LINCOLN- LB215 is designed to clarify the powers of the Offices of the Inspector General for Child Welfare and Corrections. This dispute has graced the Legislature for multiple years now posing the question, is it “constitutional overreach” to have special investigators assigned by the State Legislature look into problems, even deaths and injuries, involving state agencies?

Senator Briese, the sponsor of the bill, said he is waiting to take action on the bill until a colleague speaks with the Attorney Generals office to determine if it is a separation of powers issue. “We’re not going to rush it to floor, put it that way,” said Briese, who chairs the Legislature’s Executive Board. “Some of this might hinge on an AG’s opinion.”

During the LB215 hearing, Briese and some other members of the Executive Board defended the inspectors general’s watchdog function and the Legislature’s need to know that state agencies, and even state judges, are functioning appropriately. Current inspectors and other advocates for LB 215 said it was mostly a “cleanup bill” that clarified powers that are already recognized.

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