to any person except to the extent necessary to administer claims or as otherwise authorized by law. No information regarding claims submitted by employees and their dependents and held by the plan sponsor shall be used directly or indirectly to alter the terms and conditions of employment of the employees. Any plan sponsor, member of its governing body, officer, employee, or agent who knowingly or willfully violates this subsection shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor.

A plan sponsor shall provide each covered employee with a copy of a summary of the self-funded portion of the employee benefit plan. The summary shall contain a written description of the major provisions of the self-funded portion of the plan, including (1) a table of contents, (2) a description of benefits, (3) the funding arrangement, and (4) the claims and appeals procedures required by section 13-1623.

(1) A plan sponsor shall establish accruals at a satisfactory level to provide funds to cover one hundred percent of expected claims, reserves as required in subsection (2) of this section, and expenses to operate the self-funded portion of the employee benefit plan. Accruals shall be reevaluated for adequacy at least annually. Accruals shall be funded through contributions by the plan sponsor or through a combination of contributions by the plan sponsor and employee. Accruals which become available during a month when claims are less than projected for that month shall be maintained and available for a month when claims exceed those projected for that month.

(2) A plan sponsor shall establish reserves for claims which have been incurred by covered employees and covered dependents under the self-funded portion of the employee benefit plan but which have not yet been presented for payment. The appropriate amount of the reserves shall be on an actuarially sound basis as determined by (a) an independent actuary or (b) an insurer.

(3) A plan sponsor shall establish a restricted and segregated fund exclusively for the deposit of monthly accruals and other assets pertaining to the self-funded portion of the employee benefit plan. As long as the self-funded portion of an employee benefit plan is in effect, all contributions shall be deposited as collected in the restricted and segregated fund.

(4) Disbursements from the restricted and segregated fund established pursuant to subsection (3) of this section may be made only for the following specified employee benefit plan expenses: (a) Payment of claims; (b) cost of insurance coverage; (c) payment of service fees applicable to employee benefit plan design, payment of claims, materials explaining benefits, actuarial assistance, legal assistance, and accounting assistance; (d) costs of employee wellness programs; and (e) other expenses directly related to the operation of the employee benefit plan. If the plan sponsor is a city of the metropolitan class and if such plan sponsor has a surplus in its restricted and segregated fund at the end of any fiscal year, such surplus may be treated and used as surplus funds in accordance with and pursuant to the city's home rule charter.

(5) If an employee benefit plan is discontinued, the plan sponsor shall maintain the restricted and segregated fund established pursuant to subsection (3) of this section for a period of one year from the date of discontinuation for payment of any claims which have not been filed. At the end of the one-year period, the funds shall no longer be restricted and segregated and may be returned to operational funds of the plan sponsor.

The governing body of a plan sponsor shall approve an annual report showing the beginning and ending balance of the fund established pursuant to section 13-1619, deposits of monthly accruals and other assets of the fund, and a separate accounting to reflect required reserves.

If the fund established pursuant to section 13-1619 is not adequate to fully cover all disbursements under the self-funded portion of the employee benefit plan, the plan sponsor shall contribute funds from other sources so that the employee benefit plan continues to comply with the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the plan sponsor shall obtain excess insurance which will limit the plan sponsor's total claims liability for each plan year to not more than one hundred twenty-five percent of the expected claims liability as projected by an independent actuary or insurer.

(2) If the expected claims liability of the self-funded portion of the employee benefit plan is exceeded, the plan sponsor shall fund such additional liability by (a) allocating necessary funds from the operating fund of the general fund, (b) setting up an additional reserve in the operating fund of the general fund, or (c) setting up the monthly accruals at a level to fund claims in excess of the expected claims liability.

(3) An insurer shall pay claims for which it is obligated under excess insurance within three months of the time the claims are paid by the plan sponsor.

(4) A city of the metropolitan or primary class or a county with a population of more than two hundred thousand may provide an employee benefit plan without excess insurance if the city or county obtains a determination from an independent actuary or insurer that excess insurance is not necessary to preserve the safety and soundness of the employee benefit plan.

The self-funded portion of an employee benefit plan shall provide for the following:

(1) A written claim for benefits shall be furnished to the plan sponsor (a) in case of a claim for benefits which provide any periodic payment contingent upon continuing loss, within ninety days after the termination of the period for which the plan sponsor is liable and (b) in case of a claim for any other loss, within ninety days after the date of such loss. Failure to furnish such written claim within the time required shall not invalidate or reduce any claim if it was not reasonably possible to give proof within such time and if proof is furnished as soon as reasonably possible and in no event later than one year from the time proof is otherwise required except in the absence of legal capacity;

(2) Indemnities payable for any loss, other than loss for which periodic payment is provided, shall be paid immediately upon receipt of a written claim for benefits. All accrued indemnities for loss which provide periodic payment shall be paid at least monthly, and any balance remaining unpaid upon the termination of liability shall be paid immediately upon receipt of a written claim for benefits;

(3) If a claim remains unsettled, the plan sponsor shall send to the covered employee, covered dependent, or authorized representative a letter every ninety days. The letter shall set forth specific reasons additional time is needed for investigation; and

(4) If a claim is denied or partly denied, a written notice of the denial from the plan sponsor, together with specific reason for the denial, shall be sent to the covered employee, covered dependent, or authorized representative. A denial may be appealed directly to the plan sponsor within sixty days after receiving the notice. The plan sponsor shall inform a covered employee, covered dependent, or authorized representative of its decision within sixty days after receipt of written appeal unless an unusual circumstance requires an extension of time to investigate or consider the appeal. If an extension is needed, the plan sponsor shall inform the covered employee, covered dependent, or authorized representative of the reason and the additional time needed which shall not exceed an additional sixty days. If the claim is denied or partly denied by the plan sponsor, a claim denial may be further appealed pursuant to section 13-1625.

(1) Employee benefit plans established pursuant to the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act shall comply with sections 44-1640 to 44-1645 relating to continuation of coverage if subject to such sections.

(2) If any covered employee of a plan sponsor which is a school district terminates employment with such plan sponsor and obtains employment with another plan sponsor which is a school district prior to October 1, 1994, such employee or such employee and any dependents shall not be subject to any preexisting condition period or other waiting period of the employee benefit plan of the plan sponsor with which such employment is obtained if both such plan sponsors have obtained excess insurance from the same insurer.

(1) A covered employee or covered dependent may bring a civil action against a plan sponsor to require compliance with the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act and the self-funded portion of an employee benefit plan. When the covered employee or covered dependent brings an action against a plan sponsor, the court, upon rendering judgment against the plan sponsor, shall allow the plaintiff a reasonable sum as an attorney's fee in addition to the amount of his or her recovery, to be taxed as part of the costs. If such action is appealed, the appellate court shall allow a reasonable sum as an attorney's fee for the appeal if the plaintiff is successful.

(2) If the plaintiff fails to obtain judgment for more than may have been offered by such plan sponsor in accordance with section 25-901, the plaintiff shall not recover the attorney's fees provided in this section.

Any political subdivision using self-funding to provide hospitalization, medical, surgical, and sickness and accident coverage or any one or more of such coverages for its employees or its employees and their dependents immediately prior to June 8, 1991, shall comply with the Political Subdivisions Self-Funding Benefits Act no later than December 31, 1991.

For purposes of sections 13-1701 to 13-1714 and 76-2,119:

(1) Applicant shall mean any person as defined in section 81-1502 who is required to obtain a permit from the department for a solid waste disposal area or a solid waste processing facility but shall not include any person applying for renewal of such a permit or any person as defined in such section who proposes to dispose of waste which he or she generates on property which he or she owns as of January 1, 1991;

(2) Department shall mean the Department of Environment and Energy;

(3) Solid waste disposal area shall mean an area used for the disposal of solid waste from more than one residential premises or from one or more recreational, commercial, industrial, manufacturing, or governmental operations; and

(4) Solid waste processing facility shall mean an incinerator or a compost plant receiving material, other than yard waste, in quantities greater than one thousand cubic yards annually.

Prior to submitting an application to the department for a solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility, the applicant shall submit a request for siting approval to the city council, village board of trustees, or county board of commissioners or supervisors which governs the city, village, or county in which the proposed site is to be located. The city council, village board, or county board shall approve or disapprove the site for each solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility.

An applicant for siting approval shall submit information to the city council, village board of trustees, or county board of commissioners or supervisors to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this section regarding a solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility. Siting approval shall be granted only if the proposed area or facility meets all of the following criteria:

(1) The solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility is necessary to accommodate the solid waste management needs of the area which the solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility is intended to serve;

(2) The solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility is designed, located, and proposed to be operated so that the public health, safety, and welfare will be protected. The applicant shall provide an evaluation of the potential for adverse health effects that could result from exposure to pollution, in any form, due to the proper or improper construction, operation, or closure of the proposed solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility;

(3) The solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility is located so as to minimize incompatibility with the character of the surrounding area and to minimize the effect on the value of the surrounding property. The city council, village board, or county board shall consider the advice of the appropriate planning commission regarding the application;

(4) The plan of operations for the solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility is designed to minimize the danger to the surrounding area from fire, spills, or other operational accidents;

(5) The traffic patterns to or from the solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility are designed to minimize the impact on existing traffic flows; and

(6) Information regarding the previous operating experience of a private agency applicant and its subsidiaries or parent corporation in the area of solid waste management or related activities are made available to the city council, village board, or county board. If a corporation, a parent company or subsidiary thereof, or any officer or board member of the corporation or the parent company or subsidiary applying for approval has been convicted of a felony within ten years of the date the application is filed, site approval shall not be granted.

No later than fourteen days prior to a request for siting approval, the applicant shall cause written notice of the request for siting approval to be served either in person or by registered or certified mail on the owners of all property within the proposed site area not solely owned by the applicant and on the owners of all property within one thousand feet in each direction of the lot line of the proposed site if the proposed site is inside or within three miles of the corporate limits of a city or village or on the owners of all property within two miles in each direction of the lot line of the proposed site for all other proposed sites. The owners shall be identified based upon the tax records of the county in which the proposed site is located.

Written notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the proposed site is located. The notice shall state the name and address of the applicant, the location of the proposed site, the nature and size of the solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility, the probable life of the proposed solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility, the date when the request for siting approval will be submitted, and a description of the right of persons to comment on the request.

Failure to notify all landowners and failure to include all information in the publicized notice as required by this section shall not be considered noncompliance if a good faith effort at notice was made by the applicant which results in actual notice to substantially all parties required to be notified.

An applicant shall file a copy of its request for siting approval with the city council, village board of trustees, or county board of commissioners or supervisors of the city, village, or county in which the proposed site is located. The request shall include the substance of the applicant's proposal and all documents, if any, submitted as of that date to the department pertaining to the proposed solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility. All documents or other materials pertaining to the proposed area or facility on file with the city council, village board, or county board shall be made available for public inspection at the office of the city council, village board, or county board and may be copied upon payment of a fee in an amount equal to the actual cost of reproduction.

Any person may file written comment with the city council, village board, or county board concerning the appropriateness of the proposed site for its intended purpose. Such comment shall be postmarked not later than thirty days after the date of the last public hearing held pursuant to section 13-1706 and shall be included in the record of the public hearing.

At least one public hearing shall be held by the city council, village board of trustees, or county board of commissioners or supervisors no sooner than ninety days but no later than one hundred twenty days after receipt of the request for siting approval. A hearing shall be preceded by published notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, city, or village in which the proposed site is located. The public hearing shall develop a record sufficient to form the basis of an appeal of the decision.

Final action shall be taken by the city council, village board, or county board within one hundred eighty days after the filing of the request for site approval.

At any time prior to completion by the applicant of the presentation of the applicant's factual evidence and an opportunity for questioning by the city council, village board, or county board and members of the public, the applicant may file not more than one amended application upon payment of additional fees pursuant to section 13-1710. The time limitations prescribed in sections 13-1706 and 13-1708 for final action on an amended application shall be extended for an additional ninety days.

Construction of a solid waste disposal area or solid waste processing facility which is granted siting approval pursuant to sections 13-1701 to 13-1714 and 76-2,119 shall commence within two calendar years from the date approval was granted, or the approval shall be nullified. If the siting decision is appealed, the two-year period shall begin on the date upon which the appeal process is concluded.

The siting approval procedures, criteria, and appeal procedures provided for in sections 13-1701 to 13-1714 shall be the exclusive siting procedures and appeal procedures. Local zoning ordinances, other local land-use requirements, and other ordinances or resolutions shall be considered in such siting decisions.

A city council, village board of trustees, or county board of commissioners or supervisors shall charge an applicant for siting approval a fee in an amount equal to the reasonable and necessary costs incurred by the city, village, or county in the siting approval process.

An applicant shall not file a request for siting approval which is substantially the same as a request which was denied within the immediately preceding two years.

If the city council, village board of trustees, or county board of commissioners or supervisors does not approve a request for siting approval pursuant to sections 13-1701 to 13-1714 and 76-2,119, the applicant, within sixty days after notice of the decision, may petition for a hearing before the district court of the county in which the proposed site is located to contest the decision. The city council, village board, or county board shall appear as respondent in the hearing. At the hearing, the burden of proof shall be on the petitioner. In making its orders and determinations under this section, the district court shall consider the written decision and reasons for the decision of the city council, village board, or county board and the transcribed record of the hearing held pursuant to section 13-1706. The district court shall transmit a copy of its decision to the office of the city council, village board, or county board where it shall be available for public inspection and may be copied upon payment of a fee in an amount equal to the actual cost of reproduction. Final action by the district court shall be taken within one hundred twenty days.

If the city council, village board of trustees, or county board of commissioners or supervisors grants approval pursuant to sections 13-1701 to 13-1714 and 76-2,119, a third party other than the applicant who participated in the public hearing may petition the district court of the county in which the proposed site is located within sixty days after the filing of the written decision by the city council, village board, or county board for a hearing to contest the approval. Unless the district court determines that the petition is duplicitous or frivolous, the district court shall hear the petition in accordance with the procedures prescribed in section 13-1712. The burden of proof shall be on the petitioner, and the city council, village board, or county board and the applicant shall be named as correspondents.

The district court shall transmit a copy of its decision to the office of the city council, village board, or county board where it shall be available for public inspection and may be copied upon payment of a fee in an amount equal to the actual cost of reproduction.

Any person who files a petition with the district court to contest a decision of the city council, village board of trustees, or county board of commissioners or supervisors shall pay the required filing fee.

If any legal action shall be brought against any municipal police officer, constable, county sheriff, deputy sheriff, firefighter, emergency care provider, or other elected or appointed official of any political subdivision, who is an employee as defined in section 48-115, whether such person is a volunteer or partly paid or fully paid, based upon the negligent error or omission of such person while in the performance of his or her lawful duties, the political subdivision which employs, appoints, or otherwise designates such person an employee as defined in section 48-115 shall defend him or her against such action, and if final judgment is rendered against such person, such political subdivision shall pay such judgment in his or her behalf and shall have no right to restitution from such person.

A political subdivision shall have the right to purchase insurance to indemnify itself in advance against the possibility of such loss under this section, and the insurance company shall have no right of subrogation against the person. This section shall not be construed to permit a political subdivision to pay for a judgment obtained against a person as a result of illegal acts committed by such person.

Each political subdivision shall self-insure or contract for insurance against liability for personal injuries or property damage that may be incurred by it or by its personnel as a result of law enforcement activity within or without its primary jurisdiction.

(1) There are hereby created nine Nebraska planning and development regions as follows:

(a) Region 1 includes the counties of Sioux, Dawes, Sheridan, Box Butte, Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Garden, Banner, Kimball, Cheyenne, and Deuel;

(b) Region 2 includes the counties of Cherry, Keya Paha, Boyd, Brown, Rock, Holt, Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Custer, Valley, Greeley, and Sherman;

(c) Region 3 includes the counties of Grant, Hooker, Thomas, Arthur, McPherson, Logan, Keith, Lincoln, Perkins, Dawson, Chase, Hayes, Frontier, Gosper, Dundy, Hitchcock, Red Willow, and Furnas;

(d) Region 4 includes the counties of Howard, Merrick, Buffalo, Hall, Hamilton, Phelps, Kearney, Adams, Clay, Harlan, Franklin, Webster, and Nuckolls;

(e) Region 5 includes the counties of Knox, Cedar, Dixon, Antelope, Pierce, Wayne, Thurston, Boone, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Burt, Platte, Colfax, Dodge, and Nance;

(f) Region 6 includes the counties of Polk, Butler, Saunders, York, Seward, Fillmore, Saline, Otoe, Thayer, Jefferson, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, and Richardson;

(g) Region 7 includes the county of Lancaster;

(h) Region 8 includes the counties of Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass; and

(i) Region 9 includes the county of Dakota.

(2) In order to facilitate development of a process which will allow for future changes to the boundaries of the Nebraska planning and development regions, until July 1, 2020, a county, city, village, or development district shall not engage in negotiations to change the boundaries of the planning and development regions. This subsection does not prohibit negotiations relating to implementation of the changes to the boundaries made by Laws 2019, LB334.

(1) Within a Nebraska planning and development region, a development district may be formed as a voluntary association by agreement pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act in one of the following ways if the combined membership of the association includes at least fifty-one percent of the local governments in the region:

(a) By local governments within the region; or

(b) By two or more regional councils, each of which is a voluntary association of local governments in the region formed by agreement pursuant to the act between the governing bodies of such governments, the membership of which association does not include at least fifty-one percent of the local governments located in the region.

(2) For purposes of this section and sections 13-1903 to 13-1906, local government shall mean a county, city, or village.

Each development district formed pursuant to section 13-1902 shall be governed by a policy board, as described in the development district's interlocal cooperation agreement or bylaws, which shall be the board, body, or persons in which the powers of the local governments forming the development district are vested under the agreement for the purpose of governing the development district.

A development district shall, as directed by its policy board, serve as a regional resource center and provide planning, community and economic development, and technical assistance to local governments which are members of the district and may provide assistance to industrial development organizations, tourism promotion organizations, community development groups, and similar organizations upon request.

If state funding is available for distribution pursuant to section 13-1906, the Department of Economic Development shall certify development districts for funding eligibility. Certification shall be based on the following requirements:

(1) The development district shall be formed as provided in section 13-1902;

(2) The development district shall have a staff which shall at a minimum include a full-time director to provide assistance to the local governments which are members of the development district; and

(3) The agreement creating the development district shall insure that all of the local governments within the Nebraska planning and development region may at any time join in the development district.

(1) The Department of Economic Development shall distribute financial assistance from the state, if available, to the various development districts as they are certified in the manner prescribed in subsection (2) of this section.

(2)(a) Fifty percent of the total sum allocated shall be divided equally among the certified development districts. In certified districts formed by regional councils, funds may be prorated among the cooperating regional councils based upon a formula approved by the governing boards of each of the cooperating regional councils and accepted by the department.

(b) Twenty percent of the total sum allocated shall be divided among the certified development districts based upon their proportional share of the population of all certified development districts in the state. For purposes of this subdivision, population shall mean the number of residents as shown by the latest federal decennial census, except that the population of a county shall mean the number of residents in the unincorporated areas of the county.

(c) Thirty percent of the total sum allocated shall be divided among the certified development districts based upon their proportional share of the local governments located within all certified development districts.

(3) Distributions to newly certified development districts shall not reduce financial assistance to previously funded development districts. State financial assistance shall not exceed the total local dollars received by the development district as verified by the department. For purposes of this subsection, local dollars received shall mean the total local dues received by a development district from any local government as a condition of membership in a development district.

(1) The Department of Economic Development may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out sections 13-1901 to 13-1907, including standardized reporting and application procedures. Each development district shall submit annual performance and financial reports to the department which shall address the activities performed and services delivered.

(2) The Governor shall, from time to time, evaluate the effectiveness and activities of the development districts receiving assistance. If the Governor finds a development district to be ineffective, he or she may take action, including the withholding of assistance authorized under section 13-1906.

Sections 13-2001 to 13-2043 shall be known and may be cited as the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

(1) The rapidly rising volume of waste deposited by society threatens the capacity of existing and future landfills. The nature of waste disposal means that unknown quantities of potentially toxic and hazardous materials are being buried and pose a constant threat to the ground water supply. In addition, the nature of the waste and the disposal methods utilized allow the waste to remain basically inert for decades, if not centuries, without decomposition;

(2) Wastes filling Nebraska's landfills may at best represent a potential resource, but without proper management wastes are hazards to the environment and to the public health and welfare;

(3) The growing concern with ground water protection and the desire to avoid financial risks inherent in ground water contamination has caused many smaller landfills to close in favor of using higher-volume facilities. Larger operations allow for better ground water protection at a relatively lower and more manageable cost;

(4) The reduction of solid waste at the source and the recycling of reusable waste materials will reduce the flow of waste to landfills and increase the supply of reusable materials for the use of the public;

(5) Local governments are currently authorized to provide solid waste management services. As a group, counties and municipalities are best positioned to develop efficient solid waste management programs;

(6) An assignment of responsibility for integrated solid waste management should not prohibit governmental entities from procuring services from other units of governments or from private persons. It is the intent of the Legislature that natural resources districts, interlocal cooperative entities, tribal governments, and other statutory and voluntary regional organizations be encouraged to cooperatively provide financing or services to governmental entities responsible for solid waste management; and

(7) A variety of benefits results from a policy of integrated solid waste management, including the following environmental, economic, governmental, and public benefits:

(a) Not producing waste in the first instance is the most certain means for avoiding the widely recognized health and environmental damage associated with waste. Although waste reduction will never eliminate all wastes, to the extent that waste reduction is achieved it results in the most certain form of direct risk reduction;

(b) The government is better able to administer programs which offer a variety of benefits to industry and which reduce the overall cost of government involvement than to administer programs which offer few benefits to industry and require increasingly extensive, complex, and costly governmental actions; and

(c) Public confidence in environmental policies of the government is important for the effectiveness of these policies. Waste reduction and recycling pose no adverse environmental and public health effects and do not therefor lead to increased public concern. Waste reduction and recycling also increase the public confidence that government and industry are doing all that is possible to protect the environment and the public health and welfare.

For purposes of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act, the definitions found in sections 13-2004 to 13-2016.01 shall be used.

Agency shall mean any combination of two or more municipalities or counties acting together under the Interlocal Cooperation Act or the Joint Public Agency Act, a natural resources district acting alone or together with one or more counties and municipalities under either of such acts, any joint entity as defined in section 13-803, or any joint public agency as defined in section 13-2503.

Container means a bag, cup, can, pouch, package, container, bottle, or other packaging that is (1) designed to be reusable, recyclable, or single-use, (2) made of cloth, paper, plastic, including foamed or expanded plastic, cardboard, corrugated material, aluminum, glass, or postconsumer recycled or similar material or substrates, including coated, laminated, or multilayer substrates, and (3) designed for consuming, protecting, or transporting merchandise, food, or beverages from or at a food service or retail facility.

Council shall mean the Environmental Quality Council.

County shall mean any county in the State of Nebraska.

County solid waste jurisdiction area shall mean all areas of a county not located within the corporate limits of a municipality except a facility which does not serve unincorporated areas of the county.

Department shall mean the Department of Environment and Energy.

Director shall mean the Director of Environment and Energy.

Facility shall mean any site owned and operated or utilized by any person for the collection, source separation, storage, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, or disposal of solid waste and shall include a solid waste landfill.

Integrated solid waste management shall mean solid waste management which is focused on planned development of programs and facilities that reduce waste toxicity and volume, recycle marketable materials, and provide for safe disposal of residuals.

Municipal solid waste jurisdiction area shall mean all the incorporated areas of a city or of a village.

Municipality shall mean any city or village incorporated under the laws of this state.

Passenger tire equivalent of waste tires means twenty pounds of waste tire or processed waste tire.

Scrap tire or waste tire means a tire that is no longer suitable for its original intended purpose because of wear, damage, or defect.

Solid waste shall have the definition found in section 81-1502.

Solid waste management plan shall mean a plan adopted by a county or municipality, including a joint plan adopted by an agency, for integrated solid waste management.

System shall mean any equipment, vehicles, facilities, personnel, or contractors utilized for the purpose of collection, source separation, storage, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, or disposal of solid waste.

Yard waste shall mean grass and leaves.

It is the policy of this state:

(1) To encourage the development of integrated solid waste management programs, including waste volume reduction and recycling programs and education, at the local governmental level through incentives, technical assistance, grants, and other practical measures;

(2) To support and encourage the development of new uses and markets for recycled goods, placing emphasis on the development in Nebraska of businesses relating to waste reduction and recycling;

(3) To provide education concerning the components of integrated solid waste management, at the elementary level through the high school level and through community organizations, to enhance the success of local programs requiring public involvement;

(4) To support and encourage manufacturing methods which are environmentally sustainable, technologically safe, and ecologically sound and which enhance waste reduction by creating products which have longer usage life and which are adaptable to secondary uses through processes such as pyrolysis or biomass, require less input material, and decrease resource consumption; and

(5) To encourage uniform regulation of containers in order to avoid the burden on retailers of having to comply with varying regulatory policies in multiple jurisdictions.

(1) An effective and efficient program of integrated solid waste management protects the environment and the public and provides the most practical and beneficial use of the solid waste material. While recognizing the continuing necessity for the existence of landfills, alternative methods of managing solid waste and a reduction in the reliance upon land disposal of solid waste are encouraged. In the promotion of these goals, the following solid waste management hierarchy, in descending order of preference, is established as the integrated solid waste management policy of the state:

(a) Volume reduction at the source;

(b) Recycling, reuse, and vegetative waste composting;

(c) Land disposal;

(d) Incineration with energy resource recovery; and

(e) Incineration for volume reduction.

(2) In the implementation of the integrated solid waste management policy, the state shall establish and maintain a cooperative state and local program of project planning and technical assistance to encourage integrated solid waste management.

Because of the rights of both tribal sovereignty and Nebraska citizenship of individuals under the jurisdiction of federally recognized tribal governments, such tribal governments are recognized as localities which can assume responsibility for integrated solid waste management. The department shall present the state's comprehensive solid waste management plan completed pursuant to section 81-15,166 to the federally recognized tribal governments in Nebraska and encourage such tribes to adopt the state's laws, rules, regulations, and standards for integrated solid waste management.

(1) Effective October 1, 1993, each county and municipality shall provide or contract for facilities and systems as necessary for the safe and sanitary disposal of solid waste generated within its solid waste jurisdiction area. Such disposal shall comply with rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the council for integrated solid waste management programs.

(2) A county, municipality, or agency may jointly own, operate, or own and operate with any person any facility or system and may enter into cooperative agreements as necessary and appropriate for the ownership, operation, or ownership and operation of any facility or system.

(3) A county, municipality, or agency may, either alone or in combination with any other county, municipality, or agency, contract with any person to provide any service, facility, or system required by the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act.

(4) The governing body of a county, municipality, or agency may make all necessary rules and regulations governing the use, operation, and control of a facility or system. Such governing body may establish just and equitable rates or charges to be paid to it for the use of such facility or system by each person whose premises are served by the facility or system, including charges for late payments, except that no city of the metropolitan class shall impose any rate or charge upon individual residences unless a majority of those voting in a regular or special election vote affirmatively to approve or authorize establishment of such a rate or charge. For purposes of the charges authorized by this section, the premises are served if solid waste collection service is available to the premises or if a community solid waste drop-off location is provided, unless the person who would otherwise be subject to such rates or charges proves to the governing body of the county, municipality, or agency that his or her solid waste was lawfully collected and hauled to a permitted facility. Such proof shall be provided by a receipt from a permitted facility, a statement from a licensed hauler, or other documentation acceptable to the governing body of the county, municipality, or agency. If the service charge so established is not paid when due, such sum may be recovered by the county, municipality, or agency in a civil action or, following notice by regular United States mail to the last-known address of the property owner of record and an opportunity for a hearing, may be certified by the governing body of the county, municipality, or agency to the county treasurer and assessed against the premises served and collected or returned in the same manner as other taxes are certified, assessed, collected, and returned.

(5) If the county, municipality, or agency enters into a contract with a person to provide a facility or system, such contract may authorize the person to charge the owners of premises served such a service rate therefor as the governing body determines to be just and reasonable or the county, municipality, or agency may pay therefor out of its general fund or the proceeds of any tax levy applicable to the purposes of such contract or assess the owners of the premises served a reasonable charge therefor to be collected as provided in this section and paid into a fund to be used to defray such contract charges.

(1) For purposes of this section, elected official means a mayor or a member of a city council, village board of trustees, or county board.

(2) Beginning August 1, 2008, only elected officials who are members or alternate members of the governing body of a joint entity or joint public agency created pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act or the Joint Public Agency Act that provides services under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act are authorized to vote on whether a lien should be imposed on real property for nonpayment of rates and charges under subsection (4) of section 13-2020. Notwithstanding any other requirements for action by the governing body, a vote in favor of imposing such a lien by a majority of the members eligible to vote on whether a lien should be imposed is required to impose such a lien.

A county, municipality, or agency may purchase, plan, develop, construct, equip, maintain, and improve facilities and systems and may lease or acquire land in fee by gift, grant, purchase, or condemnation as necessary for the construction and operation of a facility or system. A county, municipality, or agency may also make and enter into contracts with any person for the planning, development, construction, maintenance, or operation of such facility or system or any part thereof. Measures adopted or enacted by municipalities with respect to any facility or system shall constitute measures subject to limited referendum under subsection (2) of section 18-2528, and a municipality shall be authorized to exempt all subsequent measures relating to the same project from referendum and limited referendum as provided under subsection (4) of such section.

A county, municipality, or agency shall close a facility, provide postclosure care, and undertake investigative and corrective action in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the council. The costs associated with or reasonably anticipated for such closure, postclosure care, and investigative and corrective action may be included within the rates and charges authorized by section 13-2020 and within the amounts payable under service agreements adopted pursuant to section 13-2024.

Every county, municipality, and agency may approve, execute, and deliver contractual agreements to assume financial responsibility for the payment of costs of closure, postclosure care, or investigative or corrective action with respect to any facility. Such agreements may provide for a binding general obligation of such county, municipality, or agency obligating payments in future years.

For the payment or performance of the terms of any such agreement, any county or municipality may agree to levy or cause to be levied an annual tax upon the taxable property within such county or municipality in an amount sufficient for such purposes. Any such tax shall for all purposes of Nebraska law, including limitations upon budget, revenue, and expenditures of public funds, have the same status as a tax levied for the purpose of paying the bonded indebtedness of such county or municipality.

Every county, municipality, and agency may also approve, execute, and deliver one or more trust agreements, with any bank having trust powers or a trust company, providing for the creation of one or more special trust funds to provide for the payment of costs of closure, postclosure care, or investigative or corrective action.

No county, municipality, or agency shall be required to provide proof of financial responsibility to obtain or renew a permit for a facility which is not used for disposal of solid waste.

(1) A county, municipality, or agency may, by ordinance or resolution, adopt regulations governing collection, source separation, storage, transportation, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of solid waste within its solid waste jurisdiction area as necessary to protect the public health and welfare and the environment. Regulations authorized by this section shall be equal to or more stringent than the provisions of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act and rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the council as authorized by the act. Any person who violates any such regulation shall be subject to a noncompliance fee not to exceed five hundred dollars.

(2) A county, municipality, or agency shall not adopt, enforce, or otherwise administer an ordinance or resolution that prohibits the use of or that sets standards, fees, prohibitions, or requirements regarding the sale, use, or marketing of containers. This subsection shall not apply to county, municipality, or agency recycling or solid waste collection programs, or restrict such programs from the environmental and lawful operation of program facilities and imposition of user fees at such facilities, except that in no event shall such programs prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting the sale, use, or marketing of any containers.

Notwithstanding any other provision of Nebraska law, any county or municipality may enter into a service agreement with an agency which owns and operates or proposes to own and operate any solid waste management facility or system for obtaining solid waste management services from such agency. Any such service agreement may provide for the following:

(1) The payment of fixed or variable periodic amounts for service or the right to obtain service;

(2) That such service agreement may extend for a term of years as determined by the governing body of the county or municipality and be binding upon such county or municipality over such term of years;

(3) That variable or fixed amounts payable under such contracts may be determined based upon one or more of the following factors:

(a) Operating and maintenance expenses of the agency, including contract renewal and replacement for plant and equipment;

(b) Amounts payable by the agency with respect to debt service on its bonds or other obligations, including margins of coverage if deemed appropriate; and

(c) Amounts necessary for the agency to build or maintain operating reserves, capital reserves, and debt service reserves;

(4) That any such service agreement may require payment to be made in the agreed fixed or variable amounts irrespective of whether such facility or system is completed or operational and notwithstanding any suspension, interruption, interference, reduction, or curtailment of the services of such facility or system; and

(5) Such other provisions as the agency and county or municipality deem appropriate in connection with providing and obtaining solid waste management services.

In order to provide for the payments due under any such service agreement, any county or municipality may pledge the revenue received from any and all rates and charges received or to be received from provision of solid waste management services or from contracts with any other persons or entities, private or public, and may further provide, if determined appropriate by the governing body, that any deficiency in such revenue may be made up from a special tax levied for such purpose upon all taxable property within such county or municipality, which special tax shall for all purposes of Nebraska law, including limitations upon budget, revenue, and expenditures of public funds, have the same status as a tax levied for the purpose of paying the bonded indebtedness of such county or municipality.

Any county, municipality, or agency entering into any service agreement under section 13-2024 shall fix, maintain, revise, and collect fees, rates, rents, and charges for functions, services, facilities, or commodities furnished to its customers and users by and through its system as will be sufficient to:

(1) Pay (a) the cost of operating and maintaining the system and renewals or replacements thereto, including all amounts due and payable under such service agreement, and (b) the interest on and principal of any outstanding bonds or other indebtedness of the county, municipality, or agency relative to the service agreement, whether at maturity or upon sinking-fund redemption, which are payable from the revenue of its system; and

(2) Provide, as may be required by any resolution, ordinance, trust indenture, security instrument, or other agreement of the agency, for any reasonable reserves for such operating and maintenance expenses and for any margins or coverages over and above debt service.

Any joint entity or joint public agency created to fulfill the purposes of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act or Joint Public Agency Act shall comply with the Municipal Proprietary Function Act for purposes of reporting its budgets. Proprietary budget statements for the joint entity or joint public agency shall be placed on file with the office of the municipal clerk of each member which is a municipality as required by the Municipal Proprietary Function Act and with the county clerk of each member which is a county.

In furtherance of the policy of the state as set forth in the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act, municipalities, counties, and agencies may by ordinance or resolution adopt rules and regulations or may adopt bylaws or enter into written agreements between and among themselves or other persons which regulate and govern solid waste management within their solid waste jurisdiction areas, including the establishment of conditions to assure that a specified amount and type of solid waste will be delivered to a specific facility.

In exercising the powers granted in the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act, municipalities, counties, and agencies shall be exempt from all rules and regulations of state regulatory competition. It is intended that municipalities, counties, or agencies carrying out the activities described in the act receive full exemption and immunity from state and federal antitrust laws in light of the public purpose and regulatory provisions provided by the act. The exemption granted pursuant to this section shall not be construed to diminish any other exemption for similar activities authorized through grants of authority to other public bodies even though such exemption may not be stated in terms of antitrust.

The exemption granted under section 13-2027 shall not constitute a waiver of or exemption from the bidding provisions of sections 16-321 and 17-568.01 or any other similar provision.

On or before October 1, 1992, each county and municipality shall file a statement of intent with the department describing the way in which it intends to fulfill its responsibility for integrated solid waste management. If a municipality or county intends to enter into a cooperative relationship with another entity to fulfill such responsibility, documentation of the reciprocal intent of those entities shall be included with the statement. If no statement of intent is filed by a municipality or county, the responsibility for integrated solid waste management shall remain with the nonfiling county or municipality.

On or before October 1, 1993, a certification shall be filed with the department on behalf of each county and municipality with respect to (1) facility and system capacity for solid waste management for the solid waste generated within each solid waste jurisdiction area and (2) facility and system capacity for solid waste generated outside of each solid waste jurisdiction area and disposed of in facilities within each solid waste jurisdiction area. If a county or municipality is unable to certify capacity for waste generated outside its solid waste jurisdiction area, it may restrict access to its facilities and systems for such solid waste. Such certification shall be approved by the department if it is found to be in compliance with the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act and the rules and regulations adopted under the act.

On or before October 1, 1994, an integrated solid waste management plan shall be filed with the department on behalf of each county and municipality. Such plan shall be approved by the department if it is found to be in compliance with the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act and the rules and regulations adopted under the act.

(1) Each integrated solid waste management plan filed pursuant to section 13-2031 shall at a minimum:

(a) Certify facility and system capacity for solid waste management for the solid waste generated within each solid waste jurisdiction area for the twenty years following October 1, 1994;

(b) Certify facility and system capacity for solid waste generated outside of each solid waste jurisdiction area and disposed of in facilities within each solid waste jurisdiction area for the twenty years following October 1, 1994. If a county or municipality is unable to certify capacity for waste generated outside its solid waste jurisdiction area, it may restrict access to its facilities and systems for such solid waste;

(c) Incorporate and reflect the waste management hierarchy of the state integrated solid waste management policy;

(d) State the extent to which solid waste generated within the area covered by the plan is or can be recycled;

(e) State the economic and technical feasibility of using other existing disposal facilities in lieu of initiating new disposal facilities or of continuing the use of disposal facilities in use at the time the plan is filed;

(f) State the expected environmental impact of alternative solid waste disposal methods, including the use of landfills;

(g) State a specific plan and schedule for implementing technically and economically feasible solid waste disposal methods that will result in minimal environmental impact; and

(h) State such additional information, data, and studies as may be required pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the council.

(2) The integrated solid waste management plan shall provide for a local waste reduction and recycling program. If technically and economically feasible, the volume of materials disposed of in landfills as of July 1, 1994, shall be reduced by twenty-five percent as of July 1, 1996, by forty percent as of July 1, 1999, and by fifty percent as of July 1, 2002. Any county, municipality, or agency which had in effect a recycling or waste reduction program prior to July 1, 1994, shall be credited with the waste-stream reduction achieved prior to July 1, 1994, with respect to the July 1, 1996, goal. The following wastes shall be given first priority when developing reduction and recycling programs and related timetables in relation to an integrated solid waste management plan:

(a) Yard wastes;

(b) Unregulated hazardous wastes, except household hazardous wastes, which are exempt from the regulations under the Environmental Protection Act;

(c) Discarded tires;

(d) Waste oil;

(e) Lead-acid batteries; and

(f) Discarded household appliances.

In addition, such plan shall provide a methodology for implementing a program of separation of wastes, including, but not limited to, glass, plastic, paper, and metal.

(3) The solid waste management plan shall be updated for compliance with federal and state laws and regulations as required by the department and may be updated, subject to approval by the department, at any time to reflect local needs and conditions.

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, no person shall dump or deposit any solid waste at any place other than a landfill approved by the director unless the department has granted a permit which allows the dumping or depositing of solid waste at any other facility. The council may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations regarding the permitting of this activity, which rules and regulations shall protect the public interest but may be based upon criteria less stringent than those regulating a landfill. The council may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations defining beneficial reuse and establishing construction standards and other criteria exempting from permit requirements under this section the following: (a) The use of dirt, stone, brick, or some inorganic compound for landfill, landscaping excavation, or grading purposes; (b) the placement of tires, posts, or ferrous objects, not contaminated with other wastes, for agricultural uses, such as bumpers on agricultural equipment, for ballast to maintain covers or structures on the agricultural site, for blowout stabilization, for fish habitat, or for tire mats for bank stabilization; or (c) such other waste placement or depositing activities that are found not to pose a threat to the public health or welfare. In developing construction standards, the council shall consider standards and practices established by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

(2) No person shall be found to be in violation of this section if (a) the solid waste generated by an individual is disposed of on such individual's property, (b) such property is outside the corporate limits of a municipality, and (c) the department determines that the county has not provided integrated solid waste management facilities for its residents.

(3) No person shall be found to be in violation of this section for storing five hundred or fewer passenger tire equivalents of waste tires. Storage of passenger tire equivalents of waste tires for more than one year without reuse, recycling, or shipment out of state is presumed to constitute disposal of solid waste under subsection (1) of this section. Speculative accumulation of more than five hundred passenger tire equivalents of waste tires shall be deemed disposal of solid waste and is prohibited. Tires are not accumulated speculatively if, in a calendar year beginning on January 1, the amount of tire material that is reused or recycled by weight equals at least seventy-five percent of such material at the beginning of the year. The burden of proof that passenger tire equivalents of waste tires have not been speculatively accumulated rests with the person accumulating the passenger tire equivalents of waste tires to demonstrate through written documentation that the passenger tire equivalents of waste tires have not been accumulated speculatively. Any person, business, or other entity engaged in the business of picking up, hauling, and transporting scrap tires for storage, processing, or recycling shall obtain a permit from the department before engaging in such activity. The council may adopt rules and regulations regarding such permits and may exempt from permit requirements those entities having involvement with scrap tires which is incidental to their primary business activity. Persons holding a permit on August 31, 2003, may continue to operate under such permits until new rules and regulations are established under this section. As a condition for obtaining a permit under this section, the department shall require the permittee to provide the department with an annual report indicating the number of scrap tires hauled, the location of the delivery of such scrap tires, and any additional information the council believes necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act.

(4) If necessary in the course of an investigation or inspection or during remedial or corrective action and if the owner of the subject property or the owner's agent has specifically denied access to the department for such purposes, the director may order the owner or owner's agent to grant access to such property for the performance of reasonable steps to determine the source and extent of contamination, for remediation, or for other corrective action, including drilling and removal of wastes. Access shall be by the department or by a person conducting the investigation, inspection, or remedial action at the direction of the department. The property shall be restored as nearly as possible to its original condition at the conclusion of the investigation, inspection, or remedial action.

The council shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations which shall include the following:

(1) A permit program for facilities providing for permits to be issued to owners and operators;

(2) Requirements for the collection, source separation, storage, transportation, transfer, processing, recycling, resource recovery, treatment, and disposal of solid wastes as well as developmental and operational plans for facilities. Regulations concerning operations may include waste characterization, composition, and source identification, site improvements, air and methane gas monitoring, ground water and surface water monitoring, daily cover, insect and rodent control, salvage operations, waste tire disposal, safety and restricted access, inspection of loads and any other necessary inspection or verification requirements, reporting of monitoring analysis, record-keeping requirements and other reporting requirements, handling and disposal of wastes with special characteristics, and any other operational criteria, location criteria, or design criteria necessary to minimize environmental and health risks and to provide protection of the air, land, and waters of the state; and

(3) Requirements for closure, postclosure care and monitoring, and investigative and corrective action with respect to landfills. Such rules and regulations shall require financial assurance for such activities after April 9, 1996. Such rules and regulations shall impose any necessary requirements upon owners or operators in order to assure proper closure, care, monitoring, and investigative and corrective action with respect to landfills to minimize the need for future maintenance and eliminate, to the extent necessary to protect humans, animals, and the environment, releases or the threat of releases of contaminants or leachate.

Any applicant who applies to the department for a permit for a facility pursuant to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act shall be exempt from the siting approval requirements of sections 13-1701 to 13-1714 if a county, municipality, or agency is to be the owner of the facility and the facility is to be located in a county the unincorporated areas of which are among the areas to be served by such facility or the facility is to be located in the county of a municipality to be served by such facility if such facility will not serve unincorporated areas of a county.

The application of such county, municipality, or agency shall show that the applicant:

(1) Has considered the siting, operational, and traffic criteria established by section 13-1703;

(2) Has given notice of the proposed siting pursuant to the procedures established by section 13-1704;

(3) Has conducted a public hearing regarding the proposed siting preceded by published notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipality in which the proposed facility is to be located; and

(4) Has submitted a record of such hearing with its application to the department.

(1) The department shall review applications for permits for facilities and provide for the issuance, modification, suspension, denial, or revocation of permits after public notice. Applications shall be on forms provided by the department which solicit information necessary to make a determination on the application. The department shall issue public notice of its intent to grant or deny an application for a permit within sixty days after receipt of an application containing all required information. If an application is granted and the permit is issued or modified, any aggrieved person may file a petition for a contested case with the department within thirty days after the granting or modification of the permit, but such petition shall not act as a stay of the permit. If an application is denied, the department shall provide written rationale therefor to the applicant. Any change, modification, or other deviation from the terms or conditions of an approved permit must be approved by the director prior to implementation. Minor modifications described in subsection (5) of this section shall not require public notice or hearing.

(2) The department shall condition the issuance of permits on terms necessary to protect the public health and welfare and the environment as well as compliance with all applicable regulations. Any applicant may apply to the department for a variance from rules and regulations. The director may grant such variance if he or she finds that the public health and welfare will not be endangered or that compliance with the rules or regulations from which variance is sought would produce serious hardship without equal or greater benefits to the public. The considerations, procedures, conditions, and limitations set forth in section 81-1513 shall apply to any variance granted pursuant to this section.

(3) The director shall require the owner or operator of a facility to undertake investigation and corrective action in the event of contamination or a threat of contamination caused by the facility. Financial assurance for investigative or corrective action may be required in an amount determined by the director following notice and hearing.

(4) In addition to the information required by this section, the following specific areas shall be addressed in detail in any application filed in conjunction with the issuance, renewal, or reissuance of a permit for a facility:

(a) A closure and postclosure plan detailing the schedule for and the methods by which the operator will meet the conditions for proper closure and postclosure of the facility as defined by the council. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, the proposed frequency and types of actions to be implemented prior to and following closure of an operation, the proposed postclosure actions to be taken to return the area to a condition suitable for other uses, and an estimate of the costs of closure and postclosure and the proposed method of meeting the costs;

(b) A plan for the control and treatment of leachate, including financial considerations proposed in meeting the costs of such control and treatment; and

(c) An emergency response and remedial action plan, including provisions to minimize the possibility of fire, explosion, or any release to air, land, or water of pollutants that could threaten human health and the environment and the identification of possible occurrences that may endanger human health and environment.

(5) If such application is modified after approval by the department, the application shall be resubmitted as a new proposal. The director may approve a minor modification of an application if he or she finds that the public health and welfare will not be endangered. The following minor modifications to an application are subject to departmental approval but do not require public notice or hearing:

(a) Correction of typographical errors;

(b) Change of name, address, or telephone number of persons or agencies identified in the application;

(c) Administrative or informational changes;

(d) Changes in procedures for maintaining operating records;

(e) Changes to provide for more frequent monitoring, reporting, sampling, or maintenance;

(f) Request for a compliance date extension if such date is not more than one hundred twenty days after the date specified in the approved permit;

(g) Adjustments to the cost estimates or the financial assurance instrument for inflation;

(h) Changes in the closure schedule for a unit or in the final closure schedule for the facility or an extension of the closure schedule;

(i) Changes to the days or hours of operation if the hours of operation are within the period from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.;

(j) Changes to the facility contingency plan;

(k) Changes which improve sampling or analysis methods, procedures, or schedules;

(l) Changes in quality control or quality assurance plans which will better ensure that the specifications for construction, closure, sampling, or analysis will be met;

(m) Changes in the facility plan of operation which conform to guidance or rules approved by the Environmental Quality Council or provide more efficient waste handling or more effective waste screening; or

(n) Replacement of an existing monitoring well with a new well if location is not changed.

(1) The department shall keep current the comprehensive state plan for solid waste management developed pursuant to section 81-15,166, including the rules, regulations, and guidelines adopted by the council for facilities in cooperation with local governments and with agencies.

(2) Rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the council shall comply with rules and regulations promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq., including the exemptions and deadlines provided for in 40 C.F.R. 258.1.

(3) The department shall apply for approval to the Environmental Protection Agency to attain an approved state program for solid waste management.

The council shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations which define lead-acid batteries, discarded household appliances, waste oil, and unregulated hazardous wastes, except household hazardous wastes, which are exempt from the regulations under the Environmental Protection Act.

(1)(a) A landfill may accept yard waste without condition from December 1 through March 31 of each year.

(b) A landfill may accept yard waste year-round if such yard waste:

(i) Will be used for the production and recovery of methane gas for use as fuel (A) with the approval of the department and (B) at a landfill operating as a solid waste management facility with a permit issued pursuant to the department's rules and regulations; or

(ii) Has been separated at its source from other solid waste and will be used for the purpose of soil conditioning or composting.

(c) State and local governmental entities responsible for the maintenance of public lands shall give preference to the use of composted materials in all land maintenance activities. This section does not prohibit the use of yard waste as land cover or as soil-conditioning material.

(2) Land disposal of lead-acid batteries and waste oil is prohibited.

(3)(a) Land disposal of waste tires in any form is prohibited except tires that are nonrecyclable. For purposes of this subsection, nonrecyclable tire means a press-on solid tire, a solid pneumatic shaped tire, or a foam pneumatic tire.

(b) On and after September 1, 2003, placing or causing the placement or disposal of scrap tires in any form into the waters of the state is prohibited except as provided in section 13-2033.

(c) Tires are not considered disposed if they are (i) processed into crumb rubber form and reused or recycled in manufactured products such as, but not limited to, products used for schools, playgrounds, and residential, lawn, and garden applications, (ii) used as safety barriers for race courses for motorized vehicles, on the condition that the tires are bolted together and properly wrapped, and not in loose, compressed, or baled form, (iii) used as tire-derived fuel, (iv) retreaded, (v) processed into chip or shred form and used as drainage media in landfill construction or septic drain fields, (vi) used as a raw material in steelmaking, or (vii) processed into shred form and used as an alternative daily cover in a landfill or for a civil engineering project if such project is designed and constructed in compliance with the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act and prior approval for such project is obtained from the department by the tire shredder and the end user, except that departmental approval is not necessary for a tire project involving three thousand five hundred or fewer passenger tire equivalents of waste tires if the department receives notification of the project not later than thirty days prior to any construction on such project. The notification shall contain the name and address of the tire shredder and end user, the location of the project, a description of the type of project, the number of passenger tire equivalents of waste tires to be used, and any additional information the council determines is necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act.

A race sponsor using tires as safety barriers pursuant to subdivision (3)(c)(ii) of this section prior to October 1, 2006, shall file an approved tire disposal plan with the department on or before January 1, 2007. A race sponsor using tires as safety barriers on or after October 1, 2006, shall file an approved tire disposal plan with the department prior to the sponsor's first such use of tires. An approved tire disposal plan shall provide for the disposal of tires which cease to be used as safety barriers in accordance with subsection (3) of section 13-2033, and any such race sponsor who ceases to use tires as safety barriers or whose facility ceases operation shall dispose of such tires in accordance with his or her approved tire disposal plan. Any modification to an approved tire disposal plan shall be submitted to and approved by the department prior to implementation of such modified plan. An approved tire disposal plan shall continue in effect as long as such sponsor uses tires as safety barriers.

(4) Land disposal of discarded household appliances is prohibited.

(5) Land disposal of unregulated hazardous wastes, except household hazardous wastes, which are exempt from the regulations under the Environmental Protection Act is prohibited unless such disposal occurs at a licensed hazardous waste disposal facility.

(6) For purposes of this section, land disposal shall include, but not be limited to, incineration at a landfill.

The department shall review all licenses for solid waste management facilities which were issued under the Environmental Protection Act prior to July 15, 1992, and which expire after October 1, 1993, to determine whether the licensee is in compliance with the requirements of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the council.

The department may require such licensee to furnish written documentation evidencing compliance. If the department determines that the licensee is not in compliance with the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the council, the department may issue an amended permit as necessary to bring the licensee into compliance with these provisions.

All licenses for solid waste management facilities issued under the Environmental Protection Act prior to July 15, 1992, shall expire at the stated date of expiration if such expiration date is before October 1, 1993, except that the department may extend such licenses to continue until October 1, 1993, if it finds that the facility remains in compliance with the Environmental Protection Act and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder by the council prior to July 15, 1992.

Permits for solid waste processing facilities, as defined in rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the council, issued pursuant to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act shall expire not more than ten years following the date of issuance, as determined by the department. Permits may be renewed only if the department determines, upon application, that the permitholder is in compliance with all requirements of the act.

Permits for solid waste disposal areas, as defined in rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the council, issued pursuant to the act shall expire not more than five years following the date of issuance as determined by the department. Permits may be renewed only if the department determines, upon application, that the permitholder is in compliance with all requirements of the act.

There is hereby created the Integrated Solid Waste Management Cash Fund. All fees collected by the department pursuant to this section or fees designated pursuant to section 13-2042 or money forfeited under subsection (21) of section 81-1505 shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the fund. Forfeited funds may only be used for purposes specified in the underlying financial assurance instrument. Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

The council shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations establishing a fee schedule to be paid to the department by persons applying for a permit to operate a facility pursuant to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act or the Environmental Protection Act. Payment shall be made in full to the department before the application is processed.

By October 1 of each year, any person holding a permit under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act or to operate a solid waste management facility under the Environmental Protection Act shall pay an annual fee in an amount to be determined by the council. The annual fee shall be sufficient to cover the costs of ongoing permit considerations. The fees collected pursuant to this section shall not exceed the amount necessary to pay reasonable costs of administering the permit program pursuant to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act or the Environmental Protection Act.

The State Treasurer shall transfer one million three hundred eighty-four thousand four hundred eighty-four dollars from the Integrated Solid Waste Management Cash Fund to the Superfund Cost Share Cash Fund on or before June 1, 2006.

(1) A disposal fee of one dollar and twenty-five cents is imposed for each six cubic yards of uncompacted solid waste, one dollar and twenty-five cents for each three cubic yards of compacted solid waste, or one dollar and twenty-five cents per ton of solid waste (a) disposed of at landfills regulated by the department or (b) transported for disposal out of state from a solid waste processing facility holding a permit under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act. Each operator of a landfill or solid waste processing facility shall make the fee payment quarterly. The fee shall be paid quarterly to the department on or before the forty-fifth day following the end of each quarter. For purposes of this section, landfill has the same definition as municipal solid waste landfill unit in 40 C.F.R. 258.2.

(2) Each fee payment shall be accompanied by a form prepared and furnished by the department and completed by the permitholder. The form shall state the total volume of solid waste disposed of at the landfill or transported for disposal out of state from the solid waste processing facility during the payment period and shall provide any other information deemed necessary by the department. The form shall be signed by the permitholder.

(3) If a permitholder fails to make a timely payment of the fee, he or she shall pay interest on the unpaid amount at the rate specified in section 45-104.02, as such rate may from time to time be adjusted.

(4) This section shall not apply to a site used solely for the reclamation of land through the introduction of landscaping rubble or inert material.

(5) Fifty percent of the total of such fees collected in each quarter shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Cash Fund and shall be used by the department to cover the direct and indirect costs of responding to spills or other environmental emergencies, of regulating, investigating, remediating, and monitoring facilities during and after operation of facilities, or of performance of regulated activities under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act, the Nebraska Litter Reduction and Recycling Act, and the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Act. The department may seek recovery of expenses paid from the fund for responding to spills or other environmental emergencies or for investigation, remediation, and monitoring of a facility from any person who owned, operated, or used the facility in violation of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act, the Nebraska Litter Reduction and Recycling Act, and the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Act in a civil action filed in the district court of Lancaster County.

(6)(a) The remaining fifty percent of the total of such fees collected per quarter shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Fund. For purposes of determining the total fees collected, any amount of fees rebated pursuant to section 13-2042.01 shall be included as if the fees had not been rebated, and the amount of the fees rebated pursuant to such section shall be deducted from the amount to be credited to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Fund.

(b) From the fees credited to the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Fund under this subsection:

(i) Grants shall be awarded to counties, municipalities, and agencies for the purposes of planning and implementing facilities and systems to further the goals of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act. The grant proceeds shall not be used to fund landfill closure site assessments, closure, monitoring, or investigative or corrective action costs for existing landfills or landfills already closed prior to July 15, 1992. The council shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this subdivision. Such rules and regulations shall base the awarding of grants on a project's reflection of the integrated solid waste management policy and hierarchy established in section 13-2018, the proposed amount of local matching funds, and community need; and

(ii) The department may disburse amounts to political subdivisions for costs incurred in response to and remediation of any solid waste disposed of or abandoned at dump sites or discrete locations along public roadways or ditches and on any contiguous area affected by such disposal or abandonment. Such reimbursement shall be by application to the department on forms prescribed by the department. The department shall prepare and make available a schedule of eligible costs and application procedures which may include a requirement of a demonstration of preventive measures to be taken to discourage future dumping. The department may not disburse to political subdivisions an amount which in the aggregate exceeds five percent of total revenue from the disposal fees collected pursuant to this section in the preceding fiscal year. These disbursements shall be made on a fiscal-year basis, and applications received after funds for this purpose have been exhausted may be eligible during the next fiscal year but are not an obligation of the state. Any eligible costs incurred by a political subdivision which are not funded due to a lack of funds shall not be considered an obligation of the state. In disbursing funds under this subdivision, the director shall make efforts to ensure equal geographical distribution throughout the state and may deny reimbursements in order to accomplish this goal.

(1) The Department of Environment and Energy shall rebate to the municipality or county of origin ten cents of the disposal fee required by section 13-2042 for solid waste disposed of at landfills regulated by the department or transported for disposal out of state from a solid waste processing facility holding a permit under the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act and when such solid waste originated in a municipality or county with a purchasing policy approved by the department. The fee shall be rebated on a schedule agreed upon between the municipality or county and the department. The schedule shall be no more often than quarterly and no less often than annually.

(2) Any municipality or county may apply to the department for the rebate authorized in subsection (1) of this section if the municipality or county has a written purchasing policy in effect requiring a preference for purchasing products, materials, or supplies which are manufactured or produced from recycled material. The policy shall provide that the preference shall not operate when it would result in the purchase of products, materials, or supplies which are of inadequate quality as determined by the municipality or county. Upon receipt of an application, the Department of Environment and Energy shall submit the application to the materiel division of the Department of Administrative Services for review. The materiel division shall review the application for compliance with this section and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section and to determine the probable effectiveness in assuring that a preference is given to products, materials, or supplies which are manufactured or produced from recycled material. The materiel division shall provide a report of its findings to the Department of Environment and Energy within thirty days after receiving the review request. The Department of Environment and Energy shall approve the application or suggest modifications to the application within sixty days after receiving the application based on the materiel division's report, any analysis by the Department of Environment and Energy, and any factors affecting compliance with this section or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section.

(3) A municipality or county shall file a report complying with the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section with the Department of Environment and Energy before April 1 of each year documenting purchasing practices for the past calendar year in order to continue receiving the rebate. The report shall include, but not be limited to, quantities of products, materials, or supplies purchased which were manufactured or produced from recycled material. The department shall provide copies of each report to the materiel division in a timely manner. If the department determines that a municipality or county is not following the purchasing policy presented in the approved application or that the purchasing policy presented in the approved application is not effective in assuring that a preference is given to products, materials, or supplies which are manufactured or produced from recycled material, the department shall suspend the rebate until it determines that the municipality or county is giving a preference to products, materials, or supplies which are manufactured or produced from recycled material pursuant to a written purchasing policy approved by the department subsequent to the suspension. The materiel division may make recommendations to the department regarding suspensions and reinstatements of rebates. The Department of Administrative Services may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations establishing procedures for reviewing applications and for annual reports.

(4) Any suspension of the rebate or denial of an application made under this section may be appealed. The appeal shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

(5) The council shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations establishing criteria for application procedures, for accepting and denying applications, for required reports, and for suspending and reinstating the rebate. The materiel division shall recommend to the council criteria for accepting and denying applications and for suspending and reinstating the rebate. The materiel division may make other recommendations to the council regarding rules and regulations authorized under this section.

Nothing in the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act shall be construed to apply to any operations or activities regulated by the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission or to operations or activities regulated under subsection (10) of section 81-1505.

The Legislature finds that:

(1) There exist in this state distressed areas where unemployment is higher than the state or national average, where poverty levels are higher than the state or national average, where the population is declining, where property is being abandoned, and where other forms of economic distress are occurring which adversely affect the general welfare of the people of this state;

(2) Such unemployment and other problems cause the distressed areas of the state to deteriorate and become substandard and blighted, making the areas economic or social liabilities which are harmful to the social and economic well-being of the state and the counties and communities in which they exist. Such distressed areas cause a needless increase in public expenditures, impose an onerous burden on the state and its political subdivisions, decrease the tax base, reduce tax revenue, substantially impair or arrest the sound growth of the state and its political subdivisions, depreciate general statewide and community-wide values, and contribute to the spread of disease and crime. This in turn necessitates excessive and disproportionate expenditures of public funds for the preservation of the public health and safety, for crime prevention, correction, prosecution, and punishment, for the treatment of juvenile delinquency, for the maintenance of adequate police, fire, and accident protection, and for other public services and facilities;

(3) From time to time, various communities in the state suffer extensive economic distress from the loss of a major employer in the area or from a major cut-back in employment by such an employer resulting in high local unemployment and threatening the economic balance of the community if not its continued existence; and

(4) Stimulation of economic development in the distressed areas is a matter of state policy, public interest, and concern and is within the power and authority inherent in and reserved to the state. Economic development is needed to insure that the state will not continue to be endangered by areas which consume an excessive proportion of revenue and that the economic base of the state may be broadened and stabilized by providing jobs and increasing the tax base.

Sections 13-2101 to 13-2112 shall be known and may be cited as the Enterprise Zone Act.

For purposes of the Enterprise Zone Act:

(1) Census shall mean the federal decennial census;

(2) Department shall mean the Department of Economic Development;

(3) Economic distress shall mean conditions of unemployment, poverty, and declining population existing within the area of a proposed enterprise zone considered in the stated order as an order of priority from most to least significant;

(4) Enterprise zone or zone shall mean an area which is at least one but no more than sixteen square miles in total area composed of one or more discrete areas which have a combined total resident population of not less than two hundred fifty persons. If it is composed of more than one discrete area, each separate area must meet the eligibility criteria established by this subdivision and (a) must be no more than five miles from another area if the zone is located within a city of the metropolitan or primary class, (b) must be located within the same county if the zone is located outside of the boundaries of a city of the metropolitan or primary class, or (c) must be located within the boundaries of the applying political subdivisions if the application for zone designation is made jointly by counties or tribal government areas pursuant to subsection (4) of section 13-2103. No area or portion of an area located in a city of the metropolitan or primary class shall include any portion of a central business district. For purposes of this subdivision, central business district shall mean an area comprised of a high concentration of office, service, financial, lodging, entertainment, and retail businesses and government facilities and possessing a high traffic flow or an area composed of one or more complete federal census tracts defined as a central business district by the United States Bureau of the Census.

To qualify as an enterprise zone under this subdivision (4), such area must meet at least two of the following three criteria as measured by data from the United States Bureau of the Census:

(i) Population in the area or within a reasonable proximity to the area has decreased by at least ten percent between the date of the most recent census and the date of the immediately preceding census;

(ii) The average rate of unemployment in the area or within a reasonable proximity to the area is at least two hundred percent of the average rate of unemployment in the state during the same period covered by the most recent census or American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate; or

(iii) The average poverty rate in the area exceeds twenty percent for the total federal census tract or tracts or federal census block group or block groups in the area or within a reasonable proximity to the area when the area is located within the legal boundaries of a city of the metropolitan or primary class or the average poverty rate in the area exceeds twenty percent for the total federal census tract or tracts or federal census block group or block groups which encompass the legal boundaries of a city of the first class, city of the second class, village, or tribal government area when the area is located in such political subdivision.

For purposes of this subdivision (4), reasonable proximity shall refer to the federal census tracts or federal census block groups which either in whole or in part are within the boundaries of any portion of the proposed zone;

(5) Political subdivision shall mean any incorporated village, city, county, or tribal government area; and

(6) Tribal government area shall mean (a) that portion of Knox County under the jurisdiction of the Santee Sioux Tribe, (b) that portion of Thurston County under the jurisdiction of the Omaha Tribe, and (c) that portion of Thurston County under the jurisdiction of the Winnebago Tribe.

(1)(a) Beginning on December 1, 2014, the department shall, for a period of one hundred eighty days, accept formal applications for the designation of enterprise zones. Within sixty days after the end of such application period, the department may designate not more than five areas as enterprise zones based on eligible applications it has received.

(b) If the department has received fewer than five applications for the designation of enterprise zones after the end of the application period described in subdivision (1)(a) of this section, the department may establish a period of time within which to accept additional applications. Within sixty days after the end of such extended application period, the department may designate additional areas as enterprise zones based on additional eligible applications received, but not more than a total of five areas may be designated as enterprise zones pursuant to this section.

(c) In the application period, the department may reject from consideration any application which does not fully and completely comport with the provisions of section 13-2104 at the end of the designated application period. In choosing among eligible applications for enterprise zone designation, the department shall consider the levels of distress existing within the applicant areas and the contents of the applicant's formal enterprise zone application.

(d) Each area designated as an enterprise zone shall meet all eligibility criteria. Of the enterprise zones authorized, no more than one shall be located inside the boundaries of a city of the metropolitan class and no more than one inside a city of the primary class.

(2) Any city, village, tribal government area, or county may apply for designation of an area within such city, village, tribal government area, or county as an enterprise zone, except that if a county seeks to have an area within an incorporated city or village or a tribal government area designated as an enterprise zone, the consent of the governing body of such city, village, or tribal government area shall first be required.

(3) If an incorporated city or village or a tribal government area consents, a county may apply on behalf of the city, village, or tribal government area for certification of an area within such city, village, or tribal government area as an enterprise zone. Both a county and a city, village, or tribal government area shall not apply for certification of the same area.

(4) Two or more counties or tribal government areas may jointly apply for designation of an area as an enterprise zone which is located on both sides of their common boundaries.

(5) Political subdivisions wishing to file an application for designation of an enterprise zone shall first follow the procedures set out in sections 13-2106 to 13-2108. An application for designation as an enterprise zone shall be in a form and contain information prescribed by the department pursuant to section 13-2104.

(6) An area designated as an enterprise zone shall retain such designation for a period of ten years from the date of such designation.

(7) All enterprise zones designated as such within a single county shall not exceed a total of sixteen square miles in area.

An application for designation of an area as an enterprise zone shall contain at least the following:

(1) A description of the geographic location of the proposed zone;

(2) Documentation that the area of the proposed enterprise zone represents the area with the greatest level of economic distress within the boundaries of the applying political subdivision;

(3) An enterprise zone economic development plan containing goals, objectives, and a description of current and new actions to be undertaken to encourage private investment in the area, including: (a) Job training to be provided to new and existing businesses in the zone and to unemployed and displaced worker residents; (b) the provision of technical assistance to businesses in the zone, such as management training, marketing assistance, engineering or technology assistance, and business plan preparation; (c) efforts to be made to assure the safety of businesses and employees in the zone; (d) efforts to be made to market the zone to new and existing businesses as an appropriate place for location or expansion; (e) infrastructure investments to be made to lead to economic development; and (f) organizational structures to be created and processes to be undertaken which will lead toward economic development;

(4) A plan to insure that resources are available to assist residents of the area with self-help development;

(5) A description of any projected positive or negative effects of designation of the area as an enterprise zone;

(6) A plan to provide assistance to persons or businesses displaced as a result of zone activity;

(7) Documentation of substantial commitments to be made by the private sector of resources and contributions to the operation or development of the zone;

(8) Documentation that the requirements in sections 13-2106 to 13-2108 have been completed;

(9) Cities of the metropolitan, primary, and first classes shall provide documentation of the commitment of funds for expenditure in the proposed enterprise zone during the first three years of its existence if it is designated an enterprise zone by the department. Such funds shall be for the purpose of directly or indirectly assisting or enabling businesses to locate or expand existing operations within the area of the proposed enterprise zone. The funds to be committed and expended shall be from revenue of the city or any other local political subdivision, from private nongovernmental sources, or from any other nonstate government sources. For cities of the metropolitan and primary classes, such commitments from all permitted sources shall not be less than five hundred thousand dollars. For cities of the first class, such commitments from all permitted sources shall not be less than one hundred thousand dollars. No application for enterprise zone designation from a city of the metropolitan, primary, or first class shall be approved until commitments at the level designated have been documented to the department;

(10) Counties, tribal governments, cities of the second class, and villages shall document commitments to be made from private sector sources of resources and funds for the operation and development of the enterprise zone and commitments by the applicant and other local political subdivisions of local revenue and other nonstate government resources to encourage economic development in the area. Such commitments of funds shall be consistent with local government capabilities to raise additional funds from local sources and shall reflect the applicant's commitment to the proposed enterprise zone. If a county is making an application for designation of an area located in whole or in part within the boundaries of a city of the metropolitan, primary, or first class, the county shall provide documentation of the commitment of funds for expenditure in the proposed enterprise zone as provided in subdivision (9) of this section as if the application were being made by the city; and

(11) A description of any actions to be taken with regard to the removal, reduction, or simplification of any resolutions, regulations, ordinances, fees, or other items pursuant to the authority granted by section 13-2111.

The Governor shall provide a state government interagency response team to work with local governments and enterprise zone associations on effective ways to use new and existing resources from all levels of government to improve development capacity in enterprise zones and accomplish the purposes of the Enterprise Zone Act.

A city council, village board, county board, or tribal government may propose the creation of one or more enterprise zones by adopting a resolution of intention to establish a zone or zones. The resolution shall contain a description of the boundaries of the zone or zones, the time and place of a hearing to be held by the city council, village board, county board, or tribal government, a basic summary of the information to be provided to the department as specified in section 13-2104, and such other additional information as the proposing body may desire to include.

Any city council, village board, county board, or tribal government proposing to create an enterprise zone or zones shall hold a public hearing on the question. A notice of the hearing shall be given by one publication of the resolution of intention in a newspaper of general circulation in the city, village, county, or tribal government area at least ten days prior to the hearing.

Following the public hearing held pursuant to section 13-2107, the city council, village board, county board, or tribal government may vote to make formal application to the department for the creation of an enterprise zone or zones and take any additional appropriate action with regard to the creation of such zone or zones.

(1) There shall be created an enterprise zone association within each proposed enterprise zone upon the decision by the political subdivision to submit an enterprise zone application. Such enterprise zone association shall be governed by an enterprise zone association board which shall consist of seven members. The initial members of the board shall be appointed by the mayor of the city or village with the approval of the city council or village board, by the county board, or by the tribal chairperson. The city council, village board, county board, or tribal government shall establish the length of the terms and shall establish staggered terms so that no more than four members of the enterprise zone association board shall be appointed in any one-year period.

(2) The city council, village board, county board, or tribal government shall, by majority vote, nominate candidates and appoint from the candidates qualified persons to fill each vacant, open, or opening seat on the enterprise zone association board. A member of the enterprise zone association board, not otherwise disqualified, whose term of office has ended shall continue to serve as a member of the board until his or her successor is properly qualified and appointed.

(3) Vacancies on the enterprise zone association board shall be filled in the same manner as provided for appointments other than initial appointments, and such members shall serve for the balance of the unexpired terms. A board member may serve more than one term. Any board member appointed as a resident of the area constituting the enterprise zone shall cease to be a member of the enterprise zone association board at such time as he or she ceases to be a resident within the area constituting the zone, and at such time his or her seat shall be vacant.

(4) The enterprise zone association board shall select its own officers and may exercise such other additional powers and authority as may be granted it by the department or the city, village, county, or tribal government. The presence of at least four members of the enterprise zone association board shall be necessary to transact any business.

(5) Individuals chosen to serve as members of the enterprise zone association board shall include property owners, business operators, and users of space within the area of the enterprise zone as well as individuals representing groups or organizations with an interest in furthering the purposes and goals of the enterprise zone. Not less than two-thirds of the members of the enterprise zone association board shall be residents of the area constituting the enterprise zone. For purposes of this section, residents of the area constituting the enterprise zone shall be construed to include those persons residing within a county in which an enterprise zone is located when the enterprise zone is not located in a city of the primary or metropolitan class.

(6) The city, village, county, or tribal government establishing the enterprise zone association shall provide appropriate staff assistance and support to the association.

(7) If an applicant for designation as an enterprise zone does not receive such designation, the association of such applicant shall be dissolved.

(1) An enterprise zone association created pursuant to section 13-2109 shall:

(a) Approve the application to be submitted by the political subdivision to the department for enterprise zone designation;

(b) Promote the enterprise zone to outside groups and individuals;

(c) Establish a formal line of communication with residents and businesses in the enterprise zone;

(d) Act as a liaison between residents, businesses, and the city, village, county, or tribal government for any development activity that may affect the enterprise zone or zone residents; and

(e) By majority vote of the full enterprise zone association board:

(i) Approve the acceptance by the city, village, county, or tribal government of any state or federal grant or loan for the enterprise zone;

(ii) Approve the purposes for and the conditions surrounding such grants or loans;

(iii) Approve any expenditures of funds by the city, village, county, or tribal government which are to be made for the purpose of complying with the Enterprise Zone Act; and

(iv) Approve the appointment of any staff member designated to work exclusively with the enterprise zone association board.

The city council, village board, county board, or tribal government shall not act affirmatively with regard to any matter requiring the approval of the enterprise zone association board until such time as it has received the approval of the enterprise zone association board.

(2) An enterprise zone association may:

(a) Initiate and coordinate any community development activities that aid in the employment of enterprise zone residents, improve the physical environment, or encourage the turnover or retention of capital in the enterprise zone. Such additional activities may include recommendations to the city, village, county, or tribal government and the department; and

(b) Make recommendations to the city, village, county, tribal government, state agency, or other political subdivision for the establishment of a plan or plans for public improvements or programs.

In order to accomplish the purposes of the Enterprise Zone Act, any political subdivision may remove, reduce, or simplify, in whole or in part, the provisions of any resolution, regulation, or ordinance relating to fees or administrative or procedural requirements as they relate to enterprise zones or entities or persons within the boundaries of an enterprise zone, except that such removal, reduction, or simplification shall not occur unless there is a finding by the political subdivision that the proposed action would not endanger the health or safety of the public.

The department may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the Enterprise Zone Act.

Sections 13-2201 to 13-2204 shall be known and may be cited as the Local Government Miscellaneous Expenditure Act.

For purposes of the Local Government Miscellaneous Expenditure Act:

(1) Elected and appointed officials and employees shall mean the elected and appointed officials and employees of any local government;

(2) Governing body shall mean, in the case of a city of any class, the city council; in the case of a village, cemetery district, community hospital for two or more adjoining counties, county hospital, road improvement district, sanitary drainage district, or sanitary and improvement district, the board of trustees; in the case of a county, the county board; in the case of a municipal county, the council; in the case of a township, the town board; in the case of a school district, the school board; in the case of a rural or suburban fire protection district, reclamation district, natural resources district, regional metropolitan transit authority, or hospital district, the board of directors; in the case of a health district, the board of health; in the case of an educational service unit, the board; in the case of a community college, the Community College Board of Governors for the area the board serves; in the case of an airport authority, the airport authority board; in the case of a weed control authority, the board; in the case of a county agricultural society, the board of governors; and in the case of a learning community, the learning community coordinating council;

(3) Local government shall mean cities of any class, villages, cemetery districts, community hospitals for two or more adjoining counties, county hospitals, road improvement districts, counties, townships, sanitary drainage districts, sanitary and improvement districts, school districts, rural or suburban fire protection districts, reclamation districts, natural resources districts, regional metropolitan transit authorities, hospital districts, health districts, educational service units, community colleges, airport authorities, weed control authorities, county agricultural societies, and learning communities;

(4) Public funds shall mean such public funds as defined in section 13-503 as are under the direct control of governing bodies of local governments;

(5) Public meeting shall mean all regular, special, or called meetings, formal or informal, of any governing body for the purposes of briefing, discussion of public business, formation of tentative policy, or the taking of any action of the governing body; and

(6) Volunteer shall mean a person who is not an elected or appointed official or an employee of a local government and who, at the request or with the permission of the local government, engages in activities related to the purposes or functions of the local government or for its general benefit.

In addition to other expenditures authorized by law, each governing body may approve:

(1)(a) The expenditure of public funds for the payment or reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses incurred by elected and appointed officials, employees, or volunteers at educational workshops, conferences, training programs, official functions, hearings, or meetings, whether incurred within or outside the boundaries of the local government, if the governing body gave prior approval for participation or attendance at the event and for payment or reimbursement either by the formal adoption of a uniform policy or by a formal vote of the governing body. Authorized expenses may include:

(i) Registration costs, tuition costs, fees, or charges;

(ii) Mileage at the rate allowed by section 81-1176 for travel by personal automobile, but if travel by rental vehicle or commercial or charter means is economical and practical, then authorized expenses shall include only the actual cost of the rental vehicle or commercial or charter means. The governing body may establish different mileage rates based on whether the personal automobile usage is at the convenience of the local government or at the convenience of the local government's elected or appointed official, employee, or volunteer; and

(iii) Meals and lodging at a rate not exceeding the applicable federal rate unless a fully itemized claim is submitted substantiating the costs actually incurred in excess of such rate and such additional expenses are expressly approved by the governing body; and

(b) Authorized expenditures shall not include expenditures for meals of paid members of a governing body provided while such members are attending a public meeting of the governing body unless such meeting is a joint public meeting with one or more other governing bodies;

(2) The expenditure of public funds for:

(a) Nonalcoholic beverages provided to individuals attending public meetings of the governing body; and

(b) Nonalcoholic beverages and meals:

(i) Provided for any individuals while performing or immediately after performing relief, assistance, or support activities in emergency situations, including, but not limited to, tornado, severe storm, fire, or accident;

(ii) Provided for any volunteers during or immediately following their participation in any activity approved by the governing body, including, but not limited to, mowing parks, picking up litter, removing graffiti, or snow removal; or

(iii) Provided at one recognition dinner each year held for elected and appointed officials, employees, or volunteers of the local government. The maximum cost per person for such dinner shall be established by formal action of the governing body, but shall not exceed fifty dollars. An annual recognition dinner may be held separately for employees of each department or separately for volunteers, or any of them in combination, if authorized by the governing body; and

(3) The expenditure of public funds for plaques, certificates of achievement, or items of value awarded to elected or appointed officials, employees, or volunteers, including persons serving on local government boards or commissions. Before making any such expenditure, the governing body shall, by official action after a public hearing, establish a uniform policy which sets a dollar limit on the value of any plaque, certificate of achievement, or item of value to be awarded. Such policy, following its initial adoption, shall not be amended or altered more than once in any twelve-month period.

Nothing in the Local Government Miscellaneous Expenditure Act shall authorize the expenditure of public funds to pay for any expenses incurred by a spouse of an elected or appointed official, employee, or volunteer unless the spouse is also an elected or appointed official, employee, or volunteer of the local government. Nothing in the act shall be construed to limit, restrict, or prohibit the governing body of any local government from making any expenditure authorized by statute, ordinance, resolution, or home rule charter or pursuant to any authority granted by law, either express or implied, except to the extent that such statute, ordinance, resolution, home rule charter, or other grant of authority by law, express or implied, may conflict with the act.

(1) For purposes of this section:

(a) Political subdivision includes villages, cities of all classes, counties, municipal counties, school districts, and all other units of local government, including entities created pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act or Joint Public Agency Act. Political subdivision does not include any contractor with a political subdivision;

(b) Receiving entity means a political subdivision which receives transferred employees from a separate political subdivision; and

(c) Transferring entity means a political subdivision which is transferring employees to a separate political subdivision.

(2) For transfers involving a retirement system which maintains a defined benefit plan, the transfer value of the transferring employee's accrued benefit shall be calculated by one or both of the retirement systems involved as follows:

(a) If the retirement system of the transferring entity maintains a defined benefit plan, an initial benefit transfer value of the employee's accrued benefit shall be determined by calculating the present value of the employee's retirement benefit based on the employee's years of service as of the date of transfer and the other actuarial assumptions of the retirement system of the transferring entity so that the effect on the retirement system of the transferring entity will be actuarially neutral; and

(b) If the retirement system of the receiving entity maintains a defined benefit plan, the final benefit transfer value of the employee's accrued benefit shall be determined by calculating the present value of the employee's retirement benefit as if the employee were employed on the date of transfer and had completed the same amount of service with the same compensation as the employee actually completed at the transferring entity prior to transfer. The calculation shall then be based on the employee's assumed years of service as of the date of transfer and the other actuarial assumptions of the retirement system of the receiving entity so that the effect on the retirement system of the receiving entity will be actuarially neutral.

(3) A full-time or part-time employee of a transferring entity who becomes an employee of a receiving entity pursuant to a merger of services shall receive credit for his or her years of participation in the retirement system of the transferring entity for purposes of membership in the retirement system of the receiving entity.

(4) An employee referred to in subsection (3) of this section shall have his or her participation in the retirement system of the transferring entity transferred to the retirement system of the receiving entity through one of the following options:

(a) If the retirement system of the receiving entity maintains a defined contribution plan, the employee shall transfer all of his or her funds by paying to the retirement system of the receiving entity from funds held by the retirement system of the transferring entity an amount equal to one of the following: (i) If the retirement system of the transferring entity maintains a defined benefit plan, an amount not to exceed the initial benefit transfer value, leaving no funds attributable to the transferred employee within the retirement system of the transferring entity, or (ii) if the retirement system of the transferring entity maintains a defined contribution plan, an amount not to exceed the employee and employer accounts of the transferring employee plus earnings during the period of employment with the transferring entity. The employee shall receive eligibility and vesting credit for his or her years of service in a governmental plan, as defined in section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, maintained by the transferring entity. Payment shall be made within five years after employment begins with the receiving entity or prior to retirement, whichever comes first, and may be made through direct payment, installment payments, or an irrevocable payroll deduction authorization; or

(b) If the retirement system of the receiving entity maintains a defined benefit plan, the employee shall transfer all of his or her funds out of the retirement system of the transferring entity to purchase service credits that will generate a final benefit transfer value not to exceed the employee's initial benefit transfer value in the retirement system of the transferring entity. After such purchase, the employee shall receive eligibility and vesting credit in the retirement system of the receiving entity for his or her years of service in a governmental plan, as defined in section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, maintained by the transferring entity. The amount to be paid by the member for such service credit shall equal the actuarial cost to the retirement system of the receiving entity for allowing such additional service credit to the employee. If any funds remain in the retirement system of the transferring entity after the employee has purchased service credits in the retirement system of the receiving entity, such remaining funds shall be rolled over into another qualified trust under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, an individual retirement account, or an individual retirement annuity. Payment shall be made within five years after the transfer of services, but prior to retirement, and may be made through direct payment, installment payments, or an irrevocable payroll deduction authorization.

(5) The transferring entity, the receiving entity, and the employees who are being transferred may by binding agreement determine which parties will provide funds to pay any amount needed to purchase creditable service in the retirement system of the receiving entity sufficient to provide a final benefit transfer value not to exceed the employee's initial benefit transfer value, if the amount of a direct rollover from the retirement system of the transferring entity is not sufficient to provide a final benefit transfer value in the retirement system of the receiving entity.

(6) The retirement system of the receiving entity may accept cash rollover contributions from a member who is making payment pursuant to this section if the contributions do not exceed the amount of payment required for the service credits purchased by the member and the contributions represent (a) all or any portion of the balance of the member's interest in a qualified trust under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code or (b) the interest of the member from an individual retirement account or an individual retirement annuity, all of which is attributable to a qualified total distribution, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, from a qualified trust under section 401(a) of the code and qualified as a tax-free rollover amount. The member's interest under subdivision (a) or (b) of this subsection must be transferred to the retirement system within sixty days after the date of the distribution from the qualified trust, individual retirement account, or individual retirement annuity.

(7) Cash transferred to the retirement system of the receiving entity as a rollover contribution shall be deposited as other contributions.

(8) The retirement system of the receiving entity may accept direct rollover distributions made from a qualified trust pursuant to section 401(a)(31) of the Internal Revenue Code. The direct rollover distribution shall be deposited as all other payments under this section.

(9) The receiving entity or its retirement system shall adopt provisions defining procedures for acceptance of rollovers which are consistent with sections 401(a)(31) and 402 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(10) Any retirement system authorized pursuant to section 14-1805, 15-1017, 16-1004, 16-1023, 18-812, 19-3501, 23-1118, or 23-2330.04 or any retirement system for a city of the metropolitan class authorized pursuant to home rule charter shall be modified to conform with this section prior to any merger of service involving such system.

(1) On or before November 1, 2014, each political subdivision which offers a defined benefit plan pursuant to section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code which was open to new members on or after January 1, 2004, shall submit written notification to the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee of the Legislature that it offers such a plan.

(2) Each political subdivision which offers such a defined benefit plan shall conduct an experience study at least once every four years to review the actuarial assumptions used to determine funding needs for its defined benefit plan. Each such political subdivision shall electronically file a copy of the most recent actuarial experience study with the committee by October 15, 2016, and shall electronically file a copy of each study completed pursuant to this subsection by the next October 15 after completion of the study.

(3) Beginning November 15, 2014, and each October 15 thereafter, the governing entity of the retirement plan of each political subdivision that offers such a defined benefit retirement plan shall file with the committee a copy of the most recent annual actuarial valuation of the retirement plan. The valuation report shall be filed electronically.

(4)(a) Beginning November 15, 2014, and each October 15 thereafter, the governing entity of the retirement plan of each political subdivision that offers such a defined benefit retirement plan shall file a report with the committee if either of the following conditions exists as of the latest annual actuarial valuation of the retirement plan: (i) The contributions do not equal the actuarial requirement for funding; or (ii) the funded ratio is less than eighty percent.

(b) The report shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of the conditions and a recommendation for the circumstances and timing of any future benefit changes, contribution changes, or other corrective action, or any combination of actions, to improve the conditions. The committee may require a governing entity to present its report to the committee at a public hearing. The report shall be submitted electronically.

(5) If a governing entity does not file the reports required by subsection (2), (3), or (4) of this section with the committee by October 15, the Auditor of Public Accounts may audit, or cause to be audited, the political subdivision offering the retirement plan. All costs of the audit shall be paid by the political subdivision.

(6) For purposes of this section, political subdivision means any local governmental body formed and organized under state law and any joint entity or joint public agency created under state law to act on behalf of political subdivisions.

Sections 13-2501 to 13-2550 shall be known and may be cited as the Joint Public Agency Act.

It is the purpose of the Joint Public Agency Act to permit local governmental units to make the most efficient use of their taxing authority and other powers by enabling them to cooperate with other governmental units on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population, and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities.

For purposes of the Joint Public Agency Act:

(1) Board means the board of representatives of a joint public agency;

(2) Governing body has the same meaning as in section 13-503 and, when referring to state agencies, includes the governing board of a state agency or the Governor and, when referring to federal agencies, includes the governing board of a federal agency or the President of the United States;

(3) Joint public agency means an entity created by agreement pursuant to the act;

(4) Person means a natural person, public authority, private corporation, association, firm, partnership, limited liability company, or business trust of any nature whatsoever organized and existing under the laws of this state or of the United States or any other state thereof. The term does not include a joint public agency;

(5) Public agency means any county, city, village, school district, or agency of the state government or of the United States, any drainage district, sanitary and improvement district, or other municipal corporation or political subdivision of this state, and any political subdivision of another state;

(6) Representative means a member of the board and includes an alternate representative; and

(7) State means a state of the United States and the District of Columbia.

(1) Any two or more public agencies may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution, or otherwise pursuant to law of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.

(2) Any such agreement shall specify the following:

(a) Its duration;

(b) The general organization, composition, and nature of any joint public agency created by the agreement together with the powers delegated to the entity;

(c) Its purpose or purposes;

(d) The manner of financing the joint undertaking and of establishing and maintaining a budget;

(e) The permissible method or methods to be employed in amending the agreement or accomplishing the partial or complete termination of the agreement and for disposing of property upon such partial or complete termination consistent with section 13-2518;

(f) The manner of levying, collecting, and accounting for any tax authorized under sections 13-318 to 13-326 or 13-2813 to 13-2816 and any allocation of tax authority under section 13-2507; and

(g) Any other necessary and proper matters.

(3) No agreement made pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act shall relieve any public agency of any obligation or responsibility imposed upon it by law except to the extent of actual and timely performance by a joint public agency created by an agreement made pursuant to the act, which performance may be offered in satisfaction of the obligation or responsibility.

(4) Participating public agencies may transfer property, other assets, and employees to a joint public agency as provided in the agreement. Notwithstanding other provisions of law, if employees are transferred any vested employment rights shall be transferred with the employee and the employee shall be vested with the joint public agency at the time of transfer.

(5) Any governing body as defined in section 13-503 which is a party to an agreement made pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act shall provide information to the Auditor of Public Accounts regarding such agreements as required in section 13-513.

Notwithstanding any restrictions contained in a city charter, any power, privilege, or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges, and authority conferred by the Joint Public Agency Act upon a public agency.

The Legislature may amend or repeal the Joint Public Agency Act or any law governing public agencies, and any agreement which creates a joint public agency is subject to the amendment or repeal of a law governing participating public agencies by subsequent acts of the Legislature, the United States, or another state, except that no act of the Legislature may impair any contractual obligation of a joint public agency or any participant thereof, including a contract for bonded indebtedness.

(1) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, a joint public agency shall have only those powers of taxation as one or more of the participating public agencies has and only as specifically provided in the agreement proposing creation of the joint public agency, except that a joint public agency shall not levy a local option sales tax. Participating public agencies may agree to allow the joint public agency to levy a property tax rate not to exceed a limit as provided in the agreement if the agreement also limits the levy authority of the overlapping participating public agencies collectively to the same amount. The levy authority of a joint public agency shall be allocated by the city or county as provided in section 77-3443, and the agreement may require allocation of levy authority by the city or county.

(2) If one or more of the participating public agencies is a municipality, the agreement may allow any occupation or wheel tax to be extended over the area encompassed by the joint public agency at a rate uniform to that of the city or village for the purpose of providing revenue to finance the services to be provided by the joint public agency. The tax shall not be extended until the procedures governing enactment by the municipality are followed by the joint public agency, including any requirement for a public vote.

(3) If the agreement calls for the allocation of property tax levy authority to the joint public agency, the amount of the allocation to the joint public agency and from each participating public agency shall be reported to the Property Tax Administrator.

(4)(a) Prior to the issuance of bonds and the pledge of property tax levy authority allocated to a joint public agency to pay the principal of and interest on bonds to be issued by the joint public agency, the joint public agency shall hold an election to present the question of issuing such bonds and levying such tax to the registered voters of the participating public agency which allocated such property tax levy authority. Such election shall be held at a special election called for such purpose or an election held in conjunction with a statewide or local primary or general election.

(b) If a ballot question is required to be submitted to the registered voters of more than one participating public agency pursuant to subdivision (a) of this subsection and if the participating public agencies have overlapping jurisdiction of any geographic area, the registered voters residing in the geographic area subject to overlapping jurisdiction shall only be entitled to one vote on the ballot question.

(c) A joint public agency may issue refunding bonds as authorized in section 13-2537 which are payable from the same security and tax levy authority as bonds being refunded without holding an election as required by this subsection if the issuance of the refunding bonds does not allow additional principal and does not allow extension of the final maturity date of the indebtedness.

Any combination of two or more public agencies may create one or more joint public agencies to exercise the powers and authority prescribed by the Joint Public Agency Act.

(1) The governing body of each public agency participating in the creation of a joint public agency shall adopt a resolution determining that there is a need for a joint public agency and setting forth the names of the proposed participating public agencies. The resolution shall be published in three issues, not less than seven days between issues, of a legal newspaper for each proposed participating public agency or a newspaper having general circulation in the area served by a proposed participating public agency if no legal newspaper exists for the participating public agency and of one or more newspapers of general circulation in the area to be served by the joint public agency. Any such resolution shall not be adopted by a public agency prior to five days after the last publication by the proposed participating public agency. In the case of a state agency, the governing board shall adopt the resolution, or if there is no governing board, the Governor shall issue a proclamation without notice in lieu of a resolution. In the case of a federal agency, the governing board shall adopt the resolution or, if there is no governing board, the President of the United States shall issue a proclamation without notice in lieu of a resolution. The resolution may be adopted by a governing body on its own motion upon determining, in its discretion, that a need exists for a joint public agency. In determining whether such a need exists, a governing body may take into consideration the present and future needs of the public agency with respect to the materials, goods, property, and services which a joint public agency may utilize or provide, the adequacy, suitability, and availability of such materials, goods, property, and services to meet the needs of the participating public agency if no joint public agency is formed, and economic or other advantages or efficiencies which may be realized by cooperative action through a joint public agency.

(2) Upon issuance of a certificate of creation by the Secretary of State, the Governor in the case of a participating state agency which does not have a governing board, the President of the United States or federal agency head in the case of a federal agency, the mayor or city manager in the case of a city which has not elected to be governed as a village, or the chairperson of the governing body of each participating public agency shall appoint representatives as provided by the agreement for creation of the joint public agency. Representatives, other than representatives appointed by the Governor, the President of the United States, or a federal agency head, must be members of the governing body of the participating public agency which they are appointed to represent. Upon issuance of an amended certificate of creation pursuant to section 13-2513, a representative shall be appointed by each additional participating public agency as provided in this section. An alternate representative with the same qualifications may be appointed in the same manner as a representative and shall serve and exercise all powers of a representative in the absence of the representative for whom he or she is the alternate. The representatives shall constitute the board in which shall be vested all powers of the joint public agency.

Within thirty days after adoption of the resolutions for creation of a joint public agency by the proposed participating public agencies, the board shall file with the Secretary of State a statement signed by the representatives setting forth (1) the names of all the proposed participating public agencies, (2) a certified copy of each of the resolutions of the participating public agencies determining the need for such a joint public agency, (3) proof of publication as required in subsection (1) of section 13-2509, (4) a brief description of the nature of the joint public agency's activities, and (5) the name of the joint public agency.

The Secretary of State shall examine the statement and, if he or she finds that the name proposed for the joint public agency is distinguishable from any other entity name registered or on file with the Secretary of State pursuant to Nebraska law and that the statement conforms to the requirements of the Joint Public Agency Act, the Secretary of State shall record it and issue and record a certificate of creation. The certificate shall state the name of the joint public agency, the fact and date of creation, and the names of the participating public agencies. Upon the issuance of the certificate, the existence of the joint public agency as a political subdivision and a body corporate and politic of this state shall commence. Notice of the issuance of the certificate shall be given to all of the proposed participating public agencies by the Secretary of State and shall be published in one issue of a legal newspaper for each proposed participating public agency or a newspaper having general circulation in the area served by a proposed participating public agency if no legal newspaper exists for the participating public agency and of one or more newspapers of general circulation in the area to be served by the joint public agency.

In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of, or relating to, any contract of the joint public agency, the joint public agency shall be conclusively deemed to have been established, except as against the state, in accordance with the Joint Public Agency Act upon proof of the filing of the certificate of creation by the Secretary of State. A copy of the certificate or amended certificate, duly certified by the Secretary of State, shall be admissible in evidence in any suit, action, or proceeding and shall be conclusive proof of the filing and contents thereof.

After the creation of a joint public agency, any other public agency may become a participating public agency therein upon (1) the adoption of a resolution by the governing body of the public agency setting forth the determination prescribed in section 13-2509 and authorizing the public agency to become a participating public agency after notice as described in subsection (1) of section 13-2509, (2) application to the joint public agency, and (3) adoption by a majority vote of the representatives, unless the joint public agency's rules of governance require a greater percentage, of a resolution by the board admitting the public agency as a participating public agency. Thereupon the public agency shall become a participating public agency entitled to appoint a representative or representatives in the manner prescribed by sections 13-2509 and 13-2515 and to otherwise participate in the joint public agency to the same extent as if the public agency had participated in the creation of the joint public agency. Upon the filing with the Secretary of State of certified copies of the resolutions described in this section and proof of publication of notice, the Secretary of State shall issue an amended certificate of creation setting forth the names of the participating public agencies, the date of creation, and the name of the joint public agency. Notice shall be given as provided in section 13-2511.

Each representative shall serve for a term specified in the agreement creating the joint public agency, not to exceed four years, or until his or her successor has been appointed and has qualified in the same manner as the original appointment. A representative shall be eligible for reappointment upon the expiration of his or her term. A certificate of the appointment or reappointment of any representative or alternate representative shall be issued by the governing body and shall be filed with the clerk or secretary of the public agency for which the representative acts and the joint public agency. The certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of the representative. A representative may be removed for any cause at any time by the governing body of the participating public agency for which the representative acts. A representative shall be removed if he or she is no longer a member of the governing body of the public agency which makes the appointment. A vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term of a person who is no longer eligible to hold office in the same manner as the original appointment, until the term as representative expires, or until removed by the participating public agency which appointed him or her. A representative shall receive no compensation for his or her services but shall be entitled to actual and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of his or her official duties, including mileage at the rate provided in section 81-1176.

(1) Each participating public agency shall at all times be entitled to appoint at least one representative. A joint public agency's rules of governance may allow any participating public agency to appoint additional representatives and shall specify the number of representatives to be appointed by each participating public agency. The number of representatives may be increased or decreased from time to time by an amendment to the rules of governance approved by each participating public agency as evidenced by a resolution of the governing body thereof unless the agreement provides for approval by less than all participating public agencies.

(2) Each representative shall be entitled to one vote. With the approval of each participating public agency as evidenced by a resolution of the governing body thereof unless the agreement provides for approval by less than all participating public agencies, a joint public agency's rules of governance may allow the representative of any participating public agency to cast more than one vote and shall specify the number of votes such representative may cast.

(3) A quorum of the board is required for conducting the business and exercising the powers of the joint public agency and for all other purposes. Unless the rules of governance require a larger quorum, the presence at the meeting of the number of representatives entitled to cast a majority of the total votes which may be cast by all of the representatives constitutes a quorum. Action may be taken upon a vote of a majority of the votes which the representatives present are entitled to cast unless the rules of governance require a larger vote.

(4) The manner of scheduling regular meetings and the method of calling special board meetings, including the giving or waiving of notice, shall be as provided in the rules of governance within the constraints of the Open Meetings Act.

The board shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its representatives. The joint public agency may employ an executive director. The board shall elect a secretary who shall either be from among the representatives or the executive director. The joint public agency may employ or obtain the services of legal counsel, technical experts, and such other officers, agents, and employees as it may require and shall determine their qualifications, duties, compensation, and term of office. The board may delegate to its officers, agents, or employees such powers and duties as the board deems proper.

(1) The board may create an executive committee the composition of which shall be set forth in the joint public agency's rules of governance. The executive committee shall have and exercise the power and authority of the board during intervals between the board's meetings in accordance with the rules of governance, motions, or resolutions creating the executive committee. The terms of office of the members of the executive committee and the method of filling vacancies shall be fixed by the rules of governance.

(2) The board may also create one or more committees to which the board may delegate such powers and duties as the board shall specify. In no event shall any committee be empowered to authorize the issuance of bonds. The membership and voting requirements for action by a committee shall be specified by the board.

(3) The board shall be subject to the Open Meetings Act.

Unless the agreement provides for dissolution, a joint public agency shall be dissolved upon the adoption, by the governing bodies of at least one-half of the participating public agencies, of a resolution setting forth the determination that the need for the public agencies to act cooperatively through a joint public agency no longer exists. A joint public agency shall not be dissolved so long as the agency has bonds outstanding unless provision for full payment of the bonds and interest thereon, by escrow or otherwise, has been made pursuant to the terms of the bonds or the resolution, indenture, or security instrument securing the bonds. If the governing bodies of one or more, but less than a majority, of the participating public agencies adopt such a resolution, such public agencies shall be permitted to withdraw from participation in the joint public agency, but withdrawal shall not affect the obligations of the withdrawing public agency pursuant to any contracts or other agreements with the joint public agency. Withdrawal shall not impair the payment of any outstanding bonds or interest thereon. In the event of the dissolution of a joint public agency, its board shall provide for the disposition, division, or distribution of the joint public agency's assets among the participating public agencies by such means as the board shall determine, in its sole discretion, to be fair and equitable or as provided in the agreement for creation of the joint public agency.

A joint public agency shall constitute a political subdivision and a public body corporate and politic of this state exercising public powers separate from the participating public agencies. A joint public agency shall have the duties, privileges, immunities, rights, liabilities, and disabilities of a political subdivision and a public body corporate and politic exercising powers and acting on behalf of the participating public agencies.

A joint public agency may be sued subject to the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act.

The powers of a joint public agency shall include the power:

(1) To sue;

(2) To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure or to dispense with the necessity thereof;

(3) To make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers;

(4) From time to time, to make, amend, and repeal rules of governance not inconsistent with the Joint Public Agency Act or the terms of the agreement for its creation to carry out and effectuate its powers and purposes;

(5) To adopt and promulgate rules and regulations as authorized for at least one of the participating public agencies and as provided in the agreement;

(6) To acquire, own, hold, use, lease, as lessor or lessee, sell, or otherwise dispose of, mortgage, pledge, or grant a security interest in any real or personal property, commodity, product, or service or any interest therein or right thereto as provided by law;

(7) To incur debts, liabilities, or obligations, including the borrowing of money and the issuance of bonds, secured or unsecured, pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act;

(8) To borrow money or accept contributions, grants, or other financial assistance from a public agency and to comply with such conditions and enter into such contracts, covenants, mortgages, trust indentures, leases, or agreements as may be necessary, convenient, or desirable;

(9) To fix, maintain, revise, and collect fees, rates, rents, and charges for functions, services, or facilities provided by the joint public agency;

(10) Subject to any agreements with holders of outstanding bonds, to invest any funds held in reserve or sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate disbursement, including the proceeds from the sale of any bonds, in such obligations, securities, and other investments as the board shall deem proper;

(11) To join and pay dues to organizations, membership in which is deemed by the board to be beneficial to the accomplishment of the joint public agency's purposes; and

(12) To exercise any other powers which are deemed necessary and convenient to carry out the Joint Public Agency Act.

A joint public agency may perform any governmental service, activity, or undertaking which at least one of the participating public agencies is authorized to perform. In exercising its powers under this section to perform any governmental service, activity, or undertaking, a joint public agency shall be subject to the same procedures, regulations, and restrictions as the participating public agency which is granted the power by law to perform the governmental service, activity, or undertaking.

The board may provide its representatives, its officers, and agents and employees of the joint public agency and participating public agencies, either collectively or individually, with personal liability insurance coverage insuring against any liability and claim arising by reason of any act or omission in any manner relating to the performance, attempted performance, or failure of performance of official duties as a participating public agency, representative, officer, agent, or employee and may authorize the payment of the premium, cost, and expense of insurance from the general fund of the joint public agency. The agreement may provide that such coverage be the responsibility of one or more of the participating public agencies.

The agreement creating a joint public agency may provide that insurance, retirement, indemnification, and other benefits be provided by one or more participating public agencies. If the agreement so provides, the insurance, retirement, indemnification, or other benefits applicable to the participating public agencies shall include the officers or employees of the joint public agency as provided in the agreement.

A joint public agency may file a petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court under 11 U.S.C. chapter 9 and any acts amendatory thereto and supplementary thereof and may incur and pay the expenses incident to the consummation of a plan of adjustment of debts as contemplated by the petition.

(1) Commencing in 2001 and each odd-numbered year thereafter, each joint public agency shall deliver to the Secretary of State a biennial report on a form prescribed and furnished by the Secretary of State that sets forth:

(a) The name of the joint public agency;

(b) The street address of its principal office and the name of its manager or executive director, if any, at the office in this state;

(c) The names and business or residence addresses of its representatives and principal officers;

(d) A brief description of the nature of its activities; and

(e) The names of the participating public agencies.

(2) The information in the biennial report must be current on the date the biennial report is executed on behalf of the joint public agency.

(3) The first biennial report must be delivered to the Secretary of State between January 1 and April 1 of the odd-numbered year following the calendar year in which the joint public agency was authorized to transact business. Subsequent biennial reports must be delivered to the Secretary of State between January 1 and April 1 of the following odd-numbered years. The biennial report is due on April 1 of the odd-numbered year in which it must be delivered to the Secretary of State as required by this section.

(4) If a biennial report does not contain the information required by this section, the Secretary of State shall promptly notify the reporting joint public agency in writing and return the report to it for correction. If the report is corrected to contain the information required by this section and delivered to the Secretary of State within thirty days after the effective date of notice, it is deemed to be timely filed.

(5) Upon the delivery of the biennial report as provided in this section, the Secretary of State shall charge and collect a fee of thirty dollars if the filing is submitted in writing and twenty-five dollars if the filing is submitted electronically pursuant to section 84-511. The fee is due on April 1 of the odd-numbered year in which the biennial report must be delivered to the Secretary of State as required by this section.

(6) A correction or an amendment to the biennial report may be delivered to the Secretary of State for filing at any time. The fee for filing a correction or an amendment to the biennial report shall be thirty dollars if the filing is submitted in writing and twenty-five dollars if the filing is submitted electronically pursuant to section 84-511.

(7) The Secretary of State shall collect all fees imposed in this section and shall remit the fees to the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer shall credit sixty percent of the fees to the General Fund and forty percent of the fees to the Secretary of State Cash Fund.

If all participating public agencies are of the same type, the bidding procedures for that type of public agency apply to the joint public agency. If the participating public agencies are not all of the same type, the bidding requirements set out in the County Purchasing Act apply to the joint public agency.

(1) All money of the joint public agency shall be paid out or expended only by check, draft, warrant, or other instrument in writing, signed by the chairperson and the treasurer, assistant treasurer, or such other officer, employee, or agent of the joint public agency as is authorized by the treasurer to sign in his or her behalf. The authorization by the treasurer shall be in writing and filed with the secretary of the joint public agency.

(2) In the event that there is no treasurer's bond that expressly insures the joint public agency against loss resulting from the fraudulent, illegal, negligent, or otherwise wrongful or unauthorized acts or conduct by or on the part of any person authorized to sign checks, drafts, warrants, or other instruments in writing, there shall be procured and filed with the secretary of the joint public agency, together with the written authorization filed with the secretary, a surety bond, effective for protection against the loss, in such form and penal amount and with such corporate surety as shall be approved in writing by the signed endorsement thereon of any two officers of the joint public agency other than the treasurer. The secretary shall report to the board at each meeting any such bonds filed, or any change in the status of any such bonds, since the last previous meeting of the board.

In the event that an agreement made pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act deals in whole or in part with the provision of services or facilities with regard to which an officer or agency of the state government has constitutional or statutory powers of control, the agreement shall, as a condition precedent to its entry into force, be submitted to the state officer or agency having such power of control and shall be approved or disapproved by the officer or agency as to all matters within the officer's or agency's jurisdiction.

Any public agency entering into an agreement pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act may appropriate funds and may sell, lease, give, or otherwise supply the board, joint public agency, or other legal or administrative entity created to operate the joint or cooperative undertaking by providing such personnel or services therefor as it may employ or contract to furnish.

(1) Any joint public agency may issue such types of bonds as its board may determine subject only to any agreement with the holders of outstanding bonds, including bonds as to which the principal and interest are payable exclusively from all or a portion of the revenue from one or more projects, from one or more revenue-producing contracts, including securities acquired from any person, bonds issued by any qualified public agency under the Public Facilities Construction and Finance Act, or leases made by the joint public agency with any person, including any of the public agencies which are parties to the agreement creating the joint public agency, or from its revenue generally or which may be additionally secured by a pledge of any grant, subsidy, or contribution from any person or a pledge of any income or revenue, funds, or money of the joint public agency from any source whatsoever or a mortgage or security interest in any real or personal property, commodity, product, or service or interest therein.

(2) Any bonds issued by such joint public agency shall be issued on behalf of the joint public agency solely for the specific purpose or purposes for which the joint public agency has been created. Such specific purposes may include, but shall not be limited to, joint projects authorized by the Public Facilities Construction and Finance Act; solid waste collection, management, and disposal; waste recycling; sanitary sewage treatment and disposal; public safety communications; correctional facilities; water treatment plants and distribution systems; drainage systems; flood control projects; fire protection services; ground water quality management and control; river-flow enhancement; education and postsecondary education; hospital and other health care services; bridges, roads, and streets; and law enforcement.

(3) As an alternative to issuing bonds for financing public safety communication projects, any joint public agency may enter into a financing agreement with the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority for such purpose.

(4) Any joint public agency formed for purposes of providing or assisting with the provision of public safety communications may enter into an agreement with any other joint public agency relating to (a) the operation, maintenance, or management of the property or facilities of such joint public agency or (b) the operation, maintenance, or management of the property or facilities of such other joint public agency.

Any joint public agency may from time to time issue its bonds in such principal amounts as its board determines is necessary to provide sufficient funds to carry out any of the joint public agency's purposes and powers, including the establishment or increase of reserves, the payment of interest accrued during construction of a project and for such period thereafter as the board may determine, and the payment of all other costs or expenses of the joint public agency incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and powers. Except as provided in section 72-2304, bonds issued prior to April 18, 2018, for purposes of the Public Facilities Construction and Finance Act may be issued with no requirement for a vote. Bonds issued on or after April 18, 2018, for purposes of the Public Facilities Construction and Finance Act shall be subject to a vote prior to issuance as provided in the act.

(1) The representatives or agents of the board and a person executing the bonds shall not be liable personally on such bonds by reason of the issuance thereof.

(2) The bonds shall not be a debt of any political subdivision other than the joint public agency or of this state, and neither this state nor any other political subdivision shall be liable thereon. Bonds shall be payable only out of any funds or properties of the issuing joint public agency. Such limitations shall be plainly stated upon the face of the bonds.

Bonds shall be authorized by resolution of the board and may be issued under a resolution, indenture, or other security instrument in one or more series and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form, either coupon or registered, carry such conversion or registration privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption, with or without premium, as such resolution, indenture, or other security instrument may provide and without limitation by any other law limiting amounts, maturities, or interest rates. Any officer authorized or designated to sign, countersign, execute, or attest any bond or any coupon may utilize a facsimile signature.

(1) Except as the board may otherwise provide, any bond and any interest coupons thereto attached shall be fully negotiable within the meaning of and for all purposes of article 8, Uniform Commercial Code.

(2) The bonds may be sold at public or private sale as the issuing board may provide and at such price or prices as such board shall determine.

If any of the officers whose signatures appear on any bonds or coupons cease to be such officers before the delivery of such obligations, such signatures shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes to the same extent as if such officers had remained in office until such delivery.

Any joint public agency may in connection with the issuance of its bonds:

(1) Covenant as to the use of any or all of its property, real or personal;

(2) Redeem the bonds, covenant for their redemption, and provide the terms and conditions thereof;

(3) Covenant to charge or seek necessary approvals to charge rates, fees, and charges sufficient to meet operating and maintenance expenses of the joint public agency, costs of renewals and replacements to a project, interest and principal payments, whether at maturity or upon sinking-fund redemption, on any outstanding bonds or other indebtedness of the joint public agency, and creation and maintenance of any reasonable reserves therefor and to provide for any margins or coverages over and above debt service on the bonds deemed desirable for the marketability or security of the bonds;

(4) Covenant and prescribe as to events of default and terms and conditions upon which any or all of its bonds shall become or may be declared due before maturity, as to the terms and conditions upon which such declaration and its consequences may be waived, and as to the consequences of default and the remedies of bondholders;

(5) Covenant as to the mortgage or pledge of or the grant of any other security interest in any real or personal property and all or any part of the revenue from any project or projects or any revenue-producing contract or contracts made by the joint public agency with any person to secure the payment of bonds, subject to such agreements with the holders of outstanding bonds as may then exist;

(6) Covenant as to the custody, collection, securing, investment, and payment of any revenue, assets, money, funds, or property with respect to which the joint public agency may have any rights or interest;

(7) Covenant as to the purposes to which the proceeds from the sale of any bonds then or thereafter to be issued may be applied and the pledge of such proceeds to secure the payment of the bonds;

(8) Covenant as to limitations on the issuance of any additional bonds, the terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the refunding of outstanding bonds;

(9) Covenant as to the rank or priority of any bonds with respect to any lien or security;

(10) Covenant as to the procedure by which the terms of any contract with or for the benefit of the holders of bonds may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given;

(11) Covenant as to the custody, safekeeping, and insurance of any of its properties or investments and the use and disposition of insurance proceeds;

(12) Covenant as to the vesting in a trustee or trustees, within or outside the state, of such properties, rights, powers, and duties in trust as the joint public agency may determine;

(13) Covenant as to the appointing and providing for the duties and obligations of a paying agent or paying agents or other fiduciaries within or outside the state;

(14) Make all other covenants and do any and all such acts and things as may be necessary, convenient, or desirable in order to secure its bonds or in the absolute discretion of the joint public agency tend to make the bonds more marketable, notwithstanding that such covenants, acts, or things may not be enumerated in this section; and

(15) Execute all instruments necessary or convenient in the exercise of the powers in the Joint Public Agency Act granted or in the performance of covenants or duties, which instruments may contain such covenants and provisions as any purchaser of bonds may reasonably require.

Any joint public agency may issue and sell refunding bonds for the purpose of paying or providing for the payment of any of its bonds at or prior to maturity or upon acceleration or redemption. Refunding bonds may be issued at any time prior to or at the maturity or redemption of the refunded bonds as the board deems appropriate. The refunding bonds may be issued in principal amount not exceeding an amount sufficient to pay or to provide for the payment of (1) the principal of the bonds being refunded, (2) any redemption premium thereon, (3) interest accrued or to accrue to the first or any subsequent redemption date or dates selected by the board in its discretion or to the date or dates of maturity, whichever is determined to be most advantageous or convenient for the joint public agency, (4) the expenses of issuing the refunding bonds, including bond discount, and redeeming the bonds being refunded, and (5) such reserves for debt service or other capital or current expenses from the proceeds of such refunding bonds as may be deemed necessary or convenient by the board. A determination by the board that any refinancing is advantageous or necessary to the joint public agency, that any of the amounts provided in this section should be included in such refinancing, or that any of the bonds to be refinanced should be called for redemption on the first or any subsequent redemption date or permitted to remain outstanding until their respective dates of maturity shall be conclusive.

To the extent not required for the immediate payment and retirement of the obligations being refunded or for the payment of expenses incurred in connection with such refunding and subject to any agreement with the holders of any outstanding bonds, principal proceeds from the sale of any refunding bonds shall be deposited in trust to provide for the payment and retirement of the bonds being refunded, payment of interest and any redemption premiums, and payment of any expenses incurred in connection with such refunding, but provision may be made for the pledging and disposition of any surplus, including, but not limited to, provision for the pledging of any such surplus to the payment of the principal of and interest on any issue or series of refunding bonds. Money in any such trust fund may be invested in direct obligations of or obligations the principal of and interest on which are guaranteed by the United States Government, in obligations of any agency or instrumentality of the United States Government, or in certificates of deposit issued by a bank, capital stock financial institution, qualifying mutual financial institution, or trust company if such certificates are secured by a pledge of any of such obligations having an aggregate market value, exclusive of accrued interest, equal at least to the principal amount of the certificates so secured. Nothing in this section shall be construed as a limitation on the duration of any deposit in trust for the retirement of obligations being refunded but which have not matured and which are not presently redeemable or, if presently redeemable, have not been called for redemption. Section 77-2366 shall apply to deposits in capital stock financial institutions. Section 77-2365.01 shall apply to deposits in qualifying mutual financial institutions.

Refunding bonds may be exchanged for and in payment and discharge of any of the outstanding obligations being refunded. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for a like, greater, or smaller principal amount of the bonds being refunded as the board may determine in its discretion. The holder or holders of the bonds being refunded need not pay accrued interest on the refunding bonds if and to the extent that interest is due or accrued and unpaid on the bonds being refunded and to be surrendered.

The issue of refunding bonds, the manner of sale, the maturities, interest rates, form, and other details thereof, the security therefor, the rights of the holders thereof, and the rights, duties, and obligations of the joint public agency in respect of the same shall be governed by the Joint Public Agency Act relating to the issue of bonds other than refunding bonds insofar as the same may be applicable.

Bonds may be issued under the Joint Public Agency Act without obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, bureau, or instrumentality of this state and without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things than those proceedings, conditions, or things which are specifically required therefor by the act, and the validity of and security for any bonds shall not be affected by the existence or nonexistence of any such consent or other proceedings, conditions, or things.

The board may provide for the publication of any resolution or other proceeding adopted by it pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act in a newspaper of general circulation published in the area served by the joint public agency or, if no newspaper is so published, in a newspaper qualified to carry legal notices having general circulation in the area served by the joint public agency.

In the case of a resolution or other proceeding providing for the issuance of bonds pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act, the board may, either before or after the adoption of such resolution or other proceeding, in lieu of publishing the entire resolution or other proceeding, publish a notice of intention to issue bonds under the act, titled as such, containing:

(1) The name of the joint public agency;

(2) The purpose of the issue, including a brief description of the project and the name of the public agencies to be serviced by the project;

(3) The principal amount of bonds to be issued;

(4) The maturity date or dates and amount or amounts maturing on such dates;

(5) The maximum rate of interest payable on the bonds; and

(6) The times and place where a copy of the form of the resolution or other proceeding providing for the issuance of the bonds may be examined which shall be at an office of the joint public agency, identified in the notice, during regular business hours of the joint public agency as described in the notice and for a period of at least thirty days after the publication of the notice.

For a period of thirty days after such publication, any interested person shall have the right to contest the legality of such resolution or proceeding or any bonds which may be authorized thereby, any provisions made for the security and payment of such bonds, or any contract of purchase, sale, or lease relating to the issuance of such bonds. After such time no one shall have any cause of action to contest the regularity, formality, or legality thereof for any cause whatsoever.

Bonds issued pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act shall be securities in which all public officers and instrumentalities of the state and all political subdivisions, insurance companies, trust companies, banks, savings and loan associations, investment companies, executors, administrators, personal representatives, trustees, and other fiduciaries may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control or belonging to them. Such bonds shall be securities which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any officer or instrumentality of this state or any political subdivision for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or obligations of this state or any political subdivision thereof is now or may hereafter be authorized by law.

(1) All bonds of a joint public agency are declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and, together with interest thereon and income therefrom, shall be exempt from all taxes.

(2) The property of a joint public agency, including any pro rata share of any property owned by a joint public agency in conjunction with any other person, is declared to be public property of a governmental subdivision of the state. Such property and the income of a joint public agency shall be exempt from all taxes and assessments of the state or any political subdivision of the state if used for a public purpose.

The provisions of the Joint Public Agency Act shall be deemed to provide an additional, alternative, and complete method for the doing of the things authorized by the act and shall be deemed and construed to be supplemental and additional to, and not in derogation of, powers conferred upon political subdivisions, agencies, and others by law. Insofar as the provisions of the Joint Public Agency Act are inconsistent with the provisions of any general or special law, administrative order, or regulation, the provisions of the Joint Public Agency Act shall be controlling.

The State of Nebraska does hereby pledge to and agree with the holders of any bonds and with those persons who may enter into contracts with any joint public agency under the Joint Public Agency Act that the state will not alter, impair, or limit the rights thereby vested until the bonds, together with applicable interest, are fully met and discharged and such contracts are fully performed. Nothing contained in the Joint Public Agency Act shall preclude such alteration, impairment, or limitation if and when adequate provisions are made by law for the protection of the holders of the bonds or persons entering into contracts with any joint public agency. Each joint public agency may include this pledge and undertaking for the state in such bonds or contracts.

A joint public agency created by public agencies pursuant to the Joint Public Agency Act shall not be considered a state agency, and an employee of such an entity or agency shall not be considered a state employee.

The Joint Public Agency Act is necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants and shall be construed liberally to effect its purposes.

Sections 13-2601 to 13-2613 shall be known and may be cited as the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act.

(1) The Legislature finds that it will be beneficial to the economic well-being of the people of this state that there be convention and meeting center facilities and sports arena facilities of appropriate size and quality to host regional, national, or international events. Regional refers to states that border Nebraska; national refers to states other than those that border Nebraska; and international refers to nations other than the United States.

(2) The Legislature further finds that such facilities may (a) generate new economic activity as well as additional state and local taxes from persons residing within and outside the state and (b) create new economic opportunities for residents.

(3) In order that the state may receive any long-term economic and fiscal benefits from such facilities, a need exists to provide some state assistance to political subdivisions endeavoring to construct, acquire, substantially reconstruct, expand, operate, improve, or equip such facilities.

(4) Therefore, it is deemed to be in the best interest of both the state and its political subdivisions that the state assist political subdivisions in financing the construction, acquisition, substantial reconstruction, expansion, operation, improvement, or equipping of such facilities.

(5) The amount of state assistance provided under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act shall be limited to a designated portion of state sales tax revenue collected by retailers and operators doing business at such facilities on sales at such facilities, state sales tax revenue collected on primary and secondary box office sales of admissions to such facilities, and state sales tax revenue collected by associated hotels and nearby retailers.

For purposes of the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act:

(1) Associated hotel means any publicly or privately owned facility in which the public may, for a consideration, obtain sleeping accommodations and which is located, in whole or in part, within six hundred yards of an eligible facility, measured from any point of the exterior perimeter of the eligible facility but not from any parking facility or other structure, except that if the eligible facility is within six hundred yards of the State Capitol, the area used in determining associated hotels shall be one or more areas selected by the applicant which aggregate the same total amount of square footage that such area would have contained had the eligible facility not been within six hundred yards of the State Capitol. The area used in determining associated hotels shall be depicted on a map submitted pursuant to section 13-2605;

(2) Board means a board consisting of the Governor, the State Treasurer, the chairperson of the Nebraska Investment Council, the chairperson of the Nebraska State Board of Public Accountancy, and a professor of economics on the faculty of a state postsecondary educational institution appointed to a two-year term on the board by the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. For administrative and budget purposes only, the board shall be considered part of the Department of Revenue;

(3) Bond means a general obligation bond, redevelopment bond, lease-purchase bond, revenue bond, or combination of any such bonds;

(4) Convention and meeting center facility means a temperature-controlled building and personal property primarily used as a convention and meeting center, including an auditorium, an exhibition hall, a facility for onsite food preparation and serving, an onsite, directly connected parking facility for the use of the convention and meeting center facility, a nearby parking facility for the use of the convention and meeting center facility, and an onsite administrative office of the convention and meeting center facility;

(5)(a) Eligible facility means any publicly owned convention and meeting center facility approved for state assistance on or before June 1, 2007, any publicly owned sports arena facility attached to such convention and meeting center facility, or any publicly owned convention and meeting center facility or publicly owned sports arena facility acquired, constructed, improved, or equipped after June 1, 2007; and

(b) Beginning with applications for financial assistance received on or after February 1, 2008, eligible facility does not include any publicly owned sports arena facility with a seating capacity greater than sixteen thousand seats;

(6) General obligation bond means any bond or refunding bond issued by a political subdivision and which is payable exclusively from the proceeds of an ad valorem tax;

(7) Nearby parking facility means any parking lot, parking garage, or other parking structure that is not directly connected to a convention and meeting center facility but which is located, in whole or in part, within six hundred yards of a convention and meeting center facility, measured from any point of the exterior perimeter of such facility but not from any other parking facility or other structure;

(8) Nearby retailer means a retailer as defined in section 77-2701.32 that is located, in whole or in part, within six hundred yards of an eligible facility the application for which is approved on or after June 7, 2023, measured from any point of the exterior perimeter of the eligible facility but not from any parking facility or other structure, except that if the eligible facility is within six hundred yards of the State Capitol, the area used in determining nearby retailers shall be one or more areas selected by the applicant which aggregate the same total amount of square footage that such area would have contained had the eligible facility not been within six hundred yards of the State Capitol. The area used in determining nearby retailers shall be depicted on a map submitted pursuant to section 13-2605;

(9) Political subdivision means any local governmental body formed and organized under state law and any joint entity or joint public agency created under state law to act on behalf of political subdivisions which has statutory authority to issue general obligation bonds;

(10) Revenue bond means any bond or refunding bond issued by a political subdivision which is limited or special rather than a general obligation bond of the political subdivision and which is not payable from the proceeds of an ad valorem tax; and

(11) Sports arena facility means any enclosed temperature-controlled building primarily used for competitive sports, including arenas, dressing and locker facilities, concession areas, parking facilities, and onsite administrative offices connected with operating the facilities.

Any political subdivision that has acquired, constructed, improved, or equipped or has approved a bond issue to acquire, construct, improve, or equip eligible facilities may apply to the board for state assistance. The state assistance shall be used:

(1) To pay back amounts expended or borrowed through one or more issues of bonds to be expended by the political subdivision to acquire, construct, improve, repair, replace, and equip any eligible facilities until repayment in full of the amounts expended or borrowed by the political subdivision, including the principal of and interest on bonds, for all of its eligible facilities;

(2) To pay for capital improvements to any eligible facilities; and

(3) To acquire, construct, improve, repair, replace, and equip nearby parking facilities.

(1) All applications for state assistance under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act shall be in writing and shall include a certified copy of the approving action of the governing body of the applicant describing the proposed eligible facility and the anticipated financing.

(2) The application shall contain:

(a) A description of the proposed financing of the eligible facility, including the estimated principal and interest requirements for the bonds proposed to be issued in connection with the eligible facility or the amounts necessary to repay the original investment by the applicant in the eligible facility;

(b) Documentation of local financial commitment to support the project, including all public and private resources pledged or committed to the project;

(c) A map identifying the area to be used in determining associated hotels and nearby retailers; and

(d) Any other project information deemed appropriate by the board.

(3) Upon receiving an application for state assistance, the board shall review the application and notify the applicant of any additional information needed for a proper evaluation of the application.

(4) Any state assistance received pursuant to the act shall be used only for public purposes.

(5) Approval of an application for state assistance by the board after June 7, 2023, pursuant to section 13-2607 shall establish the area to be used for determining associated hotels and nearby retailers as the aggregate area depicted in the map accompanying the application for state assistance as submitted pursuant to subdivision (2)(c) of this section.

(6) Each political subdivision that had an application for state assistance approved prior to October 1, 2016, shall submit a map to the Department of Revenue showing the area that lies within six hundred yards of the eligible facility as such area is described in subdivision (1) of section 13-2603. The department shall approve such area if it satisfies the requirements of subdivision (1) of section 13-2603.

(1) After reviewing an application submitted under section 13-2605 and upon reasonable notice to the applicant, the board shall hold a public hearing on the application.

(2) The board shall give notice of the time, place, and purpose of the public hearing by publication three times in a newspaper of statewide circulation. Such publication shall be not less than ten days prior to the hearing. The notice shall describe generally the facilities for which state assistance has been requested. The applicant shall pay the cost of the notice.

(3) At the public hearing, representatives of the applicant and any other interested persons may appear and present evidence and argument in support of or in opposition to the application or neutral testimony. The board may seek expert testimony and may require testimony of persons whom the board desires to comment on the application. The board may provide for the acceptance of additional evidence after conclusion of the public hearing.

(1) After consideration of the application and the evidence, the board shall issue a finding of whether the convention and meeting center facility or sports arena facility described in the application is eligible for state assistance.

(2) If the board finds that the facility described in the application is an eligible facility and that state assistance is in the best interest of the state, the application shall be approved.

(3) In determining whether state assistance is in the best interest of the state, the board shall consider the fiscal and economic capacity of the applicant to finance the local share of the eligible facility.

(4) A majority of the board members constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting business. All actions of the board shall be by a majority vote of all the board members, one of whom must be the Governor.

(1) If an application is approved, the Tax Commissioner shall:

(a) Audit or review audits of the approved convention and meeting center facility, sports arena facility, associated hotel, or nearby retailer to determine the state sales tax revenue collected by retailers and operators doing business at such facilities on sales at such facilities, state sales tax revenue collected on primary and secondary box office sales of admissions to such facilities, and state sales tax revenue collected by associated hotels and nearby retailers; and

(b) Certify annually the amount of state sales tax revenue collected by retailers and operators doing business at such facilities on sales at such facilities, state sales tax revenue collected on primary and secondary box office sales of admissions to such facilities, and state sales tax revenue collected by associated hotels and nearby retailers, to the State Treasurer.

(2) State sales tax revenue collected by retailers and operators that are not eligible facilities but are doing business at eligible facilities shall be reported on informational returns developed by the Department of Revenue and provided to any such retailers and operators by the eligible facility. The informational returns shall be submitted to the department by the retailer or operator by the twentieth day of the month following the month the sales taxes are collected. The Tax Commissioner shall use the data from the informational returns and sales tax returns of eligible facilities, associated hotels, and nearby retailers to determine the appropriate amount of state sales tax revenue.

(3) Changes made to the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act by Laws 2007, LB 551, shall apply to state sales tax revenue collected commencing on July 1, 2006.

(1) Upon the annual certification under section 13-2609, the State Treasurer shall transfer after the audit the amount certified to the Convention Center Support Fund. The Convention Center Support Fund is created. Transfers may be made from the fund to the General Fund at the direction of the Legislature. Any money in the Convention Center Support Fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

(2)(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate from the fund to any political subdivision for which an application for state assistance under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act has been approved an amount not to exceed (i) seventy percent of the state sales tax revenue collected by retailers and operators doing business at such facilities on sales at such facilities, state sales tax revenue collected on primary and secondary box office sales of admissions to such facilities, and state sales tax revenue collected by associated hotels and nearby retailers, (ii) one hundred fifty million dollars for any one approved project, or (iii) the total cost of acquiring, constructing, improving, repairing, replacing, or equipping the eligible facilities of the political subdivision. State assistance shall not be used for an operating subsidy.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature to appropriate from the fund to any city of the metropolitan class for which an application for state assistance under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act has been approved an amount not to exceed the amount of money transferred to the fund pursuant to subdivision (9)(a) of section 13-3108.

(3)(a) Ten percent of the funds appropriated to a city of the metropolitan class under subdivision (2)(a) of this section and all of the funds appropriated to a city of the metropolitan class under subdivision (2)(b) of this section shall be equally distributed to areas with a high concentration of poverty. Fifty-five percent of such funds shall be used to showcase important historical aspects of such areas or areas within close geographic proximity of the area with a high concentration of poverty and to assist with the reduction of street and gang violence in such areas. Forty-five percent of such funds shall be used to assist with small business and entrepreneurship growth in such areas.

(b) Each area with a high concentration of poverty that has been distributed funds under subdivision (3)(a) of this section shall establish a development fund and form a committee which shall identify and research potential projects to be completed in the area with a high concentration of poverty or in an area within close geographic proximity of such area if the project would have a significant or demonstrable impact on such area and make final determinations on the use of the funds received for such projects.

(c) A committee formed under subdivision (3)(b) of this section shall include the following members:

(i) The member of the city council whose district includes a majority of the census tracts which each contain a percentage of persons below the poverty line of greater than thirty percent, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census, within the area with a high concentration of poverty;

(ii) The commissioner of the county whose district includes a majority of the census tracts which each contain a percentage of persons below the poverty line of greater than thirty percent, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census, within the area with a high concentration of poverty;

(iii) Two residents of the area with a high concentration of poverty, appointed by the two members of the committee described in subdivisions (3)(c)(i) and (ii) of this section. Such resident members shall be appointed for four-year terms. Each time a resident member is to be appointed pursuant to this subdivision, the committee shall solicit applications from interested individuals by posting notice of the open position on the city's website and on the city's official social media accounts, if any, and by publishing the notice in a legal newspaper in or of general circulation in the area with a high concentration of poverty. Applications may be submitted to either of the committee members described in subdivisions (3)(c)(i) and (ii) of this section. Prior to making any appointment, the committee shall hold a public hearing in the area with a high concentration of poverty. Notice of the hearing shall be provided, at least seven days prior to the hearing, by posting the notice on the city's website and on the city's official social media accounts, if any, and by publishing the notice in a legal newspaper in or of general circulation in the area with a high concentration of poverty; and

(iv) The member of the Legislature whose district includes a majority of the census tracts which each contain a percentage of persons below the poverty line of greater than thirty percent, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census, within the area with a high concentration of poverty. The member described in this subdivision shall be a nonvoting member of the committee.

(d) A committee formed under subdivision (3)(b) of this section shall solicit project ideas from the public and shall hold a public hearing in the area with a high concentration of poverty. Notice of a proposed hearing shall be provided in accordance with the procedures for notice of a public hearing pursuant to section 18-2115.01. The committee shall research potential projects and make the final determination regarding the annual distribution of funding to such projects.

(e) For any committee formed under subdivision (3)(b) of this section:

(i) The two committee members described in subdivisions (3)(c)(i) and (ii) of this section shall share joint responsibility of all committee operations and meetings. Applications for funding may be submitted to either of such members; and

(ii) All applications, reports, and other records of the committee shall be accessible to any member of the committee.

(f) Each recipient of funding from a committee formed under subdivision (3)(b) of this section shall submit an itemized report to such committee on the use of such funds. A recipient shall not be eligible to receive funding for more than three consecutive years unless such recipient is able to justify continued funding based on the following criteria:

(i) The number of people served by the project;

(ii) The relevance and scale of the project;

(iii) The desirability of the social or environmental outcomes of the project and how such outcomes will be achievable and measurable;

(iv) The economic impact on the area with a high concentration of poverty; and

(v) The recipient's sustainability plan.

(g) On or before July 1, 2022, and on or before July 1 of each year thereafter, a committee formed under subdivision (3)(b) of this section shall electronically submit a report to the Legislature which includes:

(i) A description of the projects that were funded during the most recently completed calendar year;

(ii) A description of where such projects were located;

(iii) A description of the outcomes of such projects; and

(iv) A ten-year strategic plan on how the committee plans to meet the goals described in subdivision (3)(a) of this section.

(h) For purposes of this subsection, an area with a high concentration of poverty means an area within the corporate limits of a city of the metropolitan class consisting of one or more contiguous census tracts, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census, which contain a percentage of persons below the poverty line of greater than thirty percent, and all census tracts contiguous to such tract or tracts, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census.

(4)(a) Ten percent of the funds appropriated to a city of the primary class under subdivision (2)(a) of this section may, if the city determines by consent of the city council that such funds are not currently needed for the purposes described in section 13-2604, be used as follows:

(i) For investment in the construction of qualified low-income housing projects as defined in 26 U.S.C. 42, including qualified projects receiving Nebraska affordable housing tax credits under the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act; or

(ii) If there are no such qualified low-income housing projects as defined in 26 U.S.C. 42 being constructed or expected to be constructed within the political subdivision, for investment in areas with a high concentration of poverty to assist with low-income housing needs.

(b) For purposes of this subsection, an area with a high concentration of poverty means an area within the corporate limits of a city of the primary class consisting of one or more contiguous census tracts, as determined by the most recent American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate, which contain a percentage of persons below the poverty line of greater than thirty percent, and all census tracts contiguous to such tract or tracts, as determined by the most recent American Community Survey 5-Year Estimate.

(5) State assistance to the political subdivision shall no longer be available upon the retirement of the bonds issued to acquire, construct, improve, repair, replace, or equip all of the political subdivision's facilities or any subsequent bonds that refunded the original issue or when state assistance reaches the amount determined under subdivision (2)(a) of this section, whichever comes first.

(6) The remaining thirty percent of state sales tax revenue collected by retailers and operators doing business at such facilities on sales at such facilities, state sales tax revenue collected on primary and secondary box office sales of admissions to such facilities, and state sales tax revenue collected by associated hotels and nearby retailers, shall be appropriated by the Legislature to the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund. Upon the annual certification required pursuant to section 13-2609 and following the transfer to the Convention Center Support Fund required pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the State Treasurer shall transfer an amount equal to the remaining thirty percent from the Convention Center Support Fund to the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund.

(7) Any municipality that has applied for and received a grant of assistance under the Civic and Community Center Financing Act may not receive state assistance under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act.

(1) The applicant political subdivision may issue from time to time its bonds and refunding bonds to finance and refinance the acquisition, construction, improving, repairing, replacing, and equipping of eligible facilities and appurtenant public facilities that are a part of the same project or projects. The bonds may be sold by the applicant in such manner and for such price as the applicant determines, at a discount, at par, or at a premium, at private negotiated sale or at public sale, after notice published prior to the sale in a legal newspaper having general circulation in the political subdivision or in such other medium of publication of notice of sale as the applicant deems appropriate. The bonds shall have a stated maturity of forty years or less and shall bear interest at such rate or rates and otherwise be issued in accordance with the respective procedures and with such other terms and provisions as are established, permitted, or authorized by applicable state laws and home rule charters for the type of bonds to be issued. Such bonds may be secured as to payment in whole or in part by a pledge, as shall be determined by the applicant, from the income, proceeds, and revenue of the eligible facilities financed with proceeds of such bonds, from the income, proceeds, and revenue of any of its eligible facilities, or from its revenue and income, including its sales, use, or occupation tax revenue, fees, appropriations, or receipts, as may be determined by the applicant. The applicant may further secure the bonds by a mortgage or deed of trust encumbering all or any portion of the eligible facilities and by a bond insurance policy or other credit support facility. No general obligation bonds, except refunding bonds, shall be issued until authorized by greater than fifty percent of the applicant's electors voting on the question as to their issuance at any election as defined in section 32-108. The face of the bonds shall plainly state that the bonds and the interest thereon shall not constitute nor give rise to an indebtedness, obligation, or pecuniary liability of the state nor a charge against the general credit, revenue, or taxing power of the state. Bonds of the applicant are declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and, together with interest thereon and income therefrom, shall be exempt from all state income taxes.

(2) All payments to political subdivisions under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act are made subject to specific appropriation for such purpose. Nothing in the act precludes the Legislature from amending or repealing the act at any time.

The board shall not accept applications for assistance under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act after December 31, 2030.

The Department of Revenue may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act.

Sections 13-2701 to 13-2710 shall be known and may be cited as the Civic and Community Center Financing Act.

The purpose of the Civic and Community Center Financing Act is to support the development of civic centers, historic buildings or districts, public spaces, and recreation centers throughout Nebraska. Furthermore, the act is intended to support projects that foster maintenance or growth of communities.

For purposes of the Civic and Community Center Financing Act:

(1) Applicant means and includes (a) any city or village in this state that is eligible for a grant of assistance pursuant to section 13-2706 and (b) any tribal government;

(2) Civic center means a facility that is used to host conventions, meetings, and cultural events or a library;

(3) Department means the Department of Economic Development;

(4) Eligible facility means any civic center, historic building or district, public space, or recreation center;

(5) Fund means the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund;

(6) Historic building or district means a building or district eligible for listing on or currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a building that is certified as contributing to the significance of a registered state or national historic district;

(7) Political subdivision means a county, school district, community college area, or natural resources district;

(8) Public space means property located within the traditional center of a community, typically comprised of a cohesive core of residential, civic, religious, and commercial buildings, arranged around a main street and intersecting streets;

(9) Recreation center means a facility or park used for athletics, fitness, sport activities, or recreation that is owned by an applicant and is available for use by the general public with or without charge. Recreation center does not include any facility that requires a person to purchase a membership to utilize such facility; and

(10) Tribal government means the officially recognized government of any Indian tribe, nation, or other organized group or community located in the state exercising self-government powers and recognized as eligible for services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians or any Indian tribe located in the state and recognized as an Indian tribe by the state.

(1) The Civic and Community Center Financing Fund is created. The fund shall be administered by the department. Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act. Transfers may be made from the fund to the General Fund, the Department of Revenue Enforcement Fund, and the State Colleges Sport Facilities Cash Fund at the direction of the Legislature.

(2)(a) The department shall use the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund for the following purposes:

(i) For grants of assistance as described in section 13-2704.01;

(ii) For grants of assistance as described in section 13-2704.02; and

(iii) For reasonable and necessary costs of the department directly related to the administration of the fund.

(b) Grants of assistance shall not be used for programming, marketing, advertising, or facility-staffing activities.

(3) The State Treasurer shall transfer two hundred fifty thousand dollars from the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund to the State Colleges Sport Facilities Cash Fund on October 1 of 2012, 2013, and 2014. Commencing October 1, 2015, and every year thereafter, the State Treasurer shall transfer three hundred thousand dollars from the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund to the State Colleges Sport Facilities Cash Fund.

(1) The department shall use the fund to provide grants of assistance for the following purposes:

(a) To assist in the construction of new civic centers and recreation centers or the renovation or expansion of existing civic centers and recreation centers;

(b) To assist in the preservation, restoration, conversion, rehabilitation, or reuse of historic buildings or districts; or

(c) To assist in the construction or upgrade of public spaces, including the demolition of substandard and abandoned buildings.

(2) Applications for grants of assistance pursuant to this section shall be evaluated by the department pursuant to section 13-2707.

(1) The department shall use the fund to provide grants of assistance for engineering and technical studies directly related to projects described in section 13-2704.01.

(2) Applications for grants of assistance pursuant to this section shall be evaluated by the department pursuant to section 13-2707.01.

The department may conditionally approve grants of assistance from the fund to eligible and competitive applicants subject to the following limits and requirements:

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this section and subsection (4) of section 13-2706, a grant request shall be in an amount meeting the following requirements:

(a) For a grant of assistance under section 13-2704.01, at least fifteen thousand dollars but no more than:

(i) For a city of the primary class or a tribal government, two million two hundred fifty thousand dollars;

(ii) For a city with a population of at least forty thousand inhabitants but fewer than one hundred thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of the Census, one million one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars;

(iii) For a city with a population of at least twenty thousand inhabitants but fewer than forty thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of the Census, seven hundred fifty thousand dollars;

(iv) For a city with a population of at least ten thousand inhabitants but fewer than twenty thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of the Census, six hundred thousand dollars; and

(v) For a municipality with a population of fewer than ten thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of the Census, three hundred seventy-five thousand dollars; and

(b) For a grant of assistance under section 13-2704.02, at least three thousand dollars but no more than fifteen thousand dollars;

(2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of section 13-2706, upon the balance of the fund reaching three million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, and until the balance of the fund falls below one million five hundred thousand dollars, a grant request shall be in an amount meeting the following requirements:

(a) For a grant of assistance under section 13-2704.01, at least fifteen thousand dollars but no more than:

(i) For a city of the primary class or a tribal government, three million three hundred seventy-five thousand dollars;

(ii) For a city with a population of at least forty thousand inhabitants but fewer than one hundred thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of the Census, one million six hundred eighty-seven thousand dollars;

(iii) For a city with a population of at least twenty thousand inhabitants but fewer than forty thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of the Census, one million one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars;

(iv) For a city with a population of at least ten thousand inhabitants but fewer than twenty thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of the Census, nine hundred thousand dollars; and

(v) For a municipality with a population of fewer than ten thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent revised certified count by the United States Bureau of the Census, five hundred sixty-two thousand dollars; and

(b) For a grant of assistance under section 13-2704.02, at least three thousand dollars but no more than fifteen thousand dollars;

(3) Assistance from the fund shall not amount to more than fifty percent of the cost of the project for which a grant is requested;

(4) An applicant shall not be awarded more than one grant of assistance under section 13-2704.01 and one grant of assistance under section 13-2704.02 in any two-year period;

(5) Any eligible facility for which a grant of assistance under section 13-2704.01 is made shall not be sold for at least five years following the award of such grant of assistance;

(6) An application for a grant of assistance to assist in the preservation, restoration, conversion, rehabilitation, or reuse of a historic building or district shall include a notification of approval from the State Historic Preservation Officer that the work proposed in the application conforms to the United States Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. If the application does not include such notification of approval from the State Historic Preservation Officer, the department shall not award a grant of assistance for such application; and

(7) An application for a grant of assistance to a municipality partnering with a certified creative district as provided in subsection (4) of section 13-2706 shall include a notification of approval from the Nebraska Arts Council that the work proposed in the application conforms to the council's standards. If the application does not include such notification of approval from the Nebraska Arts Council, the department shall not award a grant of assistance for such application.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section for a city of the primary class, any municipality that has applied for and received a grant of assistance under the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act shall not receive state assistance under the Civic and Community Center Financing Act for the same project for which the grant was awarded under the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act.

(2) A city of the primary class shall not be eligible to receive a grant of assistance from the Civic and Community Center Financing Act if the city has applied for and received a grant of assistance under the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act.

(3) Any city that has received funding under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act shall not receive state assistance under the Civic and Community Center Financing Act.

(4) From July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, a municipality shall be eligible for a grant of assistance under the Civic and Community Center Financing Act only if such municipality (a) partners with a certified creative district and (b) is not prohibited from receiving a grant of assistance under subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section. Notwithstanding the limitations on the amount of grants of assistance in section 13-2705, the department may award grants of assistance to qualifying municipalities in amounts set by the Nebraska Arts Council, which shall not be less than one hundred thousand dollars. The department shall coordinate with the Nebraska Arts Council for purposes of setting such amounts. For purposes of this subsection, certified creative district means a creative district certified pursuant to subdivision (5) of section 82-312. After June 30, 2024, this subsection no longer applies.

(5) Any municipality eligible for a grant of assistance as provided in this section may apply for a grant of assistance from the fund. Any tribal government may apply for a grant of assistance from the fund. Application shall be made on forms developed by the department.

(1) The department shall evaluate all applications for grants of assistance under section 13-2704.01 based on the following criteria, which are listed in no particular order of preference:

(a) Retention Impact. Funding decisions by the department shall be based on the likelihood of the project retaining existing residents in the community where the project is located, developing, sustaining, and fostering community connections, and enhancing the potential for economic growth in a manner that will sustain the quality of life and promote long-term economic development;

(b) New Resident Impact. Funding decisions by the department shall be based on the likelihood of the project attracting new residents to the community where the project is located;

(c) Visitor Impact. Funding decisions by the department shall be based on the likelihood of the project enhancing or creating an attraction that would increase the potential of visitors to the community where the project is located from inside and outside the state;

(d) Readiness. The fiscal, economic, and operational capacity of the applicant, and of any political subdivision that owns the eligible facility jointly with the applicant, to finance and manage the project and to operate the eligible facility; and

(e) Project Planning. Projects with completed technical assistance and feasibility studies shall be preferred to those with no prior planning.

(2) The department shall give priority to applications from applicants which have not received a grant of assistance under section 13-2704.01 within the last ten years.

(3) Any grant of assistance under section 13-2704.01 shall be matched at least equally from local sources. At least fifty percent of the local match must be in cash.

(4) To receive a grant of assistance under section 13-2704.01, the project for which the grant is requested shall be located in the municipality that applies for the grant or, for any city of the first class, city of the second class, or village, within the municipality's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction. This subsection shall not apply to any application submitted by a tribal government.

(5) To receive a grant of assistance under section 13-2704.01, the project for which the grant is requested shall involve an eligible facility that is owned by the applicant, except that a municipality may own an eligible facility jointly with a political subdivision if the municipality's ownership interest in such eligible facility is at least fifty percent. In such case, the municipality shall be the applicant for the grant of assistance.

The department shall evaluate all applications for grants of assistance under section 13-2704.02 based on the following criteria:

(1) Financial Support. Assistance from the fund shall be matched at least equally from local sources. At least fifty percent of the local match must be in cash. Projects with a higher level of local matching funds shall be preferred as compared to those with a lower level of matching funds; and

(2) Project Location. Assistance from the fund shall be for engineering and technical studies related to projects that will be located in the municipality that applies for the grant or, for any city of the first class, city of the second class, or village, in the municipality's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction. This subdivision shall not apply to any application submitted by a tribal government.

If a grant of assistance is approved by the department, the applicant shall receive conditional approval of the level of assistance. Projects shall receive funding from the fund in the order conditional approval is received and whenever there is sufficient money in the fund to provide the assistance. It is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate funds to support projects which have received conditional approval from the department. A grant of assistance shall be finally approved when funds for the project are appropriated by the Legislature.

(1) The department shall submit, as part of the department's annual status report under section 81-1201.11, the following information regarding the Civic and Community Center Financing Act:

(a) Information documenting the grants conditionally approved for funding by the Legislature in the following fiscal year;

(b) Reasons why a full application was not sent to any applicant seeking assistance under the act;

(c) The amount of sales tax revenue generated for the fund pursuant to subsection (6) of section 13-2610 and subsection (9) of section 13-3108, the total amount of grants applied for under the act, the year-end fund balance, the amount of the year-end fund balance which has not been committed to funding grants under the act, and, if all available funds have not been committed to funding grants under the act, an explanation of the reasons why all such funds have not been so committed;

(d) The amount of appropriated funds actually expended by the department for the year;

(e) The department's current budget for administration of the act and the department's planned use and distribution of funds, including details on the amount of funds to be expended on grants and the amount of funds to be expended by the department for administrative purposes; and

(f) Grant summaries, including the applicant, project description, grant amount requested, amount and type of matching funds, and reasons for approval or denial based on evaluation criteria from section 13-2707 or 13-2707.01 for every application seeking assistance under the act.

(2) If the amount of the year-end fund balance which has not been committed to funding grants under the act as reported under subdivision (1)(c) of this section, excluding any amount required to be transferred under subsection (3) of section 13-2704, is more than one million dollars, the department shall notify the State Treasurer of the amount in excess of one million dollars. The State Treasurer shall transfer the amount in excess of one million dollars from the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund to the Political Subdivision Recapture Cash Fund.

(3) The Political Subdivision Recapture Cash Fund is created and shall consist of money transferred under subsection (2) of this section. Any money in the Political Subdivision Recapture Cash Fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act. By October 1 of each year, the State Treasurer shall distribute the money in the Political Subdivision Recapture Cash Fund to the political subdivisions which have an application for state assistance for an eligible facility or an eligible sports arena facility approved under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act or the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act. Each political subdivision shall receive a proportionate share of the amount to be distributed under this subsection, and such proportionate share shall be based on the amount of sales tax revenue generated for the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund during the most recently completed fiscal year by the political subdivision's facility. The Tax Commissioner shall supply the State Treasurer with any information needed to make the distributions required in this subsection.

The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the Civic and Community Center Financing Act.

(1) One or more counties and at least one of the municipalities in each county may create a municipal county to carry out all county services and all municipal services. The process of creating a municipal county shall begin by passage of a joint resolution by the governing bodies of the counties and municipalities involved. The joint resolution may be initiated by the governing bodies or by petition as provided in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) Whenever registered voters of any county and of at least one municipality in the county, equal in number to ten percent of the total vote cast for Governor in the county or municipality at the preceding election, petition the respective county board and city council or village board of trustees to pass a resolution as contemplated by this section, it shall be the duty of the county board and city council or village board to pass a joint resolution creating an interjurisdictional planning commission. Petitions shall be filed with the county clerk, election commissioner, city clerk, or other officer having charge of the records of the governing body. The official shall ascertain the number of registered voters signing such petitions and transmit his or her findings, along with the petition, to the county board and city council or village board of trustees.

(3) Within ninety days after the passage of the joint resolution or within ninety days after receipt of a petition by the registered voters, the governing bodies of the counties and municipalities involved shall create an interjurisdictional planning commission. A commission may also be created by the district court having jurisdiction over the counties and municipalities involved upon the failure by the counties and municipalities to pass a joint resolution after submission of a petition by the registered voters. The commission shall have no less than nine members and no more than twenty-one members representing the counties and municipalities involved as determined by the governing bodies of the counties and municipalities involved in order to achieve proportionate representation. The governing bodies shall select the members. Representation on the commission shall be prorated based upon population of the counties and municipalities involved, except that (a) each county and each municipality involved shall have at least one representative selected by its respective governing body and (b) not more than forty percent of the total membership shall be public officials. Meetings of the commission shall be subject to the Open Meetings Act.

(4)(a) The commission shall hold at least one public hearing prior to preparing the plan for the creation of the municipal county, study all governmental subdivisions in the affected area, and then make a determination of whether creation of a municipal county is in the public interest. If it is not in the public interest to do so, the commission shall issue a report stating its findings, including, but not limited to, any recommendations regarding (i) interlocal agreements, (ii) agreements to provide for the joint delivery of services, or (iii) any other such recommendations. If it is in the public interest to do so, the commission shall prepare one plan for the creation of the municipal county. Such plan shall be approved by the governing body of each county and each municipality involved prior to submission of the issue to a vote of the registered voters unless the commission was created by a petition of the registered voters.

(b) The plan shall specify (i) which counties and municipalities will be dissolved upon creation of the municipal county, (ii) the form of government, with an elected executive officer, a professional municipal county manager or administrator appointed by the commission, or both, to operate the executive functions of the municipal county, (iii) the number of council members of the municipal county and whether they will be elected by district or at large, and (iv) which elected officials, if any, will be eliminated.

(c) At least ninety days prior to submission of the issue to a vote of the registered voters, the commission and the governing body of each county and each municipality involved shall hold at least one public hearing in its respective jurisdiction and make available for review by residents of the county and municipality all material terms and conditions set forth in the resolution to create the municipal county, including information regarding the tax implications and quality and cost of services to be provided by the proposed plan to create the municipal county.

(5) Upon approval of the plan by the governing body of each county and each municipality involved, if required, or upon the governing bodies' approval or failure to approve if the commission was created by a petition of the registered voters, the county clerks or election commissioners shall place the issue on the ballot at the next primary, general, or special election.

Whenever creation of a municipal county is proposed involving a city of the metropolitan class, the interjurisdictional planning commission shall include in its plan a recommendation with regard to the territory within which any metropolitan utilities district shall have and may exercise the power of eminent domain pursuant to subsection (2) of section 14-2116. The plan shall further include a recommendation with regard to the territory which shall be deemed to be within the corporate boundary limits or extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of a municipality or a municipality dissolved by the creation of the municipal county for purposes of the State Natural Gas Regulation Act. The question of creation of the municipal county shall not be submitted to a vote under section 13-2810 until a law adopting the provisions required by this section has been enacted.

(1)(a) Except as provided in subdivision (1)(b) of this section, a municipal county created under section 13-2801 shall be governed by a council of five to nine members, at least two-thirds of whom shall be elected by district. The council members shall be elected on a nonpartisan ballot. The area involved in the consolidation shall be divided into districts of as equal population as possible so that at least a majority of the members of the council are elected by district. The division shall be made by the county board members of each county involved by January 31 of the year in which the council members are to be elected. A majority of the council members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business. The council shall annually elect a chairperson from among its members. Each council member shall be elected to a four-year term beginning with the first general election following the formation, except that at the first election, fifty to sixty percent of the members shall be elected to four-year terms and the others shall be elected to two-year terms. If there are to be at-large members, the district-elected members shall be elected to four-year terms and the at-large members shall be elected to two-year terms. If there are to be no at-large members, the members elected to four-year terms and the members elected to two-year terms shall be selected by lot.

(b) A municipal county created under section 13-2801, in which is situated a city of the metropolitan class, shall be governed by a council of fifteen members who shall be elected by districts. The council members shall be elected on a nonpartisan ballot. The area involved in the consolidation shall be divided into fifteen council districts of compact and contiguous territory. Such districts shall be numbered consecutively from one to fifteen. One council member shall be elected from each district. The division shall be made by the county board members of each county involved, by January 31 of the year in which the council members are to be elected. Each council member shall be elected to a four-year term, except that at the first general election following the formation, the members elected from even-numbered districts shall be elected to four-year terms and members elected from odd-numbered districts shall be elected to two-year terms and to four-year terms thereafter. A majority of the council members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business. The council shall annually elect a chairperson from among its members. The council shall be responsible for redrawing the council district boundaries pursuant to section 32-553.

(c) Initial elections of the council members and the executive officer, if applicable, shall be completed by May 15 of the year the municipal county is created.

(2) If the plan to create the municipal county provides for an executive officer to operate the executive functions of the municipal county, the executive officer shall be elected to a four-year term beginning with the first general election following the formation of the municipal county.

(3) The resolution proposing creation of the municipal county may retain, as an elected position, any elected county office in any county to be consolidated into the municipal county. If such elected officials are to be retained, the officials in such offices at the time the municipal county is created may be retained or, if more than one such elected official are in office at the time the municipal county is created, the officials shall be elected together with the council members and executive officer of the municipal county.

(1) A municipal county has the powers and duties of a county and shall fulfill the same role as other counties and county officials of the municipal county as would be applicable to a county of the same population as the municipal county. Any reference in law to counties shall be deemed to refer to a municipal county. A municipal county has the powers and duties of cities and villages as would be applicable to the largest municipality consolidated into the municipal county. Any reference in law to cities, villages, or municipalities shall be deemed to apply also to a municipal county.

(2) On the date of creation of a municipal county, all ordinances, bylaws, acts, motions, rules, resolutions, and proclamations enacted by the governing body of each county or municipality involved shall continue in full force and effect, with respect to the counties and municipalities consolidated into the municipal county, until amended, repealed, or otherwise superseded by the council of the municipal county. All obligations, leases, and contracts of the counties or municipalities consolidated into the municipal county, except for bonded indebtedness, shall become obligations, leases, and contracts of the municipal county. In the event any utility, lease, franchise, or service area agreement has been entered into by or is applicable to a county or municipality involved, the utility, lease, franchise, or service area agreement shall be unaffected by the creation of the municipal county and unchanged by the elimination of the municipal or county boundaries. In the event any service area or territory in which powers of a political subdivision could be exercised or boundaries of a political subdivision were previously defined by reference, in whole or in part, to the boundaries of a participating municipality or county, the boundaries of such service area or territory or political subdivision, and the exercise of the powers of the political subdivision, shall be unaffected by the creation of a municipal county and unchanged by the elimination of the municipal or county boundaries.

(1) A municipal county may adopt ordinances, and any such ordinances shall supersede those of any municipality or county consolidated into the municipal county.

(2) All ordinances shall be passed pursuant to such rules and regulations as the council may provide, and all such ordinances may be proved by the certificate of the council. When printed or published in book or pamphlet form and purporting to be published by authority of the municipal county, such ordinances shall be read and received in evidence in all courts and places without further proof. The passage, approval, and publication or posting of an ordinance shall be sufficiently proved by a certificate from the council showing that the ordinance was passed and approved and when and in what newspaper the ordinance was published or when, by whom, and where the ordinance was posted. When ordinances are published in book or pamphlet form, purporting to be published by authority of the council, the same need not be otherwise published, and the book or pamphlet shall be received as evidence of the passage and legal publication of the ordinances, as of the dates mentioned in the book or pamphlet, in all courts without further proof.

(1) All ordinances and resolutions or orders for the appropriation or payment of money shall require for their passage or adoption the concurrence of a majority of all members of the council.

(2) Ordinances of a general or permanent nature shall be read by title on three different days unless three-fourths of the members vote to suspend this requirement.

(3) Ordinances shall contain no subject which is not clearly expressed in the title, and, except as provided in section 19-915, no ordinance or section thereof shall be revised or amended unless the new ordinance contains the entire ordinance or section as revised or amended and the ordinance or section so amended is repealed, except that for an ordinance revising all the ordinances of the municipal county the only title necessary shall be: "An ordinance of the municipal county of .........., revising all the ordinances of the municipal county." Under such title, all the ordinances may be revised in sections and chapters or otherwise, may be corrected, added to, and any part suppressed, and may be repealed with or without a saving clause as to the whole or any part without other title.

The style of ordinances shall be: "Be it ordained by the council of the municipal county of ................," and all ordinances of a general nature shall, within fifteen days after they are passed, be published in one or more newspapers in general circulation within the municipal county, or in pamphlet form, to be distributed or sold, as may be provided by ordinance. Every ordinance fixing a penalty or forfeiture for its violation shall, before the same takes effect, be published for at least one week in one or more newspapers in general circulation within the municipal county. In cases of riots, infectious diseases, or other impending danger, or any other emergency requiring its immediate operation, such ordinance shall take effect upon the proclamation of the council immediately upon its first publication.

A municipal county may levy up to one dollar per one hundred dollars of taxable value, not including bonded indebtedness. From the levy authority of the municipal county, the municipal county may allocate to miscellaneous political subdivisions as provided in section 77-3443. In no event shall the levies of the municipal county and any miscellaneous political subdivisions allocated levy authority by the municipal county total more than one dollar per one hundred dollars of taxable value on any one parcel in the municipal county, except for bonded indebtedness approved according to law, lease-purchase agreements approved prior to July 1, 1998, and judgments obtained against the municipal county or one of its predecessors which obligate the municipal county to pay the judgments to the extent not paid by liability insurance and except as provided in section 77-3444.

(1) An area within the boundaries of a municipality which remains within the boundaries of a municipal county and is not consolidated into the municipal county at the time of the formation of the municipal county shall not be considered to be part of the municipal county for any purpose. Such a municipality shall not be annexed by the municipal county, and such a municipality shall not annex any territory, for at least four years after the date of creation of the municipal county. Such a municipality shall retain: