Occupational Board Reform Act

General Information

Committee of Jurisdiction:Natural Resources
Occupation Regulated:Wastewater Treatment Facilities Operators are individuals who regularly make recommendations about
Occupational Board:There is no occupational board. The certification program is administered by the Department of Env
Contact:Shelley Schneider, 402-471-4216, shelley.schneider@nebraska.gov
Purpose:Protect the air, water, and land of the State through regulation of wastewater treatment system operators in the State.
Regulated Professionals:936
Year Created:1987
Year Active:1987
Sunset Date:In Neb. Rev. Stat 81-15,132 there is a provision to allow for restricted certification that sunset

Authorization

Statutory Authorization:Wastewater Treatment Operator Certification Act - Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-15,128 to 81-15,143. Neb. Rev
Parent Agency:Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

Membership

Number of Members:N/A
Who Appoints:N/A
Legislative Approval:N/A
Qualifications of Members:N/A
Per Diem:
Expense Reimbursement:
Term Length:N/A
Terms Rotate or Expire at Once:

Meetings

Required FY 2019-2018:0
Held FY 2019-2018:0
Required FY 2018-2017:0
Held FY 2018-2017:0
Required FY 2017-2016:0
Held FY 2017-2016:0
Required FY 2016-2015:0
Held FY 2016-2015:0
Required FY 2015-2014:0
Held FY 2015-2014:0

Operations

Support Staff:Staff Assistant, 0.25 FTE; Program Specialist, 1 FTE; Section Supervisor 0.10 FTE
Shared or Separate:The program is administered by one Program Specialist with additional support from a Staff Assistan
FY 2019-2018 Budget:80157
FY 2018-2017 Budget:94265
FY 2017-2016 Budget:94680
FY 2016-2015 Budget:95308
FY 2015-2014 Budget:88744
Other Funding Sources:The program is funded through fees on testing and certification renewals. Each operator must renew
Spending Authority:Collection of fees is 81-15,130 (8); cash fund is 81-15,143.

Other

Government Certificates Issued:936
Issued Certificate Descriptions:There is no occupational board. Individuals are certified for 2 years on a rolling calendar basis, therefore the Department is renewing certifications on a regular basis. Currently there are 936 certified individuals and this number has ranged from 936 t
Government Certificates Revoked:3
Revoked Certificate Descriptions:There is no occupational board. The Director may revoke, suspend, or refuse to grant the certificate of an operator, following opportunity for hearing, upon any reasonable ground including, but not limited to, the following: (1) The operator has practiced
Government Certificates Denied:0
Denied Certificate Descriptions:N/A
Government Certificates Penalties Against:0
Penalty Certificate Descriptions:There is no occupational board. The Department would refer enforcement cases to the Attorney General’s Office. No cases have been referred in the last five years.
Explanation of Effectiveness:https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/SurveyDocs/explanation1576612327.pdf
Potential HarmCertification of wastewater operators is a required element of the EPA National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program. If wastewater operators were no longer certified in Nebraska, it is unclear who would perform the certificat
Regulation Comparison:https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/SurveyDocs/comparison1576612327.pdf
Subject to Regulations of Act(LB407):No
Survey Submitted: December 17, 2019 01:52 PM